Document Type
Article
Media Type
Text
Abstract
Each year, children in Illinois are denied the opportunity to visit a "parent" because the children's families do not fit into traditionally defined family units. Under Illinois law, one "parent" in these non-traditional families lacks standing to petition for custody and visitation. While Illinois courts have a tradition of extending rights to common law parents, current courts have declined to follow previous rulings when asked to extend standing to the same-sex partner of the biological parent, even in cases where the couple, together, agreed to have the child. This comment will argue that maintaining relationships between a non-biological parent and his or her child is in the child's best interests. Additionally, this comment will look at the different theories other states have employed in extending standing to non-biological parents and determine the best option for Illinois.
First Page
483
Last Page
514
Publication Date
7-1-2005
Department
College of Law
ISSN
0734-1490
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University Law Review
Recommended Citation
Sierens, Desiree
(2005)
"Protecting the Parent-Child Relationship: The Need for Illinois Courts to Extend Standing to Non-biological Parents in Regard to Visitation Proceedings,"
Northern Illinois University Law Review: Vol. 25:
Iss.
3, Article 5.
Suggested Citation
Desiree Sierens, Comment, Protecting the Parent-Child Relationship: The Need for Illinois Courts to Extend Standing to Non-biological Parents in Regard to Visitation Proceedings, 25 N. Ill. U. L. Rev. 483 (2005).
