The purpose of this article is to explain Illinois court ordered parenting classes and answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding parent education.
When Are Parenting Classes required In Illinois?
According to Illinois law, parenting classes are required whenever parents of minor children are engaged in a court proceeding involving allocation of parenting time and responsibility formerly referred to as custody and visitation. This includes post-judgment cases involving modification of parenting time and responsibility or relocation of the child.
Are There Any Exceptions To The Parent Education Requirement?
If a parent can demonstrate good cause that they should be excused from court ordered parenting classes, the judge may excuse that parent from completing the
course. The court must find that excusing the parent from completing the parenting class is in the best interest of the child and must document the court’s reasoning in the court record.
Why is it Important to Take Parenting Classes?
The purpose of court-ordered parenting classes, according to the DuPage County and Cook County courts, is as follows:
- To train parents to promote healthy communication with each other and their children, to create a business-like relationship between the parents.
- teach parents to set aside their differences to provide a stable environment for their children and focus on their children’s best interests
- To provide
- parents with skills and techniques to keep their children out of any conflicts.
- To reduce the
- likelihood of expensive litigation between the parents.
Which Parent Education Programs Are Approved By The Court?
You must take a court-approved parent education program to get credit for meeting your requirement. Many programs falsely claim to be court-approved. Therefore, it is vital to go to the website of the court that has jurisdiction over your case in order to find a list of the approved programs.
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