Public Act 1133 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2542 Enrolled LRB102 14888 KMF 20241 b

Public Act 102-1133

AN ACT concerning civil law.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Arsonist Registration Act is amended by changing Sections 35 and 65 as follows:

(730 ILCS 148/35)

Sec. 35. Duty to report change of address, school, name, or employment. Any person who is required to register under this Act shall report in person to the appropriate law enforcement agency with whom he or she last registered within one year from the date of last registration and every year thereafter. If any person required to register under this Act changes his or her residence address, place of employment, or school, he or she shall, in writing, within 10 days inform the law enforcement agency with whom he or she last registered of his or her new address, change in employment, or school and register with the appropriate law enforcement agency within the time period specified in Section 10. Any person who is required to register under this Act and is granted a legal name change pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 21-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall, in writing, within 10 days inform the law enforcement agency with whom they last registered of their name change. The law enforcement agency shall, within 3 days of receipt, notify the Department of State Police and the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction of the new place of residence, change in employment, or school. If any person required to register under this Act establishes a residence or employment outside of the State of Illinois, within 10 days after establishing that residence or employment, he or she shall, in writing, inform the law enforcement agency with which he or she last registered of his or her out-of-state residence or employment. The law enforcement agency with which such person last registered shall, within 3 days notice of an address or employment change, notify the Department of State Police. The Department of State Police shall forward such information to the out-of-state law enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the form and manner prescribed by the Department of State Police.

(Source: P.A. 93-949, eff. 1-1-05.)

(730 ILCS 148/65)

Sec. 65. Penalty. Any person who is required to register under this Act who violates any of the provisions of this Act and any person who is required to register under this Act who seeks to change his or her name under Article XXI of the Code of Civil Procedure is guilty of a Class 4 felony unless, as provided under Section 21-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that person verifies under oath that the petition for the name change is due to marriage, religious beliefs, status as a victim of trafficking or gender-related identity as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. Any person who is required to register under this Act who knowingly or wilfully gives material information required by this Act that is false is guilty of a Class 3 felony. Any person convicted of a violation of any provision of this Act shall, in addition to any other penalty required by law, be required to serve a minimum period of 7 days confinement in the local county jail. The court shall impose a mandatory minimum fine of $500 for failure to comply with any provision of this Act. These fines shall be deposited in the Arsonist Registration Fund. An arsonist who violates any provision of this Act may be tried in any Illinois county where the arsonist can be located.

(Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)

Section 10. The Sex Offender Registration Act is amended by changing Sections 6 and 10 as follows:

(730 ILCS 150/6)

Sec. 6. Duty to report; change of address, school, name or employment; duty to inform. A person who has been adjudicated to be sexually dangerous or is a sexually violent person and is later released, or found to be no longer sexually dangerous or no longer a sexually violent person and discharged, or convicted of a violation of this Act after July 1, 2005, shall report in person to the law enforcement agency with whom he or she last registered no later than 90 days after the date of his or her last registration and every 90 days thereafter and at such other times at the request of the law enforcement agency not to exceed 4 times a year. Such sexually dangerous or sexually violent person must report all new or changed e-mail addresses, all new or changed instant messaging identities, all new or changed chat room identities, and all other new or changed Internet communications identities that the sexually dangerous or sexually violent person uses or plans to use, all new or changed Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) registered or used by the sexually dangerous or sexually violent person, and all new or changed blogs and other Internet sites maintained by the sexually dangerous or sexually violent person or to which the sexually dangerous or sexually violent person has uploaded any content or posted any messages or information. Any person who lacks a fixed residence must report weekly, in person, to the appropriate law enforcement agency where the sex offender is located. Any other person who is required to register under this Article shall report in person to the appropriate law enforcement agency with whom he or she last registered within one year from the date of last registration and every year thereafter and at such other times at the request of the law enforcement agency not to exceed 4 times a year. If any person required to register under this Article lacks a fixed residence or temporary domicile, he or she must notify, in person, the agency of jurisdiction of his or her last known address within 3 days after ceasing to have a fixed residence and if the offender leaves the last jurisdiction of residence, he or she, must within 3 days after leaving register in person with the new agency of jurisdiction. If any other person required to register under this Article changes his or her residence address, place of employment, telephone number, cellular telephone number, or school, he or she shall report in person, to the law enforcement agency with whom he or she last registered, his or her new address, change in employment, telephone number, cellular telephone number, or school, all new or changed e-mail addresses, all new or changed instant messaging identities, all new or changed chat room identities, and all other new or changed Internet communications identities that the sex offender uses or plans to use, all new or changed Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) registered or used by the sex offender, and all new or changed blogs and other Internet sites maintained by the sex offender or to which the sex offender has uploaded any content or posted any messages or information, and register, in person, with the appropriate law enforcement agency within the time period specified in Section 3. If any person required to register under this Article is granted a legal name change pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 21-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure, they shall report, in person, within 3 days of their legal name change, to the law enforcement agency with whom they last registered. If the sex offender is a child sex offender as defined in Section 11-9.3 or 11-9.4 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, the sex offender shall within 3 days after beginning to reside in a household with a child under 18 years of age who is not his or her own child, provided that his or her own child is not the victim of the sex offense, report that information to the registering law enforcement agency. The law enforcement agency shall, within 3 days of the reporting in person by the person required to register under this Article, notify the Department of State Police of the new place of residence, change in employment, telephone number, cellular telephone number, or school.

If any person required to register under this Article intends to establish a residence or employment outside of the State of Illinois, at least 10 days before establishing that residence or employment, he or she shall report in person to the law enforcement agency with which he or she last registered of his or her out-of-state intended residence or employment. The law enforcement agency with which such person last registered shall, within 3 days after the reporting in person of the person required to register under this Article of an address or employment change, notify the Department of State Police. The Department of State Police shall forward such information to the out-of-state law enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the form and manner prescribed by the Department of State Police.

(Source: P.A. 96-1094, eff. 1-1-11; 96-1104, eff. 1-1-11; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11; 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)

(730 ILCS 150/10) (from Ch. 38, par. 230)

Sec. 10. Penalty.

(a) Any person who is required to register under this Article who violates any of the provisions of this Article and any person who is required to register under this Article who seeks to change his or her name under Article XXI of the Code of Civil Procedure is guilty of a Class 3 felony, unless, as provided under Section 21-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that person verifies under oath that the petition for the name change is due to marriage, religious beliefs, status as a victim of trafficking or gender-related identity as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. Any person who is convicted for a violation of this Act for a second or subsequent time is guilty of a Class 2 felony, unless, as provided under Section 21-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that person verifies under oath that the petition for the name change is due to marriage, religious beliefs, status as a victim of trafficking or gender-related identity as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. Any person who is required to register under this Article who knowingly or willfully gives material information required by this Article that is false is guilty of a Class 3 felony. Any person convicted of a violation of any provision of this Article shall, in addition to any other penalty required by law, be required to serve a minimum period of 7 days confinement in the local county jail. The court shall impose a mandatory minimum fine of $500 for failure to comply with any provision of this Article. These fines shall be deposited in the Offender Registration Fund. Any sex offender, as defined in Section 2 of this Act, or sexual predator who violates any provision of this Article may be arrested and tried in any Illinois county where the sex offender can be located. The local police department or sheriff's office is not required to determine whether the person is living within its jurisdiction.

(b) Any person, not covered by privilege under Part 8 of Article VIII of the Code of Civil Procedure or the Illinois Supreme Court's Rules of Professional Conduct, who has reason to believe that a sexual predator is not complying, or has not complied, with the requirements of this Article and who, with the intent to assist the sexual predator in eluding a law enforcement agency that is seeking to find the sexual predator to question the sexual predator about, or to arrest the sexual predator for, his or her noncompliance with the requirements of this Article is guilty of a Class 3 felony if he or she:

(1) provides false information to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction about the sexual predator's noncompliance with the requirements of this Article, and, if known, the whereabouts of the sexual predator;

(2) harbors, or attempts to harbor, or assists another person in harboring or attempting to harbor, the sexual predator; or

(3) conceals or attempts to conceal, or assists another person in concealing or attempting to conceal, the sexual predator.

(c) Subsection (b) does not apply if the sexual predator is incarcerated in or is in the custody of a State correctional facility, a private correctional facility, a county or municipal jail, a State mental health facility or a State treatment and detention facility, or a federal correctional facility.

(d) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply if the sex offender accurately registered his or her Internet protocol address under this Act, and the address subsequently changed without his or her knowledge or intent.

(Source: P.A. 101-571, eff. 8-23-19.)

Section 15. The Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act is amended by changing Sections 30 and 60 as follows:

(730 ILCS 154/30)

Sec. 30. Duty to report; change of address, school, name, or employment; duty to inform. Any violent offender against youth who is required to register under this Act shall report in person to the appropriate law enforcement agency with whom he or she last registered within one year from the date of last registration and every year thereafter and at such other times at the request of the law enforcement agency not to exceed 4 times a year. If any person required to register under this Act lacks a fixed residence or temporary domicile, he or she must notify, in person, the agency of jurisdiction of his or her last known address within 5 days after ceasing to have a fixed residence and if the offender leaves the last jurisdiction of residence, he or she must, within 48 hours after leaving, register in person with the new agency of jurisdiction. If any other person required to register under this Act changes his or her residence address, place of employment, or school, he or she shall report in person to the law enforcement agency with whom he or she last registered of his or her new address, change in employment, or school and register, in person, with the appropriate law enforcement agency within the time period specified in Section 10. The law enforcement agency shall, within 3 days of the reporting in person by the person required to register under this Act, notify the Department of State Police of the new place of residence, change in employment, or school. If any person required to register under this Act is granted a legal name change pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 21-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure, they shall report, in person, within 5 days of receiving their legal name change order, their legal name change to the law enforcement agency with whom they last registered.

If any person required to register under this Act intends to establish a residence or employment outside of the State of Illinois, at least 10 days before establishing that residence or employment, he or she shall report in person to the law enforcement agency with which he or she last registered of his or her out-of-state intended residence or employment. The law enforcement agency with which such person last registered shall, within 3 days after the reporting in person of the person required to register under this Act of an address or employment change, notify the Department of State Police. The Department of State Police shall forward such information to the out-of-state law enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the form and manner prescribed by the Department of State Police.

(Source: P.A. 94-945, eff. 6-27-06.)

(730 ILCS 154/60)

Sec. 60. Penalty. Any person who is required to register under this Act who violates any of the provisions of this Act and any person who is required to register under this Act who seeks to change his or her name under Article XXI of the Code of Civil Procedure is guilty of a Class 3 felony unless, as provided under Section 21-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that person verifies under oath that the petition for the name change is due to marriage, religious beliefs, status as a victim of trafficking or gender-related identity as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. Any person who is convicted for a violation of this Act for a second or subsequent time is guilty of a Class 2 felony unless, as provided under Section 21-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that person verifies under oath that the petition for the name change is due to marriage, religious beliefs, status as a victim of trafficking or gender-related identity as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. Any person who is required to register under this Act who knowingly or willfully gives material information required by this Act that is false is guilty of a Class 3 felony. Any person convicted of a violation of any provision of this Act shall, in addition to any other penalty required by law, be required to serve a minimum period of 7 days confinement in the local county jail. The court shall impose a mandatory minimum fine of $500 for failure to comply with any provision of this Act. These fines shall be deposited into the Offender Registration Fund. Any violent offender against youth who violates any provision of this Act may be arrested and tried in any Illinois county where the violent offender against youth can be located. The local police department or sheriff's office is not required to determine whether the person is living within its jurisdiction.

(Source: P.A. 101-571, eff. 8-23-19.)

Section 20. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by changing Sections 21-101, 21-102, 21-102.5, and 21-103 as follows:

(735 ILCS 5/21-101) (from Ch. 110, par. 21-101)

Sec. 21-101. Proceedings; parties.

(a) If any person who is a resident of this State and has resided in this State for 6 months desires to change his or her name and to assume another name by which to be afterwards called and known, the person may file a petition requesting that relief in the circuit court of the county wherein he or she resides praying for that relief.

(b) A person who has been convicted of any offense for which a person is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act, the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, or the Arsonist Registration Act in this State or any other state and who has not been pardoned is not permitted to file a petition for a name change in the courts of this State during the period that the person is required to register, unless that person verifies under oath, as provided under Section 1-109, that the petition for the name change is due to marriage, religious beliefs, status as a victim of trafficking or gender-related identity as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. A judge may grant or deny the request for legal name change filed by such persons. Any such persons granted a legal name change shall report the change to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction of their current registration pursuant to the Duty to Report requirements specified in Section 35 of the Arsonist Registration Act, Section 20 of the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, and Section 6 of the Sex Offender Registration Act. For the purposes of this subsection, a person will not face a felony charge if the person's request for legal name change is denied without proof of perjury.

(b-1) A person who has been convicted of a felony offense in this State or any other state and whose sentence has not been completed, terminated, or discharged is not permitted to file a petition for a name change in the courts of this State unless that person is pardoned for the offense. The filing of a petition in accordance with this Section shall be the sole and exclusive means by which any person committed under the laws of this State to a penal institution may change his or her name and assume another name. However, any person convicted of a felony in this State or any other state who has not been pardoned may not file a petition for a name change until 10 years have passed since completion and discharge from his or her sentence. A person who has been convicted of identity theft, aggravated identity theft, felony or misdemeanor criminal sexual abuse when the victim of the offense at the time of its commission is under 18 years of age, felony or misdemeanor sexual exploitation of a child, felony or misdemeanor indecent solicitation of a child, or felony or misdemeanor indecent solicitation of an adult, or any other offense for which a person is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act in this State or any other state who has not been pardoned shall not be permitted to file a petition for a name change in the courts of Illinois.

(c) A petitioner may include his or her spouse and adult unmarried children, with their consent, and his or her minor children where it appears to the court that it is for their best interest, in the petition and relief requested prayer, and the court's order shall then include the spouse and children. Whenever any minor has resided in the family of any person for the space of 3 years and has been recognized and known as an adopted child in the family of that person, the application herein provided for may be made by the person having that minor in his or her family.

An order shall be entered as to a minor only if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the change is necessary to serve the best interest of the child. In determining the best interest of a minor child under this Section, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including:

(1) The wishes of the child's parents and any person acting as a parent who has physical custody of the child.

(2) The wishes of the child and the reasons for those wishes. The court may interview the child in chambers to ascertain the child's wishes with respect to the change of name. Counsel shall be present at the interview unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties. The court shall cause a court reporter to be present who shall make a complete record of the interview instantaneously to be part of the record in the case.

(3) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with his or her parents or persons acting as parents who have physical custody of the child, step-parents, siblings, step-siblings, or any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interest.

(4) The child's adjustment to his or her home, school, and community.

(d) If it appears to the court that the conditions and requirements under this Article have been complied with and that there is no reason why the relief requested prayer should not be granted, the court, by an order to be entered of record, may direct and provide that the name of that person be changed in accordance with the relief requested prayer in the petition. If the circuit court orders that a name change be granted to a person who has been adjudicated or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense under the laws of this State or any other state for which a pardon has not been granted, or has an arrest for which a charge has not been filed or a pending charge on a felony or misdemeanor offense, a copy of the order, including a copy of each applicable access and review response, shall be forwarded to the Department of State Police. The Department of State Police shall update any criminal history transcript or offender registration of each person 18 years of age or older in the order to include the change of name as well as his or her former name.

(Source: P.A. 100-370, eff. 1-1-18.)

(735 ILCS 5/21-102) (from Ch. 110, par. 21-102)

Sec. 21-102. Petition; update criminal history transcript.

(a) The petition shall be a statewide standardized form approved by the Illinois Supreme Court and shall set forth the name then held, the name sought to be assumed, the residence of the petitioner, the length of time the petitioner has resided in this State, and the state or country of the petitioner's nativity or supposed nativity. The petition shall include a statement, verified under oath as provided under Section 1-109 of this Code, whether or not the petitioner or any other person 18 years of age or older who will be subject to a change of name under the petition if granted: (1) has been adjudicated or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense under the laws of this State or any other state for which a pardon has not been granted; or (2) has an arrest for which a charge has not been filed or a pending charge on a felony or misdemeanor offense. The petition shall be signed by the person petitioning or, in case of minors, by the parent or guardian having the legal custody of the minor. The petition shall be verified by the affidavit of some credible person.

(b) If the statement provided under subsection (a) of this Section indicates the petitioner or any other person 18 years of age or older who will be subject to a change of name under the petition, if granted, has been adjudicated or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense under the laws of this State or any other state for which a pardon has not been granted, or has an arrest for which a charge has not been filed or a pending charge on a felony or misdemeanor offense, the State's Attorney may request the court to or the court may on its own motion, require the person, prior to a hearing on the petition, to initiate an update of his or her criminal history transcript with the Department of State Police. The Department shall allow a person to use the Access and Review process, established by rule in the Department, for this purpose. Upon completion of the update of the criminal history transcript, the petitioner shall file confirmation of each update with the court, which shall seal the records from disclosure outside of court proceedings on the petition.

(c) Any petition filed under subsection (a) shall include the following: "WARNING: If you are required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act, the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, or the Arsonist Registration Act in this State or a similar law in any other state and have not been pardoned, you will be committing a felony under those respective Acts by seeking a change of name during the registration period UNLESS your request for legal name change is due to marriage, religious beliefs, status as a victim of trafficking or gender related identity as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act.".

(Source: P.A. 100-370, eff. 1-1-18.)

(735 ILCS 5/21-102.5)

Sec. 21-102.5. Notice; objection.

(a) The circuit court clerk shall promptly serve a copy of the petition on the State's Attorney and the Department of State Police if the statement provided under subsection (a) of Section 21-102 indicates that the petitioner, or any other person 18 years of age or older who will be subject to a change of name under the petition, has been adjudicated or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense under the laws of this State or any other state for which a pardon has not been granted, or has an arrest for which a charge has not been filed or a pending charge on a felony or misdemeanor offense.

(b) The State's Attorney may file an objection to the petition. All objections shall be in writing, shall be filed with the circuit court clerk, shall be served upon the petitioner, and shall state with specificity the basis of the objection. Objections to a petition must be filed within 30 days of the date of service of the petition upon the State's Attorney if the petitioner: .

(1) is the defendant in a pending criminal offense charge; or

(2) has been convicted of identity theft, aggravated identity theft, felony or misdemeanor criminal sexual abuse when the victim of the offense at the time of its commission is under 18 years of age, felony or misdemeanor sexual exploitation of a child, felony or misdemeanor indecent solicitation of a child, or felony or misdemeanor indecent solicitation of an adult, and has not been pardoned for the conviction.

(Source: P.A. 100-370, eff. 1-1-18.)

(735 ILCS 5/21-103) (from Ch. 110, par. 21-103)

Sec. 21-103. Notice by publication.

(a) Previous notice shall be given of the intended application by publishing a notice thereof in some newspaper published in the municipality in which the person resides if the municipality is in a county with a population under 2,000,000, or if the person does not reside in a municipality in a county with a population under 2,000,000, or if no newspaper is published in the municipality or if the person resides in a county with a population of 2,000,000 or more, then in some newspaper published in the county where the person resides, or if no newspaper is published in that county, then in some convenient newspaper published in this State. The notice shall be inserted for 3 consecutive weeks after filing, the first insertion to be at least 6 weeks before the return day upon which the petition is to be heard, and shall be signed by the petitioner or, in case of a minor, the minor's parent or guardian, and shall set forth the return day of court on which the petition is to be heard and the name sought to be assumed.

(b) The publication requirement of subsection (a) shall not be required in any application for a change of name involving a minor if, before making judgment under this Article, reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard is given to any parent whose parental rights have not been previously terminated and to any person who has physical custody of the child. If any of these persons are outside this State, notice and opportunity to be heard shall be given under Section 21-104.

(b-3) The publication requirement of subsection (a) shall not be required in any application for a change of name involving a person who has received a judgment for dissolution of marriage or declaration of invalidity of marriage and wishes to change his or her name to resume the use of his or her former or maiden name.

(b-5) The Upon motion, the court may issue an order directing that the notice and publication requirement be waived for a change of name involving a person who files with the court a statement, verified under oath as provided under Section 1-109 of this Code, written declaration that the person believes that publishing notice of the name change would be a hardship, including but not limited to, a negative impact on the person's health or safety. put the person at risk of physical harm or discrimination. The person must provide evidence to support the claim that publishing notice of the name change would put the person at risk of physical harm or discrimination.

(b-6) In a case where waiver of the notice and publication requirement is sought, the petition for waiver is presumed granted and heard at the same hearing as the petition for name change. The court retains discretion to determine whether a hardship is shown and may order the petitioner to publish thereafter.

(c) The Director of State Police or his or her designee may apply to the circuit court for an order directing that the notice and publication requirements of this Section be waived if the Director or his or her designee certifies that the name change being sought is intended to protect a witness during and following a criminal investigation or proceeding.

(c-1) The court may also enter a written order waiving the publication requirement of subsection (a) if:

(i) the petitioner is 18 years of age or older; and

(ii) concurrent with the petition, the petitioner files with the court a statement, verified under oath as provided under Section 1-109 of this Code, attesting that the petitioner is or has been a person protected under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, the Stalking No Contact Order Act, the Civil No Contact Order Act, Article 112A of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, a condition of bail under subsections (b) through (d) of Section 110-10 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, or a similar provision of a law in another state or jurisdiction.

The petitioner may attach to the statement any supporting documents, including relevant court orders.

(c-2) If the petitioner files a statement attesting that disclosure of the petitioner's address would put the petitioner or any member of the petitioner's family or household at risk or reveal the confidential address of a shelter for domestic violence victims, that address may be omitted from all documents filed with the court, and the petitioner may designate an alternative address for service.

(c-3) Court administrators may allow domestic abuse advocates, rape crisis advocates, and victim advocates to assist petitioners in the preparation of name changes under subsection (c-1).

(c-4) If the publication requirements of subsection (a) have been waived, the circuit court shall enter an order impounding the case.

(d) The maximum rate charged for publication of a notice under this Section may not exceed the lowest classified rate paid by commercial users for comparable space in the newspaper in which the notice appears and shall include all cash discounts, multiple insertion discounts, and similar benefits extended to the newspaper's regular customers.

(Source: P.A. 100-520, eff. 1-1-18 (see Section 5 of P.A. 100-565 for the effective date of P.A. 100-520); 100-788, eff. 1-1-19; 100-966, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-203, eff. 1-1-20.)

Section 30. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act is amended by changing Section 413 as follows:

(750 ILCS 5/413) (from Ch. 40, par. 413)

Sec. 413. Judgment.

(a) A judgment of dissolution of marriage or of legal separation or of declaration of invalidity of marriage shall be entered within 60 days of the closing of proofs; however, if the court enters an order specifying good cause as to why the court needs an additional 30 days, the judgment shall be entered within 90 days of the closing of proofs, including any hearing under subsection (j) of Section 503 of this Act and submission of closing arguments. A judgment of dissolution of marriage or of legal separation or of declaration of invalidity of marriage is final when entered, subject to the right of appeal. An appeal from the judgment of dissolution of marriage that does not challenge the finding as to grounds does not delay the finality of that provision of the judgment which dissolves the marriage, beyond the time for appealing from that provision, and either of the parties may remarry pending appeal. An order requiring maintenance or support of a spouse or a minor child or children entered under this Act or any other law of this State shall not be suspended or the enforcement thereof stayed pending the filing and resolution of post-judgment motions or an appeal.

(b) The clerk of the court shall give notice of the entry of a judgment of dissolution of marriage or legal separation or a declaration of invalidity of marriage:

(1) if the marriage is registered in this State, to the county clerk of the county where the marriage is registered, who shall enter the fact of dissolution of marriage or legal separation or declaration of invalidity of marriage in the marriage registry; and within 45 days after the close of the month in which the judgment is entered, the clerk shall forward the certificate to the Department of Public Health on a form furnished by the Department; or

(2) if the marriage is registered in another jurisdiction, to the appropriate official of that jurisdiction, with the request that he enter the fact of dissolution of marriage or legal separation or declaration of invalidity of marriage in the appropriate record.

(c) Unless the person whose marriage is dissolved or declared invalid requests otherwise, the judgment under this Section shall contain a provision authorizing the person to resume the use of his or her former or maiden name, should he or she choose to do so, at any time he or she chooses to do so. If a judgment contains such a provision, the person resuming the use of his or her former or maiden name is not required to file a petition for a change of name under Article XXI of the Code of Civil Procedure.

If a person whose marriage is dissolved or declared invalid chooses to resume the use of his or her former or maiden name, he or she is not required to provide notice by publication pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 21-103 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(d) A judgment of dissolution of marriage or legal separation, if made, shall be awarded to both of the parties, and shall provide that it affects the status previously existing between the parties in the manner adjudged.

(Source: P.A. 100-520, eff. 1-1-18 (see Section 5 of P.A. 100-565 for the effective date of P.A. 100-520); 101-203, eff. 1-1-20.)

Effective Date: 1/1/2024