How to Effectively Co-Parent After a Divorce

 Posted on August 11, 2025 in Child Custody

When parents get divorced, they will likely have to work together until their child becomes an independent adult. Depending on how the relationship ended, working together as co-parents may be a tall order. A Plainfield, IL family law attorney can represent you in legal disputes with your co-parent and help you reach a mutual agreement about how parenting decisions should be handled.

At the Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C., we have decades of combined legal experience, and in that time, we have handled many sensitive child custody cases. We can provide you with strong counsel for mediation sessions with your co-parent, and if a disagreement escalates, we can represent you in a trial.

Prioritize Your Child’s Best Interests While Co-Parenting

After your divorce is finalized, you and your ex might disagree on how certain decisions are handled. For instance, you might object to your co-parent proposing to relocate with your child. In another case, you might have reservations about letting your child participate in certain extracurricular activities.

Regardless of the cause of the dispute, you should always keep your child’s best interests in mind. If you and your co-parent agree to do what is right for your child, you can work more productively together.

While you may have personal reasons to object to a decision, the courts are likely to rule in favor of a child’s long-term health and happiness. If you need help exercising your parental rights or protecting your child’s best interests, our attorneys can speak up on your behalf.

Encourage Your Child’s Relationship With the Other Parent

A divorce can be a traumatic experience for a child, no matter how old he or she is. With this in mind, it is important to recognize that even though you and your co-parent have separated, the child may have a strong attachment to both parents.

Though you may live in different households, you should recognize that your child still sees your co-parent just as importantly as they did before the divorce. As such, you should make sure that you play your part in fostering the child’s relationship with the other parent. Do not try to make your child choose a "favorite" parent or try to alienate the child from your co-parent with disparaging comments.

You should also keep the "right of first refusal" in mind if you are unable to fulfill your parenting time duties. This means that if you need to seek child care for a significant period of time, you must first offer your co-parent the right to take care of your child according to the terms of your court-ordered parenting plan.

Establish Healthy Communication With Your Co-Parent

While raising your child, you will inevitably run into unexpected problems. Your child might develop a health condition or start acting out in school. Your own circumstances may change to a point where a custody modification is required. Whatever the case, you should know how to discuss these issues with your co-parent.

Communication styles may differ between parents. You might text on a regular basis, or only call each other infrequently. In any case, you should relay important life updates to the other parent whenever possible. Additionally, if you run into a disagreement, you should consider how to resolve the dispute, whether through mediation or other channels. Many couples decide this ahead of time in their parenting plan to ensure these discussions are consistent and predictable.

Contact a Plainfield, IL Child Custody Lawyer

Co-parenting is a team effort. If you need help speaking up for yourself in a parenting dispute, our Will County, IL family law attorneys can help. To schedule a free consultation with the Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C. today, call our offices at 815-666-1285 to get started.