§ 2-13 — Petition

(1) Any adult person, any agency or association by its representative may file, or the court on its own motion, consistent with the health, safety and best interests of the minor may direct the filing through the State's Attorney of a petition in respect of a minor under this Act. The petition and all subsequent court documents shall be entitled "In the interest of ...., a minor". (2) The petition shall be verified but the statements may be made upon information and belief. It shall allege that the minor is abused, neglected, or dependent, with citations to the appropriate provisions of this Act, and set forth (a) facts sufficient to bring the minor under Section 2-3 or 2-4 and to inform respondents of the cause of action, including, but not limited to, a plain and concise statement of the factual allegations that form the basis for the filing of the petition; (b) the name, age and residence of the minor; (c) the names and residences of the minor's parents; (d) the name and residence of the minor's legal guardian or the person or persons having custody or control of the minor, or of the nearest known relative if no parent or guardian can be found; and (e) if the minor upon whose behalf the petition is brought is sheltered in custody, the date on which such temporary custody was ordered by the court or the date set for a temporary custody hearing. If any of the facts herein required are not known by the petitioner, the petition shall so state. (3) The petition must allege that it is in the best interests of the minor and of the public that the minor be adjudged a ward of the court and may pray generally for relief available under this Act. The petition need not specify any proposed disposition following adjudication of wardship. The petition may request that the minor remain in the custody of the parent, guardian, or custodian under an Order of Protection. (4) If termination of parental rights and appointment of a guardian of the person with power to consent to adoption of the minor under Section 2-29 is sought, the petition shall so state. If the petition includes this request, the prayer for relief shall clearly and obviously state that the parents could permanently lose their rights as a parent at this hearing. In addition to the foregoing, the petitioner, by motion, may request the termination of parental rights and appointment of a guardian of the person with power to consent to adoption of the minor under Section 2-29 at any time after the entry of a dispositional order under Section 2-22. (4.5) (a) Unless good cause exists that filing a petition to terminate parental rights is contrary to the child's best interests, with respect to any minors committed to its care pursuant to this Act, the Department of Children and Family Services shall request the State's Attorney to file a petition or motion for termination of parental rights and appointment of guardian of the person with power to consent to adoption of the minor under Section 2-29 if: (i) a minor has been in foster care, as described in subsection (b), for 15 months of the most recent 22 months; or (ii) a minor under the age of 2 years has been previously determined to be abandoned at an adjudicatory hearing; or (iii) the parent is criminally convicted of: (A) first degree murder or second degree murder of any child; (B) attempt or conspiracy to commit first degree murder or second degree murder of any child; (C) solicitation to commit murder of any child, solicitation to commit murder for hire of any child, or solicitation to commit second degree murder of any child; (D) aggravated battery, aggravated battery of a child, or felony domestic battery, any of which has resulted in serious injury to the minor or a sibling of the minor; (E) predatory criminal sexual assault of a child; (E-5) aggravated criminal sexual assault; (E-10) criminal sexual abuse in violation of subsection (a) of Section 11-1.50 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; (E-15) sexual exploitation of a child; (E-20) permitting sexual abuse of a child; (E-25) criminal sexual assault; or (F) an offense in any other state the elements of which are similar and bear a substantial relationship to any of the foregoing offenses. (a-1) For purposes of this subsection (4.5), good cause exists in the following circumstances: (i) the child is being cared for by a relative, (ii) the Department has documented in the case plan a compelling reason for determining that filing such petition would not be in the best interests of the child, (iii) the court has found within the preceding 12 months that the Department has failed to make reasonable efforts to reunify the child and family, (iv) the parent is incarcerated, or the parent's prior incarceration is a significant factor in why the child has been in foster care for 15 months out of any 22-month period, the parent maintains a meaningful role in the child's life, and the Department has not documented another reason why it would otherwise be appropriate to file a petition to terminate parental rights pursuant to this Section and the Adoption Act. The assessment of whether an incarcerated parent maintains a meaningful role in the child's life may include consideration of the following: (A) the child's best interest; (B) the parent's expressions or acts of manifesting concern for the child, such as letters, telephone calls, visits, and other forms of communication with the child and the impact of the communication on the child; (C) the parent's efforts to communicate with and work with the Department for the purpose of complying with the service plan and repairing, maintaining, or building the parent-child relationship; or (D) limitations in the parent's access to family support programs, therapeutic services, visiting opportunities, telephone and mail services, and meaningful participation in court proceedings, or (v) the Department has not yet met with the child's caregiver to discuss the permanency goals of guardianship and adoption. (b) For purposes of this subsection, the date of entering foster care is defined as the earlier of: (1) The date of a judicial finding at an adjudicatory hearing that the child is an abused, neglected, or dependent minor; or (2) 60 days after the date on which the child is removed from the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian. (c) (Blank). (d) (Blank). (5) The court shall liberally allow the petitioner to amend the petition to set forth a cause of action or to add, amend, or supplement factual allegations that form the basis for a cause of action up until 14 days before the adjudicatory hearing. The petitioner may amend the petition after that date and prior to the adjudicatory hearing if the court grants leave to amend upon a showing of good cause. The court may allow amendment of the petition to conform with the evidence at any time prior to ruling. In all cases in which the court has granted leave to amend based on new evidence or new allegations, the court shall permit the respondent an adequate opportunity to prepare a defense to the amended petition. (6) At any time before dismissal of the petition or before final closing and discharge under Section 2-31, one or more motions in the best interests of the minor may be filed. The motion shall specify sufficient facts in support of the relief requested.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-1061, eff. 2-5-25.)