(750 ILCS 36/102)
Sec. 102.
Definitions.
In this Act:
(1) "Abandoned" means left without provision for reasonable and necessary
care or supervision.
(2) "Child" means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age.
(3) "Child-custody determination" means a judgment, decree, or other order
of a court providing for the legal custody, physical custody, or visitation
with
respect to a child. The term includes a permanent, temporary, initial, and
modification order. The term does not include an order relating to child
support or
other monetary obligation of an individual.
(4) "Child-custody proceeding" means a proceeding in which legal custody,
physical custody, or visitation with respect to a child is an issue. The term
includes
a proceeding for divorce, separation, neglect, abuse, dependency, guardianship,
paternity, termination of parental rights, and protection from domestic
violence, in
which the issue may appear. The term does not include a proceeding involving
juvenile delinquency, contractual emancipation, or enforcement under Article 3.
(5) "Commencement" means the filing of the first pleading in a proceeding.
(6) "Court" means an entity authorized under the law of a state to
establish,
enforce, or modify a child-custody determination.
(7) "Home state" means the state in which a child lived with a parent or a
person acting as a parent for at least six consecutive months immediately
before the
commencement of a child-custody proceeding. In the case of a child less than
six
months of age, the term means the state in which the child lived from birth
with
any of the persons mentioned. A period of temporary absence of any of the
mentioned persons is part of the period.
(8) "Initial determination" means the first child-custody determination
concerning a particular child.
(9) "Issuing court" means the court that makes a child-custody
determination for which enforcement is sought under this Act.
(10) "Issuing state" means the state in which a child-custody determination
is made.
(11) "Modification" means a child-custody determination that changes,
replaces, supersedes, or is otherwise made after a previous determination
concerning the same child, whether or not it is made by the court that made the
previous determination.
(12) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate,
trust,
partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, government;
governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality; public corporation; or
any
other legal or commercial entity.
(13) "Person acting as a parent" means a person, other than a parent, who:
(A) has physical custody of the child or has had |
| physical custody for a period of six consecutive months, including any temporary absence, within one year immediately before the commencement of a child-custody proceeding; and
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(B) has been awarded legal custody by a court or
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| claims a right to legal custody under the law of this State.
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(14) "Physical custody" means the physical care and supervision of a child.
(15) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular
possession
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(16) "Tribe" means an Indian tribe or band, or Alaskan Native village,
which is recognized by federal law or formally acknowledged by a state.
(17) "Warrant" means an order issued by a court authorizing law
enforcement officers to take physical custody of a child.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/112)
Sec. 112.
Cooperation Between Courts; Preservation
Of Records.
(a) A court of this State may request the appropriate court of another state
to:
(1) hold an evidentiary hearing;
(2) order a person to produce or give evidence |
| pursuant to procedures of that state;
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(3) order that an evaluation be made with respect to
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| the custody of a child involved in a pending proceeding;
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(4) forward to the court of this State a certified
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| copy of the transcript of the record of the hearing, the evidence otherwise presented, and any evaluation prepared in compliance with the request; and
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(5) order a party to a child-custody proceeding or
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| any person having physical custody of the child to appear in the proceeding with or without the child.
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(b) Upon request of a court of another state, a court of this State may hold
a hearing or enter an order described in subsection (a).
(c) Travel and other necessary and reasonable expenses incurred under
subsections (a) and (b) may be assessed against the parties according to the
law of this State.
(d) A court of this State shall preserve the pleadings, orders, decrees,
records of hearings, evaluations, and other pertinent records with respect to a
child-custody
proceeding until the child attains 18 years of age. Upon appropriate
request by a court or law enforcement official of another state, the court
shall forward a certified copy of those records.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/201)
Sec. 201.
Initial Child-Custody Jurisdiction.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 204, a court of this State has
jurisdiction to make an initial child-custody determination only if:
(1) this State is the home state of the child on the |
| date of the commencement of the proceeding, or was the home state of the child within six months before the commencement of the proceeding and the child is absent from this State but a parent or person acting as a parent continues to live in this State;
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(2) a court of another state does not have
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| jurisdiction under paragraph (1), or a court of the home state of the child has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that this State is the more appropriate forum under Section 207 or 208, and:
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(A) the child and the child's parents, or the
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| child and at least one parent or a person acting as a parent, have a significant connection with this State other than mere physical presence; and
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(B) substantial evidence is available in this
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| State concerning the child's care, protection, training, and personal relationships;
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(3) all courts having jurisdiction under paragraph
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| (1) or (2) have declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that a court of this State is the more appropriate forum to determine the custody of the child under Section 207 or 208; or
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(4) no court of any other state would have
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| jurisdiction under the criteria specified in paragraph (1), (2), or (3).
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(b) Subsection (a) is the exclusive jurisdictional basis for making a
child-custody determination by a court of this State.
(c) Physical presence of, or personal jurisdiction over, a party or a child
is
not necessary or sufficient to make a child-custody determination.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/202)
Sec. 202. Exclusive, Continuing Jurisdiction.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 204, a court of this State which
has made a child-custody determination consistent with Section 201 or 203 has
exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the determination until:
(1) a court of this State determines that neither the |
| child, the child's parents, and any person acting as a parent do not have a significant connection with this State and that substantial evidence is no longer available in this State concerning the child's care, protection, training, and personal relationships; or
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(2) a court of this State or a court of another state
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| determines that the child, the child's parents, and any person acting as a parent do not presently reside in this State.
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(b) A court of this State which has made a child-custody determination and
does not have exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under this Section may modify
that
determination only if it has jurisdiction to make an initial determination
under Section 201.
(c) A court of this State shall continue to exercise exclusive jurisdiction and be considered the home state of a child if a parent moves with a child under subsection (h) of Section 609.2 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.
(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16 .)
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(750 ILCS 36/203)
Sec. 203.
Jurisdiction To Modify Determination.
Except
as otherwise provided in Section 204, a court of this State may not modify a
child-custody
determination made by a court of another state unless a court of this
State
has jurisdiction to make an initial determination under Section 201(a)(1) or
(2) and:
(1) the court of the other state determines it no |
| longer has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under Section 202 or that a court of this State would be a more convenient forum under Section 207; or
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(2) a court of this State or a court of the other
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| state determines that the child, the child's parents, and any person acting as a parent do not presently reside in the other state.
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(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/204)
Sec. 204.
Temporary Emergency Jurisdiction.
(a) A court of this State has temporary emergency jurisdiction if the child
is
present in this State and the child has been abandoned or it is necessary in an
emergency to protect the child because the child, or a sibling or parent of the
child,
is subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse.
(b) If there is no previous child-custody determination that is entitled to
be
enforced under this Act and a child-custody proceeding has not been commenced
in
a court of a state having jurisdiction under Sections 201 through 203, a
child-custody determination made under this Section remains in effect until an
order is
obtained from a court of a state having jurisdiction under Sections 201 through
203. If a child-custody proceeding has not been or is not commenced in a court
of a
state having jurisdiction under Sections 201 through 203, a child-custody
determination made under this Section becomes a final determination, if it so
provides and this State becomes the home state of the child.
(c) If there is a previous child-custody determination that is entitled to
be
enforced under this Act, or a child-custody proceeding has been commenced in a
court of a state having jurisdiction under Sections 201 through 203, any order
issued by a court of this State under this Section must specify in the order a
period
that the court considers adequate to allow the person seeking an order to
obtain an
order from the state having jurisdiction under Sections 201 through 203. The
order
issued in this State remains in effect until an order is obtained from the
other state
within the period specified or the period expires.
(d) A court of this State which has been asked to make a child-custody
determination under this Section, upon being informed that a child-custody
proceeding has been commenced in, or a child-custody determination has been
made by, a court of a state having jurisdiction under Sections 201 through 203,
shall immediately communicate with the other court. A court of this State
which is
exercising jurisdiction pursuant to Sections 201 through 203, upon being
informed
that a child-custody proceeding has been commenced in, or a child-custody
determination has been made by, a court of another state under a statute
similar to
this Section shall immediately communicate with the court of that state to
resolve
the emergency, protect the safety of the parties and the child, and determine a
period for the duration of the temporary order.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/206)
Sec. 206.
Simultaneous Proceedings.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 204, a court of this State may
not exercise its jurisdiction under this Article if, at the time of the
commencement of
the proceeding, a proceeding concerning the custody of the child has been
commenced in a court of another state having jurisdiction substantially in
conformity with this Act, unless the proceeding has been terminated or is
stayed by
the court of the other state because a court of this State is a more convenient
forum
under Section 207.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 204, a court of this State,
before hearing a child-custody proceeding, shall examine the court documents
and
other information supplied by the parties pursuant to Section 209. If the
court
determines that a child-custody proceeding has been commenced in a court in
another state having jurisdiction substantially in accordance with this Act,
the court
of this State shall stay its proceeding and communicate with the court of the
other
state. If the court of the state having jurisdiction substantially in
accordance with
this Act does not determine that the court of this State is a more appropriate
forum,
the court of this State shall dismiss the proceeding.
(c) In a proceeding to modify a child-custody determination, a court of this
State shall determine whether a proceeding to enforce the determination has
been
commenced in another state. If a proceeding to enforce a child-custody
determination has been commenced in another state, the court may:
(1) stay the proceeding for modification pending the |
| entry of an order of a court of the other state enforcing, staying, denying, or dismissing the proceeding for enforcement;
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(2) enjoin the parties from continuing with the
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| proceeding for enforcement; or
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(3) proceed with the modification under conditions it
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(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/207)
Sec. 207.
Inconvenient Forum.
(a) A court of this State which has jurisdiction under this Act to make a
child-custody determination may decline to exercise its jurisdiction at any
time if it
determines that it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a
court
of another state is a more appropriate forum. The issue of inconvenient forum
may
be raised upon motion of a party, the court's own motion, or request of another
court.
(b) Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this
State shall consider whether it is appropriate for a court of another state to
exercise
jurisdiction. For this purpose, the court shall allow the parties to submit
information and shall consider all relevant factors, including:
(1) whether domestic violence has occurred and is |
| likely to continue in the future and which state could best protect the parties and the child;
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(2) the length of time the child has resided outside
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(3) the distance between the court in this State and
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| the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction;
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(4) the relative financial circumstances of the
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(5) any agreement of the parties as to which state
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| should assume jurisdiction;
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(6) the nature and location of the evidence required
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| to resolve the pending litigation, including testimony of the child;
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(7) the ability of the court of each state to decide
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| the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence; and
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(8) the familiarity of the court of each state with
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| the facts and issues in the pending litigation.
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(c) If a court of this State determines that it is an inconvenient forum and
that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum, it shall stay the
proceedings upon condition that a child-custody proceeding be promptly
commenced in another designated state and may impose any other condition the
court considers just and proper.
(d) A court of this State may decline to exercise its jurisdiction under
this
Act if a child-custody determination is incidental to an action for divorce or
another
proceeding while still retaining jurisdiction over the divorce or other
proceeding.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/208)
Sec. 208.
Jurisdiction Declined By Reason Of Conduct.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 204 or by other law of this
State, if a court of this State has jurisdiction under this Act because a
person
seeking to invoke its jurisdiction has engaged in unjustifiable conduct, the
court
shall decline to exercise its jurisdiction unless:
(1) the parents and all persons acting as parents |
| have acquiesced in the exercise of jurisdiction;
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(2) a court of the state otherwise having
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| jurisdiction under Sections 201 through 203 determines that this State is a more appropriate forum under Section 207; or
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(3) no court of any other state would have
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| jurisdiction under the criteria specified in Sections 201 through 203.
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(b) If a court of this State declines to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant
to
subsection (a), it may fashion an appropriate remedy to ensure the safety of
the
child and prevent a repetition of the unjustifiable conduct, including staying
the
proceeding until a child-custody proceeding is commenced in a court having
jurisdiction under Sections 201 through 203.
(c) If a court dismisses a petition or stays a proceeding because it
declines
to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a), it shall assess
against the party
seeking to invoke its jurisdiction necessary and reasonable expenses including
costs, communication expenses, attorney's fees, investigative fees, expenses
for witnesses, travel expenses, and child care during the course of the
proceedings,
unless the party from whom fees are sought establishes that the assessment
would
be clearly inappropriate. The court may not assess fees, costs, or expenses
against this State unless authorized by law other than this Act.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/209)
Sec. 209. Information to be submitted to court.
(a) Subject to any other law providing for the confidentiality of
procedures, addresses, and other identifying information, in a child-custody
proceeding,
each
party, in its first pleading or in an attached affidavit, shall give
information, if
reasonably ascertainable, under oath as to the child's present address or
whereabouts, the places where the child has lived during the last five years,
and the
names and present addresses of the persons with whom the child has lived during
that period. The pleading or affidavit must state whether the party:
(1) has participated, as a party or witness or in any |
| other capacity, in any other proceeding concerning the custody of or visitation with the child and, if so, identify the court, the case number, and the date of the child-custody determination, if any;
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(2) knows of any proceeding that could affect the
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| current proceeding, including proceedings for enforcement and proceedings relating to domestic violence, protective orders, termination of parental rights, and adoptions and, if so, identify the court, the case number, and the nature of the proceeding; and
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(3) knows the names and addresses of any person not a
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| party to the proceeding who has physical custody of the child or claims rights of legal custody or physical custody of, or visitation with, the child and, if so, the names and addresses of those persons.
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(b) If the information required by subsection (a) is not furnished, the
court,
upon motion of a party or its own motion, may stay the proceeding until the
information is furnished.
(c) If the declaration as to any of the items described in subsection (a)(1)
through (3) is in the affirmative, the declarant shall give additional
information
under oath as required by the court. The court may examine the parties under
oath
as to details of the information furnished and other matters pertinent to the
court's
jurisdiction and the disposition of the case.
(d) Each party has a continuing duty to inform the court of any proceeding
in this or any other state that could affect the current proceeding.
(e) (Blank).
(f) If a party states in the pleading or the affidavit that disclosure of an address would risk abuse or harm to the party or a family member, the address may be omitted from documents filed with the court. A party is not required to include in the pleading or affidavit a domestic violence safe house address or an address changed as a result of a protective order.
(Source: P.A. 101-211, eff. 1-1-20 .)
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(750 ILCS 36/305)
Sec. 305.
Registration Of Child-Custody
Determination.
(a) A child-custody determination issued by a court of another state may be
registered in this State, with or without a simultaneous request for
enforcement, by
sending to the circuit court in this State:
(1) a letter or other document requesting |
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(2) two copies, including one certified copy, of the
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| determination sought to be registered, and a statement under penalty of perjury that to the best of the knowledge and belief of the person seeking registration the order has not been modified; and
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(3) except as otherwise provided in Section 209, the
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| name and address of the person seeking registration and any parent or person acting as a parent who has been awarded custody or visitation in the child-custody determination sought to be registered.
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(b) On receipt of the documents required by subsection (a), the registering
court shall:
(1) cause the determination to be filed as a foreign
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| judgment, together with one copy of any accompanying documents and information, regardless of their form; and
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(2) serve notice upon the persons named pursuant to
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| subsection (a)(3) and provide them with an opportunity to contest the registration in accordance with this Section.
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(c) The notice required by subsection (b)(2) must state that:
(1) a registered determination is enforceable as of
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| the date of the registration in the same manner as a determination issued by a court of this State;
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(2) a hearing to contest the validity of the
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| registered determination must be requested within 20 days after service of notice; and
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(3) failure to contest the registration will result
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| in confirmation of the child-custody determination and preclude further contest of that determination with respect to any matter that could have been asserted.
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(d) A person seeking to contest the validity of a registered order must
request a hearing within 20 days after service of the notice. At that hearing,
the
court shall confirm the registered order unless the person contesting
registration
establishes that:
(1) the issuing court did not have jurisdiction under
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(2) the child-custody determination sought to be
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| registered has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court having jurisdiction to do so under Article 2; or
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(3) the person contesting registration was entitled
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| to notice, but notice was not given in accordance with the standards of Section 108, in the proceedings before the court that issued the order for which registration is sought.
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(e) If a timely request for a hearing to contest the validity of the
registration
is not made, the registration is confirmed as a matter of law and the person
requesting registration and all persons served must be notified of the
confirmation.
(f) Confirmation of a registered order, whether by operation of law or after
notice and hearing, precludes further contest of the order with respect to any
matter that could have been asserted at the time of registration.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/308)
Sec. 308.
Expedited Enforcement Of Child-Custody
Determination.
(a) A petition under this Article must be verified. Certified copies of all
orders sought to be enforced and of any order confirming registration must be
attached to the petition. A copy of a certified copy of an order may be
attached instead of the original.
(b) A petition for enforcement of a child-custody determination must state:
(1) whether the court that issued the determination |
| identified the jurisdictional basis it relied upon in exercising jurisdiction and, if so, what the basis was;
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(2) whether the determination for which enforcement
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| is sought has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court whose decision must be enforced under this Act and, if so, identify the court, the case number, and the nature of the proceeding;
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(3) whether any proceeding has been commenced that
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| could affect the current proceeding, including proceedings relating to domestic violence, protective orders, termination of parental rights, and adoptions and, if so, identify the court, the case number, and the nature of the proceeding;
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(4) the present physical address of the child and the
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(5) whether relief in addition to the immediate
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| physical custody of the child and attorney's fees is sought, including a request for assistance from law enforcement officials and, if so, the relief sought; and
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(6) if the child-custody determination has been
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| registered and confirmed under Section 305, the date and place of registration.
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(c) Upon the filing of a petition, the court shall issue an order directing
the
respondent to appear in person with or without the child at a hearing and may
enter
any order necessary to ensure the safety of the parties and the child. The
hearing
must be held on the next judicial day after service of the order unless that
date is
impossible. In that event, the court shall hold the hearing on the first
judicial day
possible. The court may extend the date of hearing at the request of the
petitioner.
(d) An order issued under subsection (c) must state the time and place of
the hearing and advise the respondent that at the hearing the court will order
that
the petitioner may take immediate physical custody of the child and the payment
of
fees, costs, and expenses under Section 312, and may schedule a hearing to
determine whether further relief is appropriate, unless the respondent appears
and
establishes that:
(1) the child-custody determination has not been
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| registered and confirmed under Section 305 and that:
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(A) the issuing court did not have jurisdiction
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(B) the child-custody determination for which
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| enforcement is sought has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court having jurisdiction to do so under Article 2;
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(C) the respondent was entitled to notice, but
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| notice was not given in accordance with the standards of Section 108, in the proceedings before the court that issued the order for which enforcement is sought; or
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(2) the child-custody determination for which
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| enforcement is sought was registered and confirmed under Section 304, but has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court of a state having jurisdiction to do so under Article 2.
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(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/310)
Sec. 310.
Hearing And Order.
(a) Unless the court issues a temporary emergency order pursuant to
Section 204, upon a finding that a petitioner is entitled to immediate physical
custody of the child, the court shall order that the petitioner may take
immediate
physical custody of the child unless the respondent establishes that:
(1) the child-custody determination has not been |
| registered and confirmed under Section 305 and that:
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(A) the issuing court did not have jurisdiction
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(B) the child-custody determination for which
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| enforcement is sought has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court of a state having jurisdiction to do so under Article 2; or
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(C) the respondent was entitled to notice, but
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| notice was not given in accordance with the standards of Section 108, in the proceedings before the court that issued the order for which enforcement is sought; or
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(2) the child-custody determination for which
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| enforcement is sought was registered and confirmed under Section 305 but has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court of a state having jurisdiction to do so under Article 2.
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(b) The court shall award the fees, costs, and expenses authorized under
Section 312 and may grant additional relief, including a request for the
assistance
of law enforcement officials, and set a further hearing to determine whether
additional relief is appropriate.
(c) If a party called to testify refuses to answer on the ground that the
testimony may be self-incriminating, the court may draw an adverse inference
from
the refusal.
(d) A privilege against disclosure of communications between spouses and
a defense of immunity based on the relationship of husband and wife or parent
and child may not be invoked in a proceeding under this Article.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/311)
Sec. 311.
Warrant To Take Physical Custody Of Child.
(a) Upon the filing of a petition seeking enforcement of a child-custody
determination, the petitioner may file a verified application for the issuance
of a
warrant to take physical custody of the child if the child is immediately
likely to
suffer serious physical harm or be removed from this State.
(b) If the court, upon the testimony of the petitioner or other witness,
finds
that the child is imminently likely to suffer serious physical harm or be
removed
from this State, it may issue a warrant to take physical custody of the child.
The
petition must be heard on the next judicial day after the warrant is executed
unless
that date is impossible. In that event, the court shall hold the hearing on
the first
judicial day possible. The application for the warrant must include the
statements
required by Section 308(b).
(c) A warrant to take physical custody of a child must:
(1) recite the facts upon which a conclusion of |
| imminent serious physical harm or removal from the jurisdiction is based;
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(2) direct law enforcement officers to take physical
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| custody of the child immediately; and
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(3) provide for the placement of the child pending
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(d) The respondent must be served with the petition, warrant, and order
immediately after the child is taken into physical custody.
(e) A warrant to take physical custody of a child is enforceable throughout
this State. If the court finds on the basis of the testimony of the petitioner
or other
witness that a less intrusive remedy is not effective, it may authorize law
enforcement officers to enter private property to take physical custody of the
child.
If required by exigent circumstances of the case, the court may authorize law
enforcement officers to make a forcible entry at any hour.
(f) The court may impose conditions upon placement of a child to ensure
the appearance of the child and the child's custodian.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/312)
Sec. 312.
Costs, Fees, And Expenses.
(a) The court shall award the prevailing party, including a state, necessary
and reasonable expenses incurred by or on behalf of the party, including costs,
communication expenses, attorney's fees, investigative fees, expenses for
witnesses, travel expenses, and child care during the course of the
proceedings,
unless the party from whom fees or expenses are sought establishes that the
award would be clearly inappropriate.
(b) The court may not assess fees, costs, or expenses against a state unless
authorized by law other than this Act.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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(750 ILCS 36/315)
Sec. 315.
Role Of State's Attorney.
(a) In a case arising under this Act or involving the Hague Convention on
the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the State's Attorney or
other appropriate public official may take any lawful action, including resort
to a
proceeding under this Article or any other available civil proceeding to
locate a
child, obtain the return of a child, or enforce a child-custody determination
if there is:
(1) an existing child-custody determination;
(2) a request to do so from a court in a pending |
| child-custody proceeding;
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(3) a reasonable belief that a criminal statute has
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(4) a reasonable belief that the child has been
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| wrongfully removed or retained in violation of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
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(b) A State's Attorney or appropriate public official acting under this
Section acts on behalf of the court and may not represent any party.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)
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