Subject Index Parental Rights

On Sept. 4, 2024, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that evidence of failure to create a stable care plan and refusal of assistance are sufficient to support findings of child neglect and parental unfitness.

On Aug. 23, 2024, the Fourth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that a parent, whose custody rights were terminated after confidential information from her drug court record was admitted into court, did not have her right to a fair hearing violated because the trial court did not rely on the information when making its determination.

On Feb. 27, 2024, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that parental rights may be terminated when the parent fails to make progress toward reunification within a 12-month period.

The Illinois General Assembly amended the Consent by Minors to Health Care Services Act. A parent who consents to a health care service for their child may inspect and copy the part of the child’s medical record that relates to the specific health care service the parent authorized.

On March 5, 2024, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that persons alleging to be parents, intended parents, or providers of financial support to a child have standing under the Parentage Act.

On Nov. 3, 2022, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that a minor was an abused minor where her mother could not keep a person away from the minor despite a protective order against the person.

On Oct. 6, 2022, the Fourth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that competent evidence from a psychologist sufficiently demonstrated that a father suffered a mental impairment that rendered him unable to parent and that he would remain unable to parent for an unreasonably long time.

On Oct. 15, 2021, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court affirmed a trial court’s decision terminating parental rights after proceedings were conducted almost exclusively via Zoom.

On Aug. 5, 2019, the Fifth District Appellate Court upheld an order of the Circuit Court of Madison County terminating a father’s parental rights based on his lack of fitness as a parent.

The Illinois Public Aid Code has been amended to provide for judicial registration of both administrative support and paternity orders.

On June 18, 2013, the First District of the Appellate Court held that in disputes regarding the disposition of pre-embryos, the court would honor any prior agreement between the parties.

On May 24, 2005, the Illinois Appellate Court, Third District, affirmed the decision of the Circuit Court of Peoria County finding the respondent unfit to retain custody of his two children and terminating his parental rights.

On October 21, 2004, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the appellate court's determination that the circuit court had applied an incorrect standard of proof in a termination of parental rights proceeding, and remanded the case to the circuit court for a rehearing of the issue under the appropriate preponderance of the evidence standard.

On August 20, 2004, the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, affirmed the Circuit Court of Cook County's decision finding the respondent father unfit to parent a child and terminating his parental rights.

On March 18, 2004, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the appellate court's reversal of the trial court's finding of unfitness and termination of a mother's parental rights with respect to the youngest of her four children.

On December 18, 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the appellate court and affirmed the circuit court's termination of the defendant's parental rights. 

On March 27, 2003, the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, reversed and remanded the order of the circuit court of Cook County terminating the respondent's parental rights.

On October 23, 2002, the Department of Children and Family Services (department) amended rules relating to parental fitness and general adoption policies in title 89 of the Illinois Administrative Code.

On September 19, 2002, the Illinois Supreme Court held that the provisions of section 2-28(3) of the Juvenile Court Act, which gives parties an immediate right to appeal permanency orders.