(750 ILCS 25/7) (from Ch. 40, par. 2707)

Sec. 7. Expedited Child Support Hearings.

(a) Service. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and in Section 11 of this Act, the service of notice to commence an action under this Act may be made by regular mail. The notice shall be sent to the last known address of the Obligor. Parentage actions, actions for the establishment of child support orders involving parties who are married and living separately, and any other proceedings in which no court has yet acquired jurisdiction over the subject matter shall be commenced as provided in the Code of Civil Procedure and Supreme Court Rules. The notice or summons shall indicate the date set for hearing.

(b) Rules of Evidence. Except as provided in this Section, the established rules of evidence shall be followed in all Expedited Child Support Hearings. A party may offer in evidence, without foundation or other proof:

(1) the Obligor's pay stubs or other employer-provided statement of gross income, deductions, and net income prepared by the employer in the usual course of business;

(2) documents provided by the Obligor's insurance company that describe the dependent care coverage available to the Obligor; and

(3) records kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court as to payment of child support.

(c) Other domestic relations matters. Petitions for visitation, custody, distribution of property, petitions pursuant to Section 513 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, spousal maintenance as otherwise provided, and any domestic relations matters other than parentage and child support shall be transferred by the Administrative Hearing Officer for a judicial hearing as provided in the Plan. Transfer of such matters shall not delay the proceeding before the Administrative Hearing Officer relative to parentage or child support.

(d) Transfers for judicial hearings. All actions and matters requiring a judicial hearing, as provided for in this Act and in Supreme Court rules promulgated pursuant to this Act, shall be transferred to the court as provided in the Plan.

(e) All pre-hearing motions and other matters that require a court order, as defined in this Act and in the Supreme Court rules promulgated pursuant to this Act, shall be presented to the court for resolution and the court shall make every effort to dispose of the motion in an expeditious manner. However, if the parties are in agreement with respect to the pre-hearing motion or other matters, the Administrative Hearing Officer shall transmit a recommended order, signed by both parties, to the court.

(f) Notice to parties and transmittal of recommendations. The Administrative Hearing Officer shall provide each party with a copy of the recommendations, together with a notice informing the parties of their right to request a judicial hearing. The recommendations and notice shall be given to the parties at the time of the hearing. If either party is not present at the time of the hearing, either in person or through his or her attorney, the provisions of Section 10 of this Act shall apply. If both parties are present at the hearing and agree to the recommended order of the Administrative Hearing Officer, they shall sign the recommended order and the Administrative Hearing Officer shall transmit the recommendations to the Court as provided in the Plan.

(1) If either party does not agree to the recommended order or any part thereof, a judicial hearing shall immediately be scheduled as to those matters on which the parties disagree. The Administrative Hearing Officer shall record the date, time, and place of the judicial hearing on a notice and provide a copy of the notice to each party either in person at the time of the expedited hearing or by regular mail. The Administrative Hearing Officer shall transmit to the court a written statement indicating that the parties do not agree to all or part of the recommendations.

No part of the recommendations on which the parties disagree shall be made a part of the record in court unless both parties stipulate to its admission and the court so orders. However, those matters on which the parties agree may be made a part of the record in court.

(2) If either party does not agree to the Administrative Hearing Officer's recommendations and the case is transferred for a judicial hearing, neither the parties nor the court may compel the Administrative Hearing Officer to testify at the judicial hearing.

(g) Forms. The Supreme Court may develop and provide a standard form for proposed findings and recommended orders, and any other necessary standard forms, for use by Administrative Hearing Officers in Expedited Child Support Hearings.

(Source: P.A. 86-1401.)