Fill and Sign the Parenting Agreement Document Form

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ____________________ COUNTY, ILLINOIS DOMESTIC RELATIONS DIVISION IN RE THE PARENTAGE/CUSTODY OF: ) ) ) ____________________________________, ) Case No. ______________________ Petitioner, ) ) v. ) Calendar _____________________ ) ) ____________________________________, ) Respondent. ) JOINT PARENTING AGREEMENT AND CUSTODY JUDGMENT Petitioner _________________________________and Respondent ____________________________ agree to the following with respect to their child(ren): ________________________________________ date of birth ________________________ ________________________________________date of birth ________________________ ________________________________________ date of birth ________________________ 1. The parties agree that they are both fit and proper persons to have the joint legal custody of their child or children (hereafter, for convenience, referred to as “children” even though there may be only one child), and both recognize the continuing need of the children for close and frequent contact with both parents and the importance of both parents remaining actively involved in the lives of the children. 2. The parties agree that they shall have the joint care, custody, control, and education of the children. 3. The physical residence of the children shall be with ___________________. 4. _____________________ shall have frequent and liberal visitation, which shall be at such reasonable times and places as the parties may agree, but not less frequently than the schedule set forth herein. 5. Each party shall make the day-to-day routine decisions concerning the children when the children are in their care, except as otherwise herein provided. 6. Either parent may take the children from the State of Illinois for visitation, trips, or vacation purposes without further leave of Court or consent of the other party, provided that the party intending to take the children shall give the other parent reasonable notice of his or her intention to do so, and shall supply the other with information regarding the contemplated period of time outside the state, the address and telephone number where they will be located, and shall permit Page 1 of 3 reasonable telephone and electronic communication between the children and the parent who is not with the children. Each party agrees to execute all reasonable documents necessary to facilitate the travel by the children with the other party upon presentation of the documents by the traveling party. Nothing contained in this provision shall be construed to permit either parent to remove the permanent residence of the minor children from the State of Illinois without first securing the approval of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. 7. Each party agrees to do everything within his or her power to foster the respect, love, and affection of the children of the parties for the other party, and to make every possible effort to agree on all questions involving the children so that they may have proper physical and emotional growth and retain their respect and affection for both of their parents. Neither party shall prevent or hinder telephone or other communication between the children and the other parent. Neither party shall make disparaging remarks about the other parent to, or in the presence of, the children, and shall request that friends and relatives refrain from doing so as well. 8. Each party agrees that they will not question, discuss, examine or interrogate the children with regard to the conduct, habits, social activities, monetary expenditures or purchases of the other parent. 9. Each party agrees that they will not discuss any aspect of this litigation with or in the presence of the children, including matters related to custody, visitation, support, monetary or financial information, vacations, or court dates. 10. The parties agree that they shall jointly discuss and jointly determine major decisions concerning the children, including, but not limited to: (a) education; (b) choice of child care and after-school care; (c) religious training; (d) medical care and choice of physicians, dentists, and the like; and (e) all other significant questions relating to the health, welfare, and education of the children, except in the case of an emergency. Upon the happening of a medical emergency, the parent with the child, or first making contact with the child, shall make all necessary decisions during the emergency and shall promptly notify the other parent. Medical and school records, as well as all other information concerning or related to the children, shall be made available to both parties. The non residential parent be notified of any and all communications between the school and the residential parent concerning the children, and both parents shall be welcome at parent activities, such as teacher conferences, and attendance at the children’s extracurricular activities. Both parties shall have the right to communicate with teachers, school personnel, counselors, and physicians to discuss the children’s standing and progress. 11. The non residential parent shall have liberal and reasonable parenting time with the children. See Exhibit A for visitation schedule. 12. Each parent shall be responsible for driving the children to routine activities scheduled during the time they are with that parent. Neither parent shall schedule activities that occur during the other parent's time with the children without the prior consent of that parent, and, whenever possible, such activities shall be scheduled so that they do not disproportionately interfere with parenting time. 13. The parties shall encourage ongoing telephone contact between the children and the absent parent. Page 2 of 3 14. The parties agree to confer with a private/professional mediator or counselor before going to court to settle any conflicts in implementing this Joint Parenting Agreement. If seeking mediation assistance, parties may call The Mediation Council of Illinois for referrals at (312) 641-3000 or the Center For Conflict Resolution at (312) 922-6464. ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Petitioner (Printed Name) Date Respondent (Printed Name) Date ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Petitioner (Signature) Date Respondent (Signature) Date IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED: 1. The Court finds it has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter hereto. 2. Both parties are fit and proper persons to have the joint care, custody, control and education of the minor child(ren). It is in the best interests of the minor child(ren) that the parties have joint care, custody and control of the minor child(ren) with ________________________ (Respondent or Petitioner) having residential custody. 3. The Joint Parenting Agreement between the Petitioner and Respondent dated __________________, 2011, attached hereto, is made a part of this Custody Judgment and all provisions of said Agreement is expressly ratified, confirmed, approved and adopted as the order of this Court to the same extent and with the same force and effect as if said provisions were in this paragraph set forth verbatim as the Judgment of this Court; each of the parties shall perform under the terms of said Agreement. 4. This Court expressly retains jurisdiction of this cause for the purpose of enforcing all the terms of this Custody Judgment, including all the terms of the Joint Parenting Agreement made in writing between the parties and entered by this Court. 5. This is a final judgment. Entered: _____________________________________ JUDGE _____________________________________ DATE Page 3 of 3