Illinois Parenting Classes for Divorce: Requirements, Cost, and What to Expect

Yes, Parenting Classes Are Mandatory

Under Section 404.1 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act and Illinois Supreme Court Rule 924, every parent involved in a dissolution, parentage, relocation, or post-judgment modification case involving minor children must complete a court-approved parenting education program.

There is no exception for amicable divorces, agreed parenting plans, or cases where parents "don't need it." The court will not enter a final judgment on parental responsibilities, parenting time, or relocation until both parties file their certificates of completion, except upon a showing of good cause or in a default case.

Timing: The 60-Day Deadline

The parenting class must be completed within 60 days of your initial case management conference. If you miss this deadline, the court can postpone the finalization of your entire case — including the divorce decree itself. The judge may grant an extension for good cause, but counting on that is a gamble.

Both parents must complete the class, even if you've agreed on everything, but attendance format and whether parents attend separate sessions vary by county and program. Cook County requires separate sessions.

County-Specific Programs and Costs

Each Illinois county designates its own approved program. Here's what the major counties require:

Cook County — Focus on Children

• Format: In-person only, 4 hours
• Cost: $50 per parent
• Location: Cook County Domestic Relations Division courthouse
• Both parents must attend separate sessions — you cannot be in the same room

DuPage County — Caring, Coping and Children (CCC)

• Format: In-person and online options available
• Cost: $50 to $100
• Requires passing a post-course test with an 80% score or better
• Online option is self-paced but must be completed within the court's deadline

Lake County — Children First Foundation Program

• Format: 4-hour course administered through the College of Lake County
• Cost: $60 (in-person) or $100 (online)
• Registration through the 19th Judicial Circuit's family parenting page

Will County — Approved Local Course

• Format: In-person only
• Cost: Approximately $70
• Online classes are not accepted without explicit court permission

For downstate counties, check with the Circuit Clerk's office for the approved provider. Most counties accept programs from the Illinois Supreme Court's approved list, but some require a specific local provider.

What the Class Covers

These aren't therapy sessions or conflict mediation. Parenting education programs are structured courses designed to help parents understand how separation affects children at different developmental stages.

Typical topics include:

• How children process parental conflict and what behavioral signs to watch for
• Age-appropriate ways to talk with children about the divorce
• The impact of parental communication patterns on children's adjustment
• Strategies for reducing children's exposure to adult conflict during transitions
• An overview of the legal process — how custody allocation works, what the court expects

The classes are educational, not adversarial. You won't be asked to discuss your case specifics in front of the group, and the instructor doesn't report anything back to the judge.

What You Get at the End

After completing the course, you receive a certificate of completion. File this certificate with the Circuit Court Clerk in your county. Your attorney (if you have one) should also retain a copy for the case file.

The judge checks for both certificates before entering any final order involving the children. If one parent has completed the class but the other hasn't, the compliant parent isn't penalized — but the case stays open until both certificates are on file, absent a showing of good cause or a default judgment.

Fee Waivers

If you've already been granted a fee waiver for your court filing fees (Form CIR-GF-60), ask the course provider whether it separately waives or reduces the parenting class fee. A filing-fee waiver does not itself establish that the class fee is waived; ask the provider or court about any available accommodation.

Getting It Done Early

Register for the class as soon as your case is filed. Class sections fill up, especially in Cook and DuPage counties, and waiting until the 60-day deadline is approaching limits your scheduling options.

If you're preparing for your custody case using the Illinois Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide, the procedural roadmap inside the guide flags the parenting class deadline alongside every other critical milestone — so nothing slips through the cracks while you're focused on building your parenting plan.

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