HB 1286

Abstract

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Rewrites the provisions of the Act concerning child custody and visitation, eliminating the use of those terms. Provides instead for the allocation of parental responsibilities with respect to a child, including significant decision-making responsibilities and parenting time. Requires that such allocations be made according to the child's best interests. Authorizes parents to agree to a parenting plan that includes an allocation of significant decision-making responsibilities, provisions for the child's living arrangements, an allocation of parenting time, and other features; provides for the court's approval of such a plan. In the absence of such a plan, provides for a judgment allocating parental responsibilities. Provides for the designation of a child's custodian for purposes of other statutes. Provides for modification of a parenting plan or a judgment allocating parental responsibilities. Provides for enforcement of allocated parenting time. Provides that the changes made by this amendatory Act apply to: (1) all proceedings commenced on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act; (2) all actions pending on the effective date of this amendatory Act and all proceedings commenced before that effective date with respect to issues on which a judgment has not been entered; and (3) all proceedings commenced on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act for the modification of a judgment or order entered before that effective date. Effective January 1, 2006.