Quick answer: Illinois allocates parental responsibilities, meaning decision-making and parenting time, on the child’s best interests, and presumes both parents fit. For child support, shared physical care applies at 146 overnights each through December 31, 2026, and at 110 under Public Act 104-733 from January 1, 2027.
This Illinois parenting time calculator turns a schedule into overnights a year and applies either set of rules to the shared physical care line in 750 ILCS 5/505. Enter the overnights in a 14-day cycle and any extra nights: the result is arithmetic, and the court decides parenting time and support.
Illinois parenting time and custody rules at a glance
| Rule | What Illinois says |
|---|---|
| Best interests | The court allocates parenting time according to the child’s best interests (750 ILCS 5/602.7(a)) |
| Fit parents | It is presumed both parents are fit, and the court may not restrict parenting time unless it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that it would seriously endanger the child (602.7(b)) |
| Factors | Seventeen listed factors, including the caretaking each parent performed in the 24 months before the petition (602.7(b)) |
| Child support: current rule | Shared physical care at 146 or more overnights for each parent (750 ILCS 5/505) |
| Child support: Public Act 104-733 | From January 1, 2027, 110 or more overnights, with a 2% to 10% adjustment for 110 to 145 (SB 3524) |
| Moving | A relocating parent with the majority or equal parenting time gives 60 days’ written notice for moves over the statutory distance (609.2) |
How do custody and parenting time work in Illinois?
- Joint or sole decision-making. See joint versus sole decision-making in Illinois.
- Schedules. See parenting time schedules in Illinois.
- Moving with a child. See moving away with a child in Illinois.
What does this parenting time calculator check?
You enter the overnights the other parent has in a typical 14-day cycle and any extra overnights a year, such as summer and holidays, and choose the rules to apply. The calculator scales the cycle to 365 nights, adds the extras, and shows the overnights and percentage for each parent, whether both reach the shared physical care line and, under the 2027 rules, the Adjustment Table percentage for 110 to 145 overnights. It does not calculate child support: use the Illinois child support calculator for that, and the Illinois divorce timeline calculator for the dates of the case. Overnight equivalents that a court may count are not modeled.
Frequently asked questions
Does Illinois presume joint decision-making or equal time?
No. Both parents are presumed fit, and the court allocates decision-making and parenting time on the child’s best interests.
How many overnights is shared physical care in Illinois?
146 for each parent under the law in effect through December 31, 2026; 110 from January 1, 2027 under Public Act 104-733.
Does shared care change Illinois child support?
Yes. The shared physical care formula multiplies the basic obligation by 1.5 and credits each parent for the time the child is with that parent.
Does domestic violence affect Illinois parenting time?
The occurrence of abuse against the child or a member of the child’s household is one of the factors.
Does this Illinois calculator set child support?
No. It counts overnights; the Illinois child support calculator estimates the guideline amount.