Illinois Guides
General Resources
These guides work no matter where you live:
Articles for Illinois
Allocation Judgment in Illinois: What It Is and What It Covers
What an Illinois allocation judgment includes — decision-making responsibilities, parenting time, modification rules, and how it differs from the pare…
Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Illinois: The Full Framework Explained
How Illinois allocates decision-making and parenting time under the IMDMA, including the four decision-making categories and the allocation judgment.
Best Interests of the Child Illinois: The 17 Factors Judges Actually Use
The 17 best-interest factors under 750 ILCS 5/602.7 that Illinois judges use to decide parenting time, and how to build your case around them.
Child Support Calculator Illinois: How the HFS Estimator Works
Step-by-step guide to using the Illinois HFS child support calculator — Income Shares inputs, the 146-overnight rule, and how overnights shift your ob…
Deviation from Child Support Guidelines in Illinois
When Illinois courts deviate from standard child support — qualifying reasons, how judges decide, and what evidence you need to request or oppose a de…
Co-Parenting Communication Apps for Illinois Custody Cases
Compare OurFamilyWizard, TalkingParents, and other court-accepted co-parenting apps used in Illinois custody orders. Features, costs, and what judges …
Custody Evaluation Illinois: GAL, Child's Representative, and 604.10 Evaluations
How Illinois custody evaluations work — the role of a guardian ad litem, child's representative, and Section 604.10 professional evaluators in your ca…
How Much Does a Custody Lawyer Cost in Illinois?
Illinois custody lawyer costs broken down: retainers, hourly rates, and when pro se filing makes sense. Plus how to reduce legal fees with self-prepar…
How Long Does a Custody Case Take in Illinois?
Illinois custody case timeline for uncontested and contested cases. Key deadlines, 120-day parenting plan filing, and what extends the process.
Domestic Violence and Child Custody in Illinois
How domestic violence affects custody allocation in Illinois. Orders of Protection, supervised parenting time, best-interest factors, and safety plann…