After an Illinois divorce or parentage case, parents often still need to communicate about schedules, drop‑offs, extracurricular activities, appointments, holidays, vacations, and many other details of a child’s life. A parenting plan can establish who has parenting time and who makes major decisions. Even a detailed parenting plan, however, cannot anticipate every disagreement that may arise.
Some divorced parents are able to follow a parenting plan with little court involvement. Others struggle to do so. When disputes repeatedly arise, the court may determine that the parents need assistance implementing the parenting plan without filing a new motion each time a disagreement occurs.
That is where a parenting coordinator may become involved.
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 909 provides the statewide framework for parenting coordination. Adopted in 2023, the rule explains how parenting coordination functions in Illinois courts.
A parenting coordinator is not a judge and does not replace the parenting plan. Instead, a parenting coordinator is a court‑appointed professional who helps high‑conflict parents apply their existing parenting orders to the smaller, recurring disputes that arise during day‑to‑day co‑parenting.
Rule 909 describes parenting coordination as “a child‑focused alternative dispute resolution process conducted by a licensed mental health or family law professional.” Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(b).
The goal is to reduce conflict between parents and encourage consistent compliance with the parenting plan while limiting the child’s exposure to ongoing disputes.
A Deeper Look at Parenting Coordinators in Illinois
A parenting coordinator is a professional appointed by the court to carry out parenting coordination duties. Rule 909 defines a parenting coordinator as “the person appointed by the court to perform the duties of parenting coordination as set forth in this Rule.” Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(b).
The role is largely practical. Rather than requiring parents to return to court whenever a dispute arises about implementing their parenting plan, the parenting coordinator helps the parents clarify expectations, manage conflict, and comply with existing court orders.
Rule 909 states that parenting coordination may involve “assessment, education, case management, conflict management, dispute resolution, and decision‑making functions.” Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(b).
In many cases, parenting coordinators appear in situations involving ongoing parental conflict. Under Rule 909, parenting coordination may be appropriate where coparents are “unable or unwilling to cooperate in making parenting decisions, communicate effectively with regard to issues involving their children, implement and comply with parenting agreements and orders, or shield their children from the impact of parental conflict.” Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(b).
This means the appointment generally occurs when ongoing conflict is interfering with the implementation of the parenting plan or affecting the child’s daily life.
Common disputes addressed by parenting coordinators include pickup and drop‑off logistics, small schedule adjustments, extracurricular activities, discipline issues, holiday scheduling, and other routine matters assigned by the court. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(f).
Rule 909 also provides that parents must comply with a parenting coordinator’s recommendations unless and until the court rules otherwise. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(d), (k).
An Illinois appellate court has explained that these recommendations are “more than mere suggestions” because the rule requires compliance unless the court decides otherwise. In re Marriage of Jones, 2024 IL App (2d) 240229‑U, ¶ 25.
At the same time, a parenting coordinator does not replace the court. A parenting coordinator cannot decide the initial allocation of parental responsibilities, make major changes to parenting time, determine child support or maintenance, resolve property or debt issues, or decide relocation matters. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(g). Those decisions remain within the authority of the court.
When an Illinois Court May Appoint a Parenting Coordinator
Parenting coordinators are not appointed in every divorce or parentage case involving children. Many parents successfully follow a parenting plan without additional assistance.
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 909 provides that a parenting coordinator may be appointed “[f]ollowing the entry of a parenting plan, or prior to entry if approved by a court.” Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(c).
Before making the appointment, the court must also consider “any allegations or evidence of intimate partner violence where one coparent has exhibited or continues to exhibit patterns of violence, threat, intimidation, and coercive control over a coparent.” Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(c).
Because parenting coordination requires ongoing communication between the parties and the coordinator, the court must determine whether the process is appropriate and how it can be structured safely in cases involving allegations of coercive control, intimidation, or domestic violence.
Under Rule 909, a parenting coordinator may be appointed when doing so is “deemed in the best interest of the child(ren)” for reasons including:
- The coparents have failed to adequately cooperate or communicate regarding issues involving their children;
- The coparents have been unable to implement the existing parenting plan or parenting schedule;
- Mediation has not been successful or has been determined by the court to be inappropriate;
- The coparents agree to the appointment; or
- Another appropriate reason identified by the court that falls within the authority of Rule 909.
In practical terms, parenting coordination is often considered when parents already have a parenting plan but continue to experience repeated conflict in carrying it out.
Parenting Coordinators in Cook County Divorce Cases
Cook County has its own local rule addressing parenting coordination. Cook County Circuit Court Rule 13.10 allows a judge to appoint a parenting coordinator when the parties “failed to adequately cooperate and communicate with regard to issues involving their children, or have been unable to implement a parenting plan or parenting schedule.” Cook Co. Cir. Ct. R. 13.10(a).
The rule also permits appointment when mediation has been unsuccessful or deemed inappropriate, when the parents agree to the appointment, or when the court determines that the appointment serves the child’s best interests. Cook Co. Cir. Ct. R. 13.10(a).
Under the Cook County rule, the parenting coordinator may educate the parents, help mediate disputes, monitor compliance with court orders, and make recommendations when necessary. Cook Co. Cir. Ct. R. 13.10(d)(i).
The purpose is not to reopen all issues in the divorce case but to assist parents in resolving recurring child‑related disputes before those disagreements escalate into additional court litigation.
What a Parenting Coordinator Can Do in an Illinois Divorce
The authority of a parenting coordinator depends on the appointing court order, Illinois Supreme Court Rule 909, and any applicable local court rules.
Generally, parenting coordinators help resolve practical disputes related to implementing the parenting plan. Rule 909 permits them to facilitate communication, assist with dispute resolution, and provide recommendations regarding matters within the scope of the parenting orders. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(e).
Examples may include recommendations regarding the time, place, and manner of a child’s pickup or drop‑off, disagreements about participation in extracurricular activities, small parenting‑time adjustments, holiday scheduling, discipline issues, health or personal care matters, and other issues assigned by the court. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(f).
These disputes are often not the major legal issues addressed during the divorce itself. Instead, they are the everyday logistical disagreements that can repeatedly bring parents back to court.
While parenting coordinators have meaningful authority to help address these issues, their role remains limited.
For example, an Illinois appellate court has noted that Rule 909 functions as an “enabling rule” allowing judicial circuits to establish parenting coordinator programs, and that a coordinator’s authority is shaped by the appointing order and applicable local rules. In re Marriage of Buchman, 2026 IL App (1st) 231533‑U, ¶ 56.
As a result, the court remains the final decision‑maker in the case.
Do Parents Have to Follow a Parenting Coordinator’s Recommendations?
Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 909, parents must comply with a parenting coordinator’s recommendations unless the court determines otherwise. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(k).
If a parent disagrees with a recommendation, that parent may file a motion asking the court to review it. The court reviews the issue under a de novo standard, meaning the judge considers the issue independently without deferring to the parenting coordinator’s recommendation. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(l).
In Illinois, de novo review allows the court to independently assess the facts and determine what relief is appropriate. People v. Cosby, 231 Ill. 2d 262, 271 (2008); People v. Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d 530, 542‑43 (2006).
Rule 909 also allows the court to allocate attorney’s fees and costs if a parent challenges a recommendation and the court substantially affirms it. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(l). This provision is intended to discourage unnecessary litigation while preserving judicial review when appropriate.
What a Parenting Coordinator Cannot Do
Rule 909 clearly limits the authority of parenting coordinators.
A parenting coordinator cannot make recommendations about the allocation of parental decision‑making responsibilities, the initial allocation of parenting time, relocation with a child, or visitation by nonparents. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(g).
Parenting coordinators also cannot determine child support, spousal maintenance, or the division of marital property or debt. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(g). These issues involve significant legal rights and remain within the court’s authority.
Additionally, Rule 909 prohibits a parenting coordinator from serving as a court‑appointed evaluator under Section 604.10 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act in the same case. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(i).
This distinction helps ensure that parenting coordination does not become a substitute for a custody evaluation or a process for relitigating core parenting issues.
Who Pays for a Parenting Coordinator in Illinois
Parenting coordinators charge fees for their services, and the court determines how those fees will be allocated.
Rule 909 provides that “the coparents shall pay the parenting coordinator fees as ordered by the court upon consideration of the financial resources of the coparents or agreed upon in writing by the coparents and the parenting coordinator.” Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(j).
Courts sometimes divide the fees equally, but they may also allocate a larger share to one parent depending on the parties’ financial resources.
These fees are separate from attorney’s fees. Each parent may still be responsible for their own legal expenses in addition to any share of the parenting coordinator’s fees ordered by the court.
Communications With a Parenting Coordinator
Parents should understand that communications with a parenting coordinator are not confidential. Rule 909 states that communications between the parenting coordinator and the parties are not confidential. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(n).
This differs from mediation. Under the Illinois Uniform Mediation Act, most mediation communications are privileged and generally cannot be disclosed in court proceedings. 710 ILCS 35/4(a).
Parenting coordination operates differently because the coordinator is helping implement court orders and may provide written recommendations regarding disputes.
Rule 909 also provides that parenting coordinators may not engage in ex parte communications with the court. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(n). In other words, the coordinator should not privately communicate with the judge outside the presence of the parties or their attorneys.
Because communications are not confidential, parents should approach interactions with the parenting coordinator thoughtfully and professionally.
Who Can Serve as a Parenting Coordinator in Illinois
Parenting coordinators must meet certain qualifications. Each judicial circuit may adopt local rules or procedures governing who may serve in the role, provided those rules remain consistent with Rule 909. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 909(o).
In Cook County, applicants generally must hold a Juris Doctor, a master’s degree, or a higher degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or a related field. They must also have several years of professional experience in family law, mental health, or a related discipline and complete domestic violence and continuing education training.
These requirements reflect the unique nature of parenting coordination, which involves legal knowledge, conflict management skills, and an understanding of family dynamics.
Parenting Coordinators Compared to Other Court‑Appointed Professionals
A parenting coordinator serves a different role than other professionals who may be appointed in family law cases involving children.
For example, under Section 506 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, a court may appoint a guardian ad litem, a child representative, or an attorney for the child. 750 ILCS 5/506(a).
A guardian ad litem investigates the child’s circumstances and reports to the court regarding the child’s best interests. 750 ILCS 5/506(a)(2). A child representative participates in the litigation in a manner similar to an attorney for a party while advocating for the child’s best interests. 750 ILCS 5/506(a)(3).
By contrast, a parenting coordinator does not represent the child, conduct a full investigation, or provide formal recommendations to the court regarding custody issues. Instead, the coordinator focuses on helping parents manage ongoing disputes related to the implementation of existing parenting orders.
Is Parenting Coordination Appropriate in Your Illinois Divorce?
Parenting coordination can be helpful in situations where parents already have a parenting plan but continue to experience repeated conflict about how to follow it.
It is generally most useful when the disputes involve day‑to‑day implementation of the parenting plan rather than requests to change the legal structure of parenting time or decision‑making authority.
Issues such as major modifications to parenting time, relocation with a child, child support, or property matters remain within the court’s authority and must be addressed through the usual legal process.
In many cases, the central question is whether the dispute concerns implementing the existing parenting plan or changing the parenting plan itself.
If the issue involves ongoing conflict about how to carry out the plan, parenting coordination may be a tool the court considers to help manage those disputes while keeping the focus on the child’s well‑being.
