Postjudgment Conflict and Cooperation Following Court-Connected Parent Education

Abstract

Court records for 1010 dissolution of marriage cases filed in a northeastern Illinois county during the period 1995-98 were systematically reviewed for activity involving postjudgment petitions affecting the parties' children. Statistical analysis of the 1010 cases demonstrated the unanticipated finding that participation in a court-connected parent education class was positively associated with an increase in contested postjudgment proceedings. This relationship was shown through crosstabulation, the logit model, and event count analysis. The sample included 111 cases that ultimately settled. Crosstabulation and event count analysis revealed no association between class participation and the speed at which postjudgment petitions were settled.

Key Words:

• Divorce education
• parent education
• relitigation
• divorce litigation
• postjudgment settlements