(750 ILCS 30/1)(from Ch. 40, par. 2201) Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Emancipation of Minors Act. (Source: P.A. 93‑105, eff. 7‑8‑03.)
(750 ILCS 30/2)(from Ch. 40, par. 2202) Sec. 2. Purpose and policy. The purpose of this Act is to provide a means
by which a mature minor who has demonstrated the ability and capacity to
manage his own affairs and to live wholly or partially independent of his
parents or guardian, may obtain the legal status of an emancipated person
with power to enter into valid legal contracts.
This Act is also intended (i) to provide a means by which a homeless minor
who is
seeking assistance may have the authority to consent, independent of his or her
parents or guardian, to receive shelter, housing, and services provided by a
licensed agency that has the ability and willingness to serve the homeless
minor and (ii) to do so without requiring the delay or difficulty of first
holding
a hearing. This Act is not intended
to interfere with the integrity of the family or
the rights of parents and their children. No order of complete or partial
emancipation may be entered under this Act if there is any objection by
the minor, his parents or guardian. No petition may be filed for the partial
emancipation of a homeless minor unless appropriate attempts have been made to
reunify the homeless minor with his or her family through the services
of a Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services Agency.
This Act does not limit or exclude
any other means either in statute or case law by which a minor may become
emancipated. (Source: P.A. 93‑105, eff. 7‑8‑03.)
(750 ILCS 30/3)(from Ch. 40, par. 2203) Sec. 3. Definitions. Terms used in this Act, unless the context otherwise
requires, have the meanings ascribed to them in Sections 3‑1 through 3‑5. (Source: P.A. 81‑833.)
(750 ILCS 30/3‑1)(from Ch. 40, par. 2203‑1) Sec. 3‑1. Minor. "Minor" means a person 16 years of age or over, and
under the age of 18 years, subject to this Act. (Source: P.A. 81‑833.)
(750 ILCS 30/3‑2)(from Ch. 40, par. 2203‑2) Sec. 3‑2. Mature minor. "Mature minor" means a person 16 years of age
or over and under the age of 18 years who has demonstrated the ability and
capacity to manage his own affairs and to live wholly or partially independent
of his parents or guardian. (Source: P.A. 81‑833.)
(750 ILCS 30/3‑2.5) Sec. 3‑2.5. Homeless minor. "Homeless minor" means a person at least 16
years of
age but less than 18 years of age who lacks a regular, fixed, and
adequate place to live and who desires to participate in a youth transitional
housing program. The term includes, but is not limited to, a minor who is
sharing
the dwelling of another or living in a temporary shelter or who is
unable
or unwilling to return to the residence of a parent.
The term does not include a
minor in the custody or under the guardianship of the Department of
Children and Family Services. No child may be terminated from the custody
or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services for the
purpose of obtaining emancipation as a homeless
minor. (Source: P.A. 93‑105; eff. 7‑8‑03.)
(750 ILCS 30/3‑2.10) Sec. 3‑2.10. Youth transitional housing program. "Youth transitional
housing program" means a program licensed by the Department of
Children and Family Services to provide services, shelter, or housing to a
minor. (Source: P.A. 93‑105, eff. 7‑8‑03.)
(750 ILCS 30/3‑3)(from Ch. 40, par. 2203‑3) Sec. 3‑3. Parents. "Parent" means the father or mother of a lawful child of the parties
or a child born out of wedlock, and includes any adoptive parent. It does not include
a parent whose rights in respect to the minor have been terminated in any
manner provided by law. (Source: P.A. 94‑229, eff. 1‑1‑06.)
(750 ILCS 30/3‑4)(from Ch. 40, par. 2203‑4) Sec. 3‑4. Guardian. "Guardian" means any person, association or agency
appointed guardian of the person of the minor under the Juvenile Court
Act, the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, the "Probate Act of 1975", or any
other statute or court order. (Source: P.A. 85‑1440.)
(750 ILCS 30/3‑5)(from Ch. 40, par. 2203‑5) Sec. 3‑5. Petition. "Petition" means the petition provided for in
Section 7 of this Act, or any other petition filed under the Juvenile Court
Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, seeking the emancipation of a minor
in accordance with the provisions of this Act. (Source: P.A. 85‑1209.)
(750 ILCS 30/4)(from Ch. 40, par. 2204) Sec. 4. Jurisdiction. The circuit court in the county where the minor
resides, is found, owns property, or in which a court action affecting the
interests of the minor is pending, may, upon the filing of a petition on
behalf of the minor by his next friend, parent or guardian and after any
hearing
or notice to all persons as set forth in Sections 7,
8, and 9 of this Act, enter
a finding that the minor is a mature minor or a homeless minor as defined
in this Act and order
complete or partial emancipation of the minor. The court in its order for
partial emancipation may specifically limit the rights
and responsibilities of the minor seeking emancipation. In the case
of a homeless minor, the court shall restrict the order of emancipation to
allowing the minor
to consent to the receipt of transitional services and shelter or housing from
a specified
youth transitional program and its referral agencies only. (Source: P.A. 93‑105, eff. 7‑8‑03.)
(750 ILCS 30/5)(from Ch. 40, par. 2205) Sec. 5. Rights and responsibilities of an emancipated minor. (a) A mature
minor ordered emancipated under this Act shall have the right to enter into
valid legal contracts, and shall have such other rights and responsibilities
as the court may order that are not inconsistent with the specific age
requirements
of the State or federal constitution or any State or federal law. (b) A mature minor or homeless minor who is partially emancipated under
this Act shall have
only those rights and responsibilities specified in the order of the court. (Source: P.A. 93‑105, eff. 7‑8‑03.)
(750 ILCS 30/6)(from Ch. 40, par. 2206) Sec. 6. Duration of emancipation and discharge of proceedings. The court
shall retain continuing jurisdiction over the proceedings until the emancipated
minor reaches age 18, and may modify or terminate its previous emancipation
orders. However, any subsequent modification or termination of a previous
order shall be effective only prospectively and shall not affect any rights,
duties, obligations or causes of action existing prior to the modification
or termination of any order under this Act. (Source: P.A. 81‑833.)
(750 ILCS 30/7)(from Ch. 40, par. 2207) Sec. 7. Petition. The petition for emancipation shall be verified
and shall set forth: (1) the age of the minor; (2) that the minor is a
resident of Illinois at the time of the filing of the petition, or owns
real estate in Illinois, or has an interest or is a party in any case pending
in Illinois; (3) the cause for which the minor seeks to obtain partial or
complete emancipation; (4) the names of the minor's parents, and the address,
if living; (5) the names and addresses of any guardians or custodians appointed
for the minor; (6) that the minor is (i) a mature minor who has
demonstrated
the ability and capacity to manage his own affairs or (ii) a homeless minor
who is located in this State; and (7) that the minor
has lived wholly or partially independent of his parents or guardian. If the
minor seeks emancipation as a homeless minor, the petition shall also set forth
the name of the youth transitional housing program that is willing and able to
provide services and shelter or housing to the minor, the address of the
program, and the name and phone
number of the contact person at the program. The petition shall also briefly
assert the reason that the
services and shelter or housing to be offered are appropriate and necessary for
the
well‑being of the homeless minor. (Source: P.A. 93‑105, eff. 7‑8‑03.)
(750 ILCS 30/8)(from Ch. 40, par. 2208) Sec. 8. Notice. All persons named in the petition shall be given written
notice within 21 days after the filing of the petition for emancipation.
Those persons shall have a right to be present
if a hearing is sought or scheduled and to be represented by counsel. All notices shall be served on persons named in the petition by personal
service or by "certified mail, return receipt requested, addressee only".
If personal service cannot be made in accordance with the provisions of
this Act, substitute service or service by publication shall be made in
accordance with the Civil Practice Law. (Source: P.A. 93‑105, eff. 7‑8‑03.)
(750 ILCS 30/9)(from Ch. 40, par. 2209) Sec. 9. Hearing on petition. (a) Mature minor. Before proceeding to a hearing on the petition for
emancipation of a mature minor the
court
shall advise all persons present of the nature of the proceedings,
and their rights and responsibilities if an order of emancipation should be
entered. If, after the hearing, the court determines that the minor is a mature
minor who is of sound mind and has the capacity and maturity to manage his
own affairs including his finances, and that the best interests of the minor
and his family will be promoted by declaring the minor an emancipated minor,
the court shall enter a finding that the minor is an emancipated minor within
the meaning of this Act, or that the mature minor is partially emancipated
with such limitations as the court by order deems appropriate. No order
of complete or partial emancipation may be entered under this Act if there is
any
objection by the minor, his parents or guardian. (b) Homeless minor. Upon the verified petition of a homeless minor, the
court shall immediately grant partial emancipation for the sole purpose of
allowing the homeless minor to consent to the receipt of
services and shelter or housing provided by the youth transitional housing
program named in the
petition and to other services that the youth transitional housing program
may arrange by referral. The court may require that a youth transitional
housing program employee appear before the court at the time of the filing of
the petition and may inquire into the facts asserted in the petition. No other
hearing shall be scheduled in the case of a petition affecting a homeless
minor,
unless, after notice, a parent or guardian requests such a hearing. If such
a hearing is requested, then the homeless minor must be present at the
hearing. After
the granting of partial emancipation to a homeless youth, if the youth
transitional housing program determines that its facility and services are no
longer appropriate for the minor or that another program is more appropriate
for the minor,
the program shall notify
the court and the court, after a hearing, may modify its order. (Source: P.A. 93‑105, eff. 7‑8‑03.)
(750 ILCS 30/10)(from Ch. 40, par. 2210) Sec. 10. Joinder, Juvenile Court Proceedings. The petition for declaration
of emancipation may, with leave of the court, be joined with any pending
litigation affecting the interests of the minor including a petition filed
under the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. If any minor seeking emancipation as a mature minor is a ward of the
court under the Juvenile
Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 at the
time of the filing of the petition for emancipation, the petition shall be
set for hearing in the juvenile court. (Source: P.A. 93‑105, eff. 7‑8‑03.)
(750 ILCS 30/11)(from Ch. 40, par. 2211) Sec. 11. Appeal. Any judgment or order allowing or denying a complete
or partial emancipation is a final order for purposes of appeal. (Source: P.A. 81‑833.)
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