There are several sweeping changes that impact families in the process of divorce that will significantly change the language and the process itself.

Custody: The new law eliminates the terms joint or legal custody, residential custody, and visitation and instead uses terms such as "parental responsibility" and "parenting time". The hope is that the language will reduce or eliminate the concept that in these disputes there are winners and losers. The courts will still utilize the best interest of the child standard in making decisions in these cases.

Alert: The issues of residency and educational decision making may be impacted by this change of statute.

College Expenses: The new law limits parents' obligations to pay post-high school educational expenses so that the maximum amount a party could be ordered to contribute is set at the cost of in-state attendance at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, not including medical and living expenses.