DuPage County Divorce Lawyer Blog
Effective May 24, 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court adopted Rule 909 which provides procedures, definitions and rules for the appointment of Parenting Coordinators. Here’s what you need to know.
Under Illinois law, a parenting coordinator is a qualified third party who is appointed by the judge to address and resolve parenting conflicts on an out-of-court basis. The idea is to create a mechanism for the resolution of parenting disputes in high-conflict cases more quickly and inexpensively than going through the court system. Specifically, they are required to make recommendations within 14 days, and the cost is typically split between the parties by court order, though the court can may one party responsible for the entire cost. One way to think of a parenting coordinator is as a referee to address parenting disputes on an expedited basis.
What is parenting coordination? Supreme Court Rule 909 defines the term as:
- a child-focused alternative dispute resolution process
- conducted by either a licensed mental health or a family law professional
- which combines assessment, education, case management, conflict management, dispute resolution, and decision-making functions.