​Cook County Family Courts Are Failing Families—And Children Are Paying the Price

I’m writing not as a legal expert, but as a spouse, a parent, and a concerned Illinois resident who has witnessed firsthand the devastating failures of the Cook County Family Court system. My family—like so many others—is suffering because the court refuses to enforce its own orders. And the ones who suffer most? Our children.

Since 2022, my spouse has been embroiled in a custody dispute in Cook County Family Court. The judge issued a clear parenting schedule—a legal order designed to ensure both parents remain active in their children's lives. But despite that order, the other parent has repeatedly denied court-ordered parenting time. No explanation. No accountability. No consequences.

To date, my spouse has lost 78 days with his children.
That’s 78 missed school pickups.
78 bedtimes.
78 moments a parent never gets back.

And despite multiple legal filings, hearings, and pleas for help, the court has done nothing to enforce its own ruling.

Where Is the Guardian Ad Litem?

Even more troubling is the inaction of the Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)—the court-appointed advocate tasked with protecting the best interests of the children. In our case, the GAL has ignored emails, missed red flags, and done nothing to address this ongoing violation of parenting rights.

GALs wield enormous influence in family court cases. When they’re silent—or absent—the entire system fails the children, it claims to protect.

We Are Not Alone

What’s most alarming is how common our story is. I've spoken with other parents, legal advocates, and family law professionals across Illinois. The patterns are the same:

• Court orders violated with impunity
• Parenting time withheld without cause
• GALs unresponsive
• Courts unwilling or unable to act

This isn’t just a family issue. This is a systemic failure.

When court orders are ignored without consequence, they become suggestions—not law. Parents who break them often face no repercussions, while those who follow the rules are left with sky-high legal bills, emotional devastation, and fractured families. And the children? They’re caught in the middle.

A Broken System Needs Reform

The Cook County Family Court system is overwhelmed and underfunded—but that’s no excuse for inaction. We need bold, immediate reform to make sure families are protected, and children are prioritized—not neglected.

Here’s what must change:

✅ Enforce Parenting Time Like Any Other Court Order

Violating a parenting schedule is a serious offense. Courts must respond swiftly and consistently when parenting time is denied. The law is only meaningful if it’s enforced.

✅ Hold Guardian Ad Litems Accountable

GALs must face oversight and standards. There should be transparent complaint processes and performance reviews to ensure they act in children’s best interests—not out of convenience or neglect.

✅ Create Real Consequences for Violations

Parents who repeatedly defy court orders should face legal consequences—sanctions, required mediation, or even custody modifications. Without enforcement, court orders mean nothing.

✅ Invest in Our Family Court System

Judges are buried in caseloads. GALs are stretched thin. Illinois must invest in more judges, better-trained GALs, and family court staff who can respond to cases in a timely, effective way.

This Isn’t About Special Treatment—It’s About Fairness

No parent should have to spend years in court just to see their own children. No child should be denied stability and love because the system can’t—or won’t—intervene.

We must demand better—from our judges, from our lawmakers, and from the institutions meant to protect families.

Let’s Start Talking—and Acting

If you're a parent, a policymaker, a judge, or simply a concerned citizen—this issue affects you. When courts fail, families fracture. And when families fracture, our entire community suffers.

I’m calling on leaders in Illinois to investigate these issues and push for meaningful, lasting reform. Our family's story is just one of many. But together, we can push for a system that truly serves the children it was created to protect.

If you’ve experienced something similar or want to help drive reform, I encourage you to speak out. Silence only protects the broken system.