Divorce mediation lets you control how things end and get resolved. Everything might get decided in a mediation if you both agree. In other situations, you might agree on some issues but need to litigate others. Knowing what gets decided in an Illinois divorce mediation can help you plan for the future and seek to resolve any differences you have.
At Kulerski & Cornelison, our team serves families in DuPage and Cook counties. We assist couples through the divorce process. We utilize alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation when appropriate, but are skilled litigators and negotiators for when cases need more.
Parenting Time and Parental Responsibilities
One of the most important areas addressed in mediation is the allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making) and parenting time (the schedule). Illinois courts require mediation when parents cannot agree on child-related issues, and mediation gives parents the opportunity to design a plan that reflects their children’s routines, needs, and best interests.
Parents can use mediation to resolve:
- Weekday and weekend parenting schedules
- Holiday and vacation rotations
- Transportation and exchange logistics
- Decision-making authority for education, health care, religion, and extracurricular activities
- Communication expectations between parents
- Guidelines for introducing new partners
Child Support and Expense Sharing
Although Illinois uses statutory guidelines to calculate child support, mediation can address the practical details surrounding financial responsibilities. Parents can negotiate:
- How to share childcare costs
- How to divide unreimbursed medical expenses
- How to handle extracurricular activity fees
- How to manage school-related expenses
- How to coordinate tax dependency exemptions
The final child support amount must comply with Illinois law, but mediation allows parents to customize how additional expenses are handled in a way that feels fair and workable.
Division of Marital Property
Mediation can be especially helpful in dividing your property. This gives you a lot more control than letting the court decide. Equitable distribution rules apply, but an agreement can usually dictate what you both think is fair.
Issues commonly resolved include:
- Division of bank accounts, investments, and retirement assets
- Allocation of real estate, including the marital home
- Distribution of vehicles, personal property, and valuables
- Treatment of stock options, bonuses, or deferred compensation
- How to handle marital debts and liabilities
Mediation also allows spouses to discuss creative solutions that courts may not typically order.
Spousal Maintenance (Alimony)
Spousal maintenance can be one of the most contentious issues in a divorce. Mediation provides a structured environment to discuss:
- Whether maintenance will be paid
- The amount and duration of payments
- Conditions that may modify or terminate maintenance
- How maintenance interacts with property division
Temporary Agreements During the Divorce
Mediation can also address temporary orders that apply while the divorce is pending. These may include:
- Temporary parenting schedules
- Temporary child support or maintenance
- Who stays in the marital home
- How bills and expenses will be paid during the process
- Temporary use of vehicles or other property
Communication Rules and Co-Parenting Expectations
Many couples use mediation to establish guidelines that support healthier communication and reduce future disputes. These may include:
- Preferred communication methods (text, email, co-parenting apps)
- Response-time expectations
- Rules for discussing issues in front of the children
- Conflict-resolution procedures for future disagreements
What Mediation Does Not Decide
Mediation is flexible, but it has limits. A mediator cannot:
- Provide legal advice to either spouse
- Force an agreement
- Decide issues for the couple
- Approve the final settlement (only the court can do that)
Use Mediation in an Illinois Divorce to Resolve Your Differences
Going through mediation as part of your divorce can be incredibly helpful. With the help of your attorney, you may be able to resolve all of your outstanding issues. You may resolve part of those conflicts instead, saving time and money.
At Kulerski & Cornelison, our family law attorneys are ready to help. Contact us today for a consultation of your case.