(a) Program. Each circuit or county shall create or approve a parenting education program consisting of at least four hours covering the subjects of parenting time and allocation of parental responsibilities and their impact on children.
Rule 924.Parenting Education Requirement
Article IX. Child Custody or Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Proceedings · Part B. Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Proceedings Under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act and the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984 · Last amended 2016 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 924 requires parents in divorce and parentage cases with children to complete an approved parenting-education program of at least four hours within 60 days of the initial case management conference, unless the court excuses attendance for documented good cause and finds that excusal serves the child’s best interests.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 924
(b) Mandatory Attendance. Except when excused by the court for good cause shown, all parties shall be required to attend and complete an approved parenting education program as soon as possible, but not later than 60 days after an initial case management conference. In the case of a default or lack of jurisdiction over the respondent, only the petitioning party is required to attend but if the respondent later enters an appearance or participates in postjudgment proceedings, then the party who has not attended the program shall attend. The court shall not excuse attendance unless the reason is documented in the record and a finding is made that excusing one or both parents from attendance is in the best interests of the child.
(c) Sanctions. The court may impose sanctions on any party willfully failing to complete the program.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 924 requires every circuit or county to run or approve a parenting-education program — at least four hours covering parenting time, allocation of parental responsibilities, and how parents’ conflict affects children. The goal is to get parents thinking about their children’s needs before disputes harden.
Both parents in a divorce or parentage case with children must attend and complete the program, usually within 60 days of the initial case management conference. A court can excuse attendance, but only for good cause documented in the record, and only after finding that skipping the class serves the child’s best interests. If a case starts as a default or without jurisdiction over the respondent, only the filing party has to attend at first — but the other parent has to attend too if they later show up in the case.
A parent who willfully skips the program risks sanctions from the court.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the parenting education class in an Illinois divorce case?
An approved program of at least four hours covering parenting time, allocation of parental responsibilities, and their effect on children.
Do both parents have to attend?
Yes, unless the court excuses one parent’s attendance for good cause and finds that excusing them serves the child’s best interests.
How soon do I need to complete the class?
As soon as possible, and no later than 60 days after the initial case management conference.
What happens if I skip the parenting class?
The court may impose sanctions on a parent who willfully fails to complete the required program.
What if my ex never responds to the case?
Only the filing party has to complete the class at first, but the other parent must attend too if they later appear in the case or in a postjudgment proceeding.
Committee Comments
(Revised March 8, 2016)
Special Supreme Court Committee on Child Custody Issues Parenting education can have a very positive impact on the outcome of an allocation of parental responsibilities proceeding. Parenting education encourages parents to think about the impact of their actions on their children and teaches parents to deal with adult problems in ways that avoid harm to their children. Paragraph (a) requires each judicial circuit or county to create or approve a parenting education program and sets out the minimum requirements of such a program. Individual judicial circuits or counties may permit the circuit courts to impose additional educational requirements on one or all of the parties. Paragraph (b) requires parenting education for all dissolution of marriage cases involving a child and all parentage cases, absent good cause shown. Compliance with the parenting education requirement will be reviewed at the initial case management conference. Parents are expected to complete parenting education not later than 60 days after the initial case management conference. Paragraph (c) provides that sanctions may be imposed on parties who willfully fail to comply with the parenting education requirement.
Amendment History
Adopted February 10, 2006, effective July 1, 2006; amended Mar. 8, 2016, eff. immediately.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
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