Section Newsletters

Articles on Paternity

Illinois’ modern family: House Bill 1243 By Emily A. Hansen Women and the Law, December 2014 An examination of the key differences and highlights of this proposed legislation.
Rapists’ rights in Illinois: The new law and what other states can learn from it By Randi Burggraff & Kerrianne Waters Women and the Law, December 2013 What are parental rights and why is it so alarming that in a majority of states' rapists retain these rights?
1 comment (Most recent December 19, 2013)
Fourth District Appellate Court revisits its decision in The Department of Public Aid ex. Rel. Gagnon Dix v. Gagnon By Anne M. Martinkus Family Law, October 2012 In the instant case the appellate court has clearly rejected its earlier ruling.
Sperm donor can keep it in his pocket By Angela Peters Family Law, October 2012 Can a biological father, who has paid child support for five years, file a Motion to Terminate the Parent/Child Relationship based on his claim that he merely donated his sperm?
1 comment (Most recent October 10, 2012)
Case law update on issues of paternity By Joan Scott Family Law, January 2012 In the recent case of In re Paternity of an Unknown Minor, the First District Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court's decision and found a mother in contempt of court for refusing to comply with an order to submit herself and her one-year-old son to DNA testing on the grounds that a man other than the petitioner had previously signed a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity.
1 comment (Most recent January 19, 2012)
Signing a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity is not fatal By Rebecca E. Cahan Young Lawyers Division, June 2011 It is our job and duty as lawyers to make sure we know the law and ask the right questions to determine whether a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity may be challenged on the grounds of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact.
1 comment (Most recent June 23, 2011)
Three’s a crowd: Paternity under the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984 By Joan Scott Family Law, May 2011 If there is any uncertainty as to the parentage of the child, the mother and putative father should consider DNA testing prior to signing the VAP following the child’s birth.
In re Sophia G.L.: A review of the UCCJEA in the State of Illinois By Michelle L. Blackburn General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, January 2009 What is the status of the UCCJEA in the State of Illinois? According the Illinois Supreme Court, the UCCJEA is alive and well. The Illinois Supreme Court recently ruled on the case In re Sophia G.L., No. 104603, and in doing so overturned the decision of the 4th District Appellate Court, reversing the ruling of the Greene County Circuit Court.  
No legal relationship between paternity and registry By Zora Ristanovic Family Law, August 2007 The Illinois Supreme Court recently held that the Putative Father Registry provisions of the Adoption Act and the Parentage Act are to be construed separately, and therefore, a father seeking to establish a parent-child relationship under the Parentage Act was not required to first register as a putative father within 30 days of the child’s birth pursuant to the Putative Father Registry provisions of the Adoption Act. J.S.A. et al., v. M.H. et al., 2007 WL 289829 (2007).
Want to be like Mike? Not lately By D.J. Evans Civil Practice and Procedure, September 2005 It has been said that your past always comes back. For Michael Jordan, nothing could be more devastatingly true.
Case law update By Barry H. Greenburg Family Law, February 2002 Summaries of In Re the Marriage of Street, In Re Jackson v. Newsome and In Re Marriage of Terry.
Recent cases By Barry H. Greenburg Family Law, May 2001 Summaries of the recent cases of In Re the Marriage of Drury, In Re Petition of Mary Klak, In Re Marriage of Carter, In Re Shaddle, In re Adoption of D___, In Re Marriage of Lehr, In Re Marriage of Gattone, In Re J.P., In Re Marriage of Beerbridge, In Re the Marriage of Buck, In Re Marriage of Didier, In Re the Marriage of Petersen, In Re Donath v. Buckley, In Re Cerven and In Re Troy S. and Rachel S.
Questions about recent changes in paternity establishment By Ann B. Conroy General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, March 1999 Hailed in some sectors as a genuine breakthrough for fathers' rights, the recent changes made to the Parentage Act by Public Act 90-0715, signed by Governor Edgar in August of 1998, to be effective immediately, have perhaps created more confusion than clarity.

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