Practice resources

These resources are written for legal professionals doing legal aid or pro bono work. If you do not have legal training, they may be difficult to understand. Visit resources from the main menu for legal information written and designed for the public. Note: IICLE resources are only available to legal aid employees.

Family & Safety Resources
Divorce
(4 resources)
Motion to modify the allocation of parental responsibilities
Use this form to change the allocation of parental responsibility or child support.
Form download
Allocation of parental responsibilities order
Use this form to accompany an Order for Allocation of Parental Responsibilities.
Form download
Divorce and parental responsibilities
Advanced level content. Information on dissolution, divorce, common-law marriage, separation, child support, custody, and visitation.
Text article
Affidavit of military service
Use this form in divorce cases to tell the judge whether your spouse is in active military service.
Form download
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Child custody
(4 resources)
Motion to modify the allocation of parental responsibilities
Use this form to change the allocation of parental responsibility or child support.
Form download
Allocation of parental responsibilities order
Use this form to accompany an Order for Allocation of Parental Responsibilities.
Form download
Divorce and parental responsibilities
Advanced level content. Information on dissolution, divorce, common-law marriage, separation, child support, custody, and visitation.
Text article
Counter-petition for allocation of parental responsibilities
Use this form to ask the judge to give you parental responsibilities when the other parent has already filed a petition.
Form download
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Safety from abuse or assault
(4 resources)
Service on the Respondent
This is a chapter in our Orders of Protection lawyer manual. It covers how to serve the respondent, as well as enforcement of the EOP.
Response by Respondent
This is a chapter in our Orders of Protection lawyer manual. It covers how a respondent can respond to being served with a Petition.
Issues Involving Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency
Gives information about situations involving abuse, neglect, or dependency.
Lawyer Manuals
After plenary order is in effect
This is a chapter in our Orders of Protection lawyer manual. It covers what happens after a plenary OP is in effect, like how it can be terminated or modified.
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Child and elder abuse
(4 resources)
Issues Involving Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency
Gives information about situations involving abuse, neglect, or dependency.
Lawyer Manuals
Relief available for abused, neglected, or dependent children
Gives information about the types of relief available for abused, neglected, or dependent children.
Lawyer Manuals
Illinois Parentage Act of 2015
Gives information about the Illinois Parentage Act, and the parent-child relationship.
Lawyer Manuals
Children's law and Illinois Parentage Act
Gives information about Children's law and the Illinois Parentage Act.
Lawyer Manuals
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Paternity or parentage
(4 resources)
Parentage and allocation petition for father
Use this form to ask a judge to establish parentage if you think you are the father of a child.
Form download
Parentage and allocation petition for mother
Use this form to ask a judge to establish parentage if you are the mother of a child.
Form download
Response to petition for parentage and allocation
Use this form to respond to a Petition for Parentage and Allocation that you received.
Form download
Petition to challenge VAP
Use this form to challenge a voluntary acknowledgement of parentage (VAP).
Form download
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Parents' rights
(4 resources)
Relief available for abused, neglected, or dependent children
Gives information about the types of relief available for abused, neglected, or dependent children.
Lawyer Manuals
Emancipation and Required Authoritative Intervention
Provides information about minor emancipation and situations where authoritative intervention is required.
Lawyer Manuals
Responding to a DCFS investigation
The Family Defense Center (FDC) offers a manual for responding to a DCFS investigation and is written with the "wrongly accused" person in mind.
Link
Adoption law
Adoption law in Illinois with guidance on unique situations like same-sex adopting parents, surrogacy and interracial adoption. 2024 Edition
IICLE
Guardianship
(4 resources)
Illinois Parentage Act of 2015
Gives information about the Illinois Parentage Act, and the parent-child relationship.
Lawyer Manuals
Children's law and Illinois Parentage Act
Gives information about Children's law and the Illinois Parentage Act.
Lawyer Manuals
Special Topics involving Children Law
Gives information about various different type of topics associated with children law.
Lawyer Manuals
Chancery and Special Remedies
A handbook for lawyers on special remedies, covering rescission, reformation, injunctions, interpleader, constructive trusts, subrogation, and contempt, with sample petitions, orders, and forms.
IICLE
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Emancipation
(4 resources)
Illinois Parentage Act of 2015
Gives information about the Illinois Parentage Act, and the parent-child relationship.
Lawyer Manuals
Emancipation and Required Authoritative Intervention
Provides information about minor emancipation and situations where authoritative intervention is required.
Lawyer Manuals
Children's law and Illinois Parentage Act
Gives information about Children's law and the Illinois Parentage Act.
Lawyer Manuals
Special Topics involving Children Law
Gives information about various different type of topics associated with children law.
Lawyer Manuals
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Separation and annulment
(2 resources)
Divorce and parental responsibilities
Advanced level content. Information on dissolution, divorce, common-law marriage, separation, child support, custody, and visitation.
Text article
Family Law: Dissolutions of marriage court proceedings
Court proceedings related to marriage dissolutions, including trials, enforcement of judgments, and orders of protection. 2024 edition.
IICLE
Child support and childcare
(2 resources)
Motion to modify the allocation of parental responsibilities
Use this form to change the allocation of parental responsibility or child support.
Form download
Divorce and parental responsibilities
Advanced level content. Information on dissolution, divorce, common-law marriage, separation, child support, custody, and visitation.
Text article
Injury or accident
(4 resources)
Understanding your legal medical rights for mental health
Information for people who get Mental Health and Developmental Disability services about your legal medical rights.
Text article
Available defenses for a defendant
Advanced level content. In an auto accident, defendants must raise affirmative defenses, particularly with respect to the actions of other parties, right away in the Answer.
Lawyer Manuals
Subrogation
Advanced level content. Subrogation is your insurance company’s right to recover money it pays to its insured, under first-party coverage, from third parties allegedly at fault.
Lawyer Manuals
Who are the proper defendants: agency and negligent entrustment
Who are the proper defendants: agency and negligent entrustment
Lawyer Manuals
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Marriage or civil union
(1 resources)
Estate planning forms and commentary: Powers of attorney and advance directives
Explains and provides sample forms for estate planning. Includes: power of attorney for property, Illinois advance health care directives, premarital agreements, and guardianships. 2022 edition.
IICLE
Other family and safety issues
(3 resources)
Juvenile law: Pre-delinquency and delinquency
A resource for lawyers on juvenile justice in Illinois, covering services for children, status offenses, diversion, transfer of jurisdiction, trials, sentencing, appeals, post-disposition review, and federal juvenile law.
IICLE
Estate planning forms and commentary: Powers of attorney and advance directives
Explains and provides sample forms for estate planning. Includes: power of attorney for property, Illinois advance health care directives, premarital agreements, and guardianships. 2022 edition.
IICLE
Child welfare law: Neglected, abused, and dependent minors
Explains minors' rights, child protection mediation, pretrial and trial issues, dispositions, and termination of parental rights in Illinois. 2024 edition
IICLE