What Can I Do if My Ex Will Not Make Our Children Do Their Homework? 

 Posted on April 04, 2022 in Family Law

One common reason many Illinois couples pursue divorce is because of very different opinions regarding how their children should be raised. Unfortunately, after a divorce is finalized and a parenting agreement has been made, these issues often continue to be a problem because parents must continue to raise the children. When one parent has a laissez-faire attitude towards things like homework completion, the other parent may become increasingly frustrated by failing grades, notes from school, and constantly feeling like the “bad guy” for enforcing homework. If you are co-parenting in Illinois and this situation sounds familiar, read on. 

What Does Illinois Law Say About Homework After Divorce? 

There is no specific law in Illinois requiring that parents make their children do their homework. However, parents are expected to act in their child’s best interests and, after a divorce, parents are under a certain amount of judicial supervision because parenting plans are legally enforceable. Parents who share parental responsibilities and make decisions about a child’s education are expected to work together to make decisions that benefit the child. If you feel as though your ex is refusing to meet their obligations by failing to enforce basic academic expectations, you can talk to an attorney to find out whether your complaint merits the attention of a judge for your spouse’s potential noncompliance with your divorce decree. 

If only one parent shares the responsibility for ensuring a child’s educational needs are met, and the other parent’s behavior interferes with that responsibility, this may also merit the attention of a judge. A parent can submit a petition for rule to show cause, stating that their co-parent is not following the divorce decree; the other parent must then appear in court and explain their decisions. A judge can then determine whether the parent who is failing to enforce homework completion is violating the parenting agreement and levy appropriate sanctions.  

Avoid Issues By Making Your Parenting Plan Very Specific 

Parents can often avoid issues like disagreements over homework by creating a highly detailed parenting plan. Although spouses are often motivated to conclude their divorce as soon as possible, the more detailed a parenting plan is, the less room it leaves for interpretation and mistakes later on. If your parenting plan states that each parent is responsible for ensuring homework is done when the children are at that parent’s house, that clause will be much easier to enforce if it is violated. 

Meet with a Hinsdale, IL Parenting Plan Lawyer

Crafting a great parenting plan requires taking your childrens’ needs, your preferences, and both parents’ parenting styles into consideration. For help writing or modifying a parenting plan that makes co-parenting between households more manageable, call an experienced Hinsdale parenting plan attorney at Law Office of Martoccio & Martoccio to schedule a free case review. We are committed to working hand-in-hand with our clients and we give each case customized legal assistance. Call us now at 630-920-8855. 

Source: 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+VI&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=8675000&SeqEnd=12200000