Summary A contested divorce in Illinois starts when spouses cannot agree on every divorce issue. These issues may include parenting time, support, property division, and money matters. These cases can involve discovery, temporary orders, negotiation, mediation, and trial. Good prep, clear plans, and solid financial and parenting records help protect long-term interests and keep the case on track. When spouses cannot agree on divorce terms, the case is contested. In Illinois,

A clear outline of what judges actually look at when it comes to awarding parenting time and decision making.

Illinois just lowered the shared-parenting threshold from 146 overnights to 110 and replaced the all-or-nothing cliff with graduated adjustments. The new law also counts daytime parenting, changes the rules for low-income and incarcerated parents, and requires annual income disclosure. Here's what changes January 1, 2027 — and why existing orders don't update automatically.

Most school-year parenting problems are visible in July — they just don't get handled until they're urgent. Here's what Illinois co-parents should review before the first day of school: whether the parenting plan matches reality, exchange logistics, school records access, extracurricular decisions and costs, and when it's time to modify the order instead of fighting it all year.

If your co-parent took your child out of Illinois, the first response matters. Here is what to do, what not to do, and when emergency court relief may be necessary.