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Illinois Family Laws

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Created by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and editors

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Family law is a rather broad practice area, encompassing marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, paternity, and other matters related to the family structure. Family laws also address controversial issues such as abortion rights and same-sex marriage, in addition to criminal matters like domestic violence and child abuse. Illinois family laws are created and revised by the actions of lawmakers and the courts, as in other states. For instance, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in 2004 that a man who acknowledges paternity cannot reverse this later on the basis of DNA testing. And In 2013, the state legislature legalized same-sex marriage. Click on a link below to learn more.

Learn About Illinois Family Laws

  • Illinois Adoption Laws

    Basics of adoption laws in Illinois, such as who may be adopted; the age of consent for adoption; home residency requirements; and links to related adoption articles and resources.

  • Illinois Abortion Laws

    How Illinois law regulates abortion within the state, including the statutory definitions of both legal and illegal abortions; the penalty for unlawful abortions; and consent requirements prior to the procedure.

  • Illinois Prohibited Marriage Laws

    General list of the acceptable grounds for having one’s marriage annulled in Illinois, such as a lack of capacity or the discovery that the marriage is invalid.

  • Illinois Child Custody Laws

    Overview of laws and regulations in Illinois that govern child custody decisions and procedures, with information about the availability of grandparents’ visitation rights and links to additional information about custody.

  • Illinois Marriage Age Requirements

    Basics of what you need to know to get married in Illinois with respect to age; such as the age required to get married with or without parental consent.

  • Illinois Protective Order Laws

    Illinois law related to protective orders (commonly called “restraining orders”) often sought by victims of domestic violence or those who are threatened or stalked by former spouses.

Illinois Family Law Articles

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