The parenting plan used in an Illinois divorce with children is form ATJ 108.4, Parenting Plan (Divorce With Children), an approved statewide form that every Illinois Circuit Court must accept. Parents use it to record who makes significant decisions, when each child is with each parent, how exchanges and communication work, and how conflicts are handled. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original form and the other Divorce With Children forms are published by the Illinois courts.
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What is ATJ 108.4?
Parenting Plan (Divorce With Children), form ATJ 108.4, is the Illinois statewide court form in which parents set out decision-making, a parenting time schedule, transportation, communication, relocation and conflict-resolution terms for their minor children in a divorce case.
The form is approved by the Illinois Supreme Court, and its footer states that all Illinois Circuit Courts are required to accept it. The Illinois courts list it as approved in 03/2025 among the Divorce With Children forms, next to the Petition for Divorce with Children and the Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union with Children.
A box at the top identifies which version you are completing: Petitioner's Suggested Parenting Plan, Respondent's Suggested Parenting Plan, Agreed Parenting Plan or Court's Parenting Plan. The plan has 15 numbered items. They cover the parties' details, notice of a move, the children, each parent's rights and responsibilities, significant decisions (education, health, religion, activities), a weekly, holiday and school-break parenting time schedule, transportation, exchanges, first refusal for childcare, communication, relocation, custody and residence for other purposes, changes to the plan and mediation. The last page has signature lines for both parents and an ENTERED line for the judge.
Two companion forms extend it: the Additional Children form, when there are more than 3 children, and the Additional Parenting Time form, when more schedule space is needed.
Who needs to file ATJ 108.4?
Parents who are part of an Illinois divorce case with children use this form to propose or record a parenting plan. It is written for two parties: the Petitioner, who started the case, and the Respondent, the person the case was filed against. Either can complete a version, marked in the box at the top as a suggested plan, an agreed plan or the court's plan.
Conditions printed on the form:
- Item 4 lists only minor children born to or adopted by the parents.
- Do not complete 1B if the Petitioner's contact information is protected because of domestic violence or abuse. Do not complete 2B if the Respondent's information is protected for the same reason.
- Parents with more than 3 children list the others on the attached Additional Children form.
- Parents who need more than two weekly schedules use the Additional Parenting Time form.
Both parents sign under Sign & Approve to show they agree, and the judge completes the ENTERED line. The form does not describe anyone signing for a parent.
When to file ATJ 108.4
The Parenting Plan belongs to the divorce-with-children case, so you complete it as part of that case; the form prints no separate due date. The case number, county and party names at the top tie it to the case where it is filed.
Later events can require a new or updated plan. Under Item 14, a long-term or permanent change that both parents agree to means drafting and filing a new Parenting Plan with the court, while a one-time or short-term change does not need to be filed. Under Item 12, when parents agree on a move but need to change the schedule, the moving parent files an updated Parenting Plan and the court must approve the changes.
Timing rules built into the plan: a parent who plans to move gives the other parent at least 60 days' notice, or notice as soon as possible (Item 3). If the summer break option is chosen, each parent notifies the other in writing by April 1 each year of the weeks they want.
Documents you need
- Additional Children form: attach it if you have more than 3 children and check the box in Item 4 stating that other children are listed on it.
- Additional Parenting Time form: include it with the Parenting Plan if there will be more than two weekly schedules, or for more parenting time information.
How to fill out ATJ 108.4
Mark the version and case caption
Check one box at the top: Petitioner's Suggested, Respondent's Suggested, Agreed or Court's Parenting Plan. Enter the county where you are filing, the Petitioner and Respondent names (first, middle, last) and the case number.
Enter Petitioner details in Item 1
Complete lines A to E: name, address, phone, email and whether the Petitioner is employed, with the employer's name, address and phone. Skip line 1B if the Petitioner's contact information is protected because of domestic violence or abuse.
Enter Respondent details in Item 2
Complete lines A to E with the same information for the Respondent. Skip line 2B if the Respondent's information is protected because of domestic violence or abuse.
Review the notice of move in Item 3
Item 3 has nothing to fill in. It says both parents must give each other at least 60 days' notice of a move, or notice as soon as possible, with the intended move date and the new address unless protected.
List the children in Item 4
Enter each minor child's name and age, up to three. If you have more than 3 children, check the box for the Additional Children form and attach it.
Choose who makes significant decisions
In Item 6, check one option for each category: A education, B health, C religious, D extracurricular or recreational decisions. The options are Both Parents, Petitioner Only or Respondent Only. Item 5 on each parent's rights and responsibilities needs no entries.
Build the weekly parenting time schedule
In Item 7, enter each parent's name and initials, then the date Week 1 begins. Fill the hourly blocks from 8 AM to 9 PM and the overnight row (9:00 PM to 8:00 AM) with a name or initials; complete Week 2 only if schedules alternate.
Set holidays and school breaks
Check only one holiday option: the Group A and Group B split by even and odd years, or the holiday-by-holiday chart with ODD, EVEN, start time and end time. Then choose an option for spring, summer and winter break, with start and end day and time for any Other entry.
Select transportation and exchange terms
In Item 8, select only one transportation option or describe Other. In Item 9, choose the parents' homes or enter the location and address and city of the exchange.
Decide childcare and communication
In Item 10, answer Yes or No to the right of first refusal for childcare. In Item 11, select Anytime, the daily time window with a.m. or p.m., or Other.
Read relocation and complete Item 13
Item 12 sets the relocation rules, with 25 miles in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties and 50 miles elsewhere in Illinois. In Item 13, check which parent has the most parenting time and whose home is the residential address for school enrollment only.
Choose change and mediation terms
In Item 14, check the options for agreed and disputed changes. In Item 15, check whether mediation is required on all issues or not required, and give the reason if it is not.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check names, dates and the schedule, then have the Petitioner and Respondent sign under Sign & Approve; the judge completes the ENTERED line. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF.
How to submit ATJ 108.4
The Parenting Plan is filed with the Illinois Circuit Court of the county named at the top of the form, and the Illinois courts' forms page describes e-filing for these forms. The form itself prints no mailing address or portal.
- Get the form: download it free from ilcourts.info/forms. Save the PDF to your computer before you start; filling out a form on a webpage loses your progress. Adobe Acrobat or free Adobe Reader XI (or higher) is needed to save a completed form.
- E-filing: you must "flatten" the form so it cannot be changed. In Adobe Acrobat or Reader (recommended), choose File, then Print, then "Adobe PDF" or "Print to PDF", and save the result. In other software, look for a "Save as PDF" option in the print dialog. Open the flattened file to check it looks filled out before you e-file.
- Court filing: the form states that it is filed with the Circuit Court where you are filing the case; for any other filing method, follow that county court's own rules.
- Guided help: Illinois Legal Aid Online offers a free guided interview called an Easy Form that completes the forms from your answers.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving the box at the top unchecked, so it is unclear whether this is a Petitioner's, Respondent's, Agreed or Court's Parenting Plan.
- Completing 1B or 2B when that party's contact information is protected because of domestic violence or abuse; the form says not to.
- Listing a child in Item 4 who is not a minor born to or adopted by the parents, or listing a fourth child there instead of on the Additional Children form.
- Checking more than one option in an Item 6 category, or more than one box where Items 8 or the holiday schedule say to select only one.
- Giving both parents the same initials in Item 7; the form says to choose another way of identifying each parent.
- Filling in only one weekly schedule when the schedule alternates every other week; two schedules are required then.
- Filling out the PDF on a webpage without first downloading and saving it, which loses your progress.
- Trying to e-file a form that has not been flattened, or e-filing without opening the flattened file to confirm it looks filled out.
Frequently asked questions
What is a parenting plan in an Illinois divorce with children?
A parenting plan is the document where parents set decision-making, a parenting time schedule, transportation, communication, relocation and conflict rules for their children. Illinois uses statewide form ATJ 108.4, Parenting Plan (Divorce With Children), which all Illinois Circuit Courts must accept.
Can I fill out the Illinois Parenting Plan online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent and does not file the plan with the court; you file it through the court's channels, such as e-filing after flattening the PDF.
Who signs the Parenting Plan?
Both parents sign at the end under Sign & Approve, the Petitioner and the Respondent, to show they agree. The judge completes the ENTERED line with a signature and date. The form does not describe anyone signing on a parent's behalf.
What are the four versions of the Parenting Plan?
The box at the top lets you mark Petitioner's Suggested, Respondent's Suggested, Agreed or Court's Parenting Plan. Check the one that matches who is proposing the plan or whether the parents agree, then complete the same 15 items.
Is mediation required under this Parenting Plan?
Item 15 gives two choices. Mediation is required on all issues when parents have joint decision making, and costs are split equally unless the court orders otherwise. It is not required if one parent has all significant decision-making, there is a history of domestic violence, or another stated reason applies.
What if I have more than three children?
Item 4 has room for three children. If you have more than 3, list the others on the attached Additional Children form and check the box saying you did so. Only minor children born to or adopted by the parents are listed.
How do I e-file the Parenting Plan after filling it out?
Flatten the form first so it cannot be changed. In Adobe Acrobat or Reader, choose File, Print, then Adobe PDF or Print to PDF and save. Without Adobe, use a Save as PDF option in the print dialog. Open the flattened file to confirm it looks filled out before e-filing.
Do we have to file a new plan if we change it later?
Only for long-term or permanent changes. Under Item 14, a one-time or short-term change the parents agree on is made without filing an agreement, while a long-term or permanent change means drafting and filing a new Parenting Plan with the court.
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