Family & Safety

Explains what you need to do if you have an order for parental responsibilities and you want to move with the child.

Advanced level content. Information on dissolution, divorce, common-law marriage, separation, child support, custody, and visitation.

Use this form to tell the other parent that you plan to move to a different place with a child or children.

Explains the difference between a child representative, guardian ad litem (GAL), and attorney for a child.

Explains how mediation is used in a court process that involves parents of children. This could be a divorce case or other case involving parenting issues.

Explains what someone has to prove to the judge before the court will allow them to visit against the parent's wishes.

Explains how to find a copy of the parental responsibilities order after one has been granted.

A parent has the right to parenting time (visitation) with a child. They can also ask for decision-making power over the child. They must also pay child support.

Explains how to charge the other parent who takes your child or defend yourself if accused of child abduction.

Learn more about residency requirements in Illinois in order to file a parental responsibilities case (formerly known as "custody").

A guide for DCFS youth to make emancipation decisions and to step into independence and self-sufficiency.

The Family Defense Center (FDC) offers a manual for responding to a DCFS investigation and is written with the "wrongly accused" person in mind.