093_HB3314 LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 AN ACT concerning surrogacy. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 5 Surrogacy Act. 6 Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to 7 establish consistent standards and procedural safeguards for 8 the protection of all parties involved in a surrogacy 9 contract in this State and to confirm the legal status of 10 children born as a result of these contracts. These standards 11 and safeguards are meant to facilitate the use of this type 12 of reproductive contract in accord with the public policy of 13 this State. 14 Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act: 15 "Artificial insemination surrogacy" means the process by 16 which a surrogate woman is impregnated using her own ovum and 17 the sperm provided by the intended father. This may be 18 achieved either by fertilization of an egg by a sperm within 19 the surrogate woman's body or by a process in which an egg is 20 surgically removed from the woman, the egg is fertilized 21 outside of the body with the sperm, and the resulting embryo 22 is implanted in the same woman's uterus for gestation. 23 "Birth mother" means a woman who gestates an embryo 24 conceived by natural or artificial insemination, in vitro 25 fertilization, preembryo transfer, or as a result of a 26 surrogacy contract. 27 "Donor" means an individual who contributes for the 28 purpose of artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, 29 or implantation in another, or a woman who contributes a 30 preembryo. -2- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 "Gestational surrogacy" means the process by which a 2 surrogate woman gestates an embryo that is conceived outside 3 of her body and to which she has made no genetic 4 contribution. 5 "Health care provider" means a person who is duly 6 licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to provide 7 health care, including all medical, psychological, or 8 counseling professions. 9 "Informed consent" means a voluntary decision to 10 participate in the medical procedures and contractual 11 obligations involved in the surrogacy contract after being 12 fully informed by the agent or counselor of the medical, 13 psychological, and emotional risks involved and the legal, 14 financial, and contractual rights, expectations, penalties, 15 and obligations. 16 "Intended parent" means a person who enters into a 17 surrogacy contract with a surrogate, in accordance with this 18 Act, by which he or she is to become the parent of the 19 resulting child. This term shall include the intended mother, 20 intended father, or both. 21 "In vitro fertilization" means all medical and laboratory 22 procedures that are necessary to effectuate the 23 extracorporeal combining of gametes to allow fertilization to 24 occur. 25 "Preembryo" means the cell mass that results from 26 fertilization of an ovum prior to implantation. 27 "Preembryo transfer" means all medical and laboratory 28 procedures that are necessary to effectuate the transfer of a 29 preembryo into the uterine cavity. 30 "Surrogacy" means any arrangement by which a woman agrees 31 to be impregnated using either the intended father's sperm, 32 the intended mother's egg, or a preembryo with the intent 33 that the intended parent or parents are to become the legal 34 parent or parents of the resulting child after the child's -3- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 birth. 2 "Surrogacy contract" means a written agreement that 3 complies with at least the minimum requirements of this Act 4 and determines the rights and responsibilities of all 5 involved parties. 6 "Surrogate" means a female person, at least 21 years of 7 age, who agrees, pursuant to a surrogacy contract, to be 8 impregnated using the intended father's sperm or donor sperm 9 and the intended mother's egg, or the preembryo, with the 10 intent that, after the birth of the resulting child, the 11 legal parents shall be the intended parent or parents. 12 "Surrogacy agent" or "agent" means an individual or 13 organization that is responsible for the organization and 14 screening involved in the surrogacy arrangement and contract. 15 Section 15. Eligibility. In order to qualify as a 16 surrogate, the woman must: 17 (1) be at least 21 years of age; 18 (2) undergo medical evaluation and provide 19 documentation that demonstrates the medical acceptability 20 of the woman to undergo the in vitro fertilization or 21 preembryo transfer procedure; and 22 (3) undergo an evaluation by a counselor or 23 psychologist and provide written certification of the 24 counseling and evaluation determining that the woman is 25 mentally capable of complying with the surrogate contract 26 to the health care provider performing the in vitro 27 fertilization or preembryo transfer procedure. 28 Section 20. Rights of parentage. 29 (a) A woman who gives birth to a child shall be the 30 mother of that child unless otherwise provided for in this 31 Act. In the case of surrogacy, the intended mother is the 32 mother of the child for purposes of State law. -4- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 (b) A man is presumed to be the father of the child if he 2 is the biological father or the intended father who has 3 acknowledged his paternity in writing, prior to the 4 fertilization procedure, and agrees to accept all of the 5 obligations and rights of paternity. 6 (c) Parental rights shall vest in the intended parent or 7 parents immediately upon the birth of the child. 8 (d) In the case of gestational surrogacy, sole custody of 9 the child goes to the intended parent or intended parents. 10 (e) In the case of artificial insemination surrogacy, 11 sole custody of the child goes to the intended parents, but 12 the surrogate may petition the court for the visitation 13 rights that are outlined in the surrogacy contract. The court 14 may use its discretion in ordering visitation, but must take 15 into account the best interests of the child. 16 (f) Any person who is determined to be the parent and 17 have custody of the child under this Act is obligated to 18 support the child. 19 Section 25. Health care decisions concerning the 20 fetus. All decisions regarding the health of the birth 21 mother and the fetus shall be made by the birth mother, 22 except as agreed upon in the surrogacy contract. 23 Section 30. Legitimacy. A child created through the 24 provisions of this Act shall be considered, upon birth, the 25 legitimate child of the intended parent or parents for all 26 legal purposes. 27 Section 35. Succession. A child who is the result of a 28 surrogacy contract shall be considered a child only of his or 29 her intended parent or parents for the purposes of: 30 (1) intestate succession; 31 (2) taking against the will of any person, unless -5- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 the will provides otherwise; or 2 (3) being entitled to any support or similar 3 allowance during the administration of a parent's estate. 4 Section 40. Duty to support. 5 (a) Any person who is determined to be the parent of a 6 child under this Act shall support the child. 7 (b) If the parties of a surrogacy contract do not 8 substantially comply with the applicable provisions of this 9 Act, the court may impose a support obligation on any of the 10 parties. In imposing this support obligation, the court may 11 consider the seriousness of and the reasons for noncompliance 12 in order to determine which of the parties, if any, should be 13 liable for support. 14 (c) If any person willfully fails to comply with the 15 provisions of this Act and the effect of noncompliance is the 16 authorization of a procedure in violation of this Act, that 17 person may be liable for support of the resulting child. 18 (d) A breach of a surrogacy contract by the intended 19 parent or parents shall not affect their support obligation. 20 Section 45. Requirements for surrogacy contract. A 21 surrogacy contract is lawful only if the following 22 requirements are fulfilled: 23 (a) The contract is formed through a third party agent 24 who provides for the screening of all parties involved and 25 the medical and psychological evaluation and counseling for 26 the parties. The third party agent shall: 27 (1) initially coordinate the matching of the 28 potential surrogate mothers with the potential intended 29 parent or parents; 30 (2) coordinate and facilitate access to medical and 31 psychological evaluations once the potential parties to 32 the surrogacy agreement are determined; -6- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 (3) make an evaluation of the suitability of the 2 parties to a surrogacy contract, after the medical and 3 psychological evaluations are completed; 4 (4) submit the agent's evaluation to the court, 5 along with all other documents necessary in order to 6 provide additional guidance to the determining court; and 7 (5) provide access to medical and psychological 8 counseling for all involved parties throughout the 9 contract and for an 8-week period after the birth of the 10 child. 11 (b) The surrogate and the intended parent or parents 12 shall undergo non-medical evaluation and counseling performed 13 by a health care provider. The surrogate and the intended 14 parent or parents shall not use the same health care provider 15 and shall waive any non-disclosure privileges of the results 16 of the evaluations conducted by the health care provider. The 17 health care provider shall: 18 (1) assess each party's suitability to the agreement 19 including each party's ability to provide love, 20 affection, and guidance to the child, the ability of the 21 party to adjust to the risks of the contract, the 22 psychological history of the party, and other factors the 23 health care provider deems relevant; and 24 (2) make a finding containing his or her 25 professional opinion as to the understanding and 26 qualification of the intended parent or parents to accept 27 the responsibility of the surrogacy agreement. 28 In the case of the evaluation of the surrogate, the 29 health care provider shall make a finding containing his or 30 her professional opinion as to the understanding and 31 capability of the surrogate to perform the surrogacy 32 agreement. 33 (c) A home study for child placement must be conducted 34 with respect to the intended parent or parents by a licensed -7- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 child placing agency or the Department of Children and Family 2 Services. The study shall assess the condition of the home 3 and the ability of the intended parent or parents to provide 4 for the health, well-being, and general necessity of the 5 child. The results of the study shall be made available to 6 all parties of the surrogacy contract. 7 (d) Medical evaluations shall be performed by a licensed 8 physician on the surrogate and the donor or donors, if the 9 donor is to be an intended parent. The surrogate shall not be 10 examined by the same physician who examines the intended 11 parent or parents. The evaluation shall include an extensive 12 medical history. In cases of artificial insemination 13 surrogacy, the surrogate shall be subject to genetic testing. 14 In cases of gestational surrogacy, the intended mother or egg 15 donor shall be subject to genetic testing. 16 (e) Separate counsel shall represent the surrogate and 17 the intended parent or parents in all matters concerning the 18 surrogacy arrangement and contract. 19 (f) Each party to the surrogacy contract shall provide 20 the agent with a written indication of that party's informed 21 consent. 22 (g) The intended parent or parents shall place money, in 23 the amount indicated in the surrogacy contract, in escrow so 24 that the agent can ensure payment of the expenses of and the 25 compensation to the surrogate. The distribution of money for 26 compensation or expenses shall be specified in the surrogacy 27 contract. 28 (h) The surrogacy contract shall be authorized by the 29 court prior to the in vitro fertilization or preembryo 30 transfer procedure. 31 Section 50. Establishment of parent-child relationship. 32 (a) A parent-child relationship may be established in 33 the event of surrogacy if all of the following conditions are -8- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 met prior to the birth of the child: 2 (1) The surrogate mother certifies that she is not 3 the biological mother of the child, and that she is 4 carrying the child of the intended parent or parents. 5 (2) The husband, if any, of the surrogate mother 6 certifies that he is not the biological father of the 7 child and that the child is that of the intended parent 8 or parents. 9 (3) The intended mother certifies that she donated 10 the egg from which the child being carried by the 11 surrogate mother was conceived. 12 (4) The intended father certifies that he donated 13 the sperm from which the child being carried by the 14 surrogate mother was conceived. 15 (5) A physician licensed to practice medicine in 16 all its branches in the State of Illinois certifies that 17 the child being carried by the surrogate mother is the 18 biological child of the intended parent or parents, and 19 that neither the surrogate mother nor the surrogate 20 mother's husband, if any, is a biological parent of the 21 child being carried by the surrogate mother. 22 (b) All certifications under subsection (a) shall be in 23 writing and witnessed by 2 competent adults who are not the 24 surrogate mother, surrogate mother's husband, if any, 25 intended mother, or intended father. Certifications shall be 26 on forms prescribed by the Illinois Department of Public 27 Health, shall be executed prior to the birth of the child, 28 and shall be placed in the medical records of the surrogate 29 mother prior to the birth of the child. Copies of all 30 certifications shall be delivered to the Illinois Department 31 of Public Health prior to the birth of the child. 32 Section 55. Surrogacy contract. 33 (a) The surrogacy contract shall include, but is not -9- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 limited to, the following terms: 2 (1) The surrogacy contract must be in writing and 3 signed by the surrogate and the intended parent or 4 parents after the parties have had full medical, 5 psychological, and legal counseling. If the surrogate is 6 married, her spouse's signature is also required. 7 (2) The surrogate must give certification, after 8 informed consent, that she shall be impregnated, bear the 9 child, and surrender custody of the child to the intended 10 parent or parents upon the child's birth. If the 11 surrogate is married, the spouse's certification, after 12 informed consent, is required and the spouse shall 13 surrender custody and all legal claims to the child. 14 (3) The amount of compensation must be stated and 15 shall include: 16 (A) reasonable compensation; 17 (B) pregnancy-related expenses, including 18 pre-arranged medical evaluations and complications 19 occurring within an 8-week period after the 20 delivery; 21 (C) a figure representing lost wages caused by 22 the pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum recovery; 23 (D) health, disability, and life insurance 24 throughout the term of the pregnancy and for 8 weeks 25 after the delivery; 26 (E) attorney's fees and court costs relating to 27 the arrangement, contract, and authorization 28 procedures; and 29 (F) counseling fees and costs relating to 30 non-medical evaluations before and during the 31 pregnancy and for an 8-week period after delivery. 32 (4) The terms and conditions for the distribution of 33 money by the agent to the surrogate for expenses and 34 compensation must be stated. -10- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 (5) The name and address of the physician or 2 physicians who will perform the surrogacy procedure must 3 be stated. 4 (6) In the case of artificial insemination 5 surrogacy, any visitation rights of the surrogate mother 6 and the sperm donor, if known, must be stated. 7 (b) The surrogacy contract may include, but is not 8 limited to, the following terms: 9 (1) The intended parent or parents may appoint a 10 physician of their choice to care for the surrogate and 11 may require the surrogate to undergo with that physician 12 all medical exams, treatments, and fetal monitoring 13 procedures that the intended parent or parents or the 14 physician deem necessary for the success of the 15 pregnancy. 16 (2) The intended parent or parents may require in 17 advance of the in vitro fertilization or preembryo 18 transfer procedure that the surrogate abstain from any 19 activities that the intended parent or parents deem 20 harmful to the pregnancy and future health of the child, 21 including, but not limited to: smoking; drinking 22 alcoholic beverages; use of non-prescribed drugs; use of 23 prescription drugs not authorized by a health care 24 provider; exposure to radiation; or any other activities 25 proscribed by a health care provider. 26 (3) The intended parent or parents may choose that 27 the delivery be performed by Caesarean section. 28 (c) The surrogacy contract shall contain attachments of 29 the certifications establishing the parent-child relationship 30 as provided for in this Act and the Illinois Parentage Act of 31 1984. 32 Section 60. Judicial authorization. 33 (a) Within one week after the execution of a surrogacy -11- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 contract, the parties shall file notice with the court of the 2 surrogacy contract and must jointly petition the court for 3 judicial authorization. 4 (b) The petition shall include: 5 (1) the full names, ages, and residencies of all 6 parties; 7 (2) the name and address of the licensed physician 8 or physicians who will perform the procedure; 9 (3) an original copy of the surrogacy contract with 10 all of the required written consents and signatures; 11 (4) documents, evaluations, and records as required 12 by this Act; 13 (5) evidence that the intended parent or parents 14 have deposited sufficient funds in escrow; and 15 (6) a written consent by the surrogate's husband, if 16 any, acknowledging the agreement and his consent to 17 undergo testing if requested by a paternity test 18 petition. 19 (c) After the notice and petition are filed with the 20 court, the intended parent or parents shall post with the 21 court a bond of a surety company registered to do business 22 within the State. This bond shall indemnify the State for any 23 possible costs, as determined by the court, that may be 24 incurred by the State for the care and placement of the child 25 in the event of a failure of the surrogacy contract. 26 (d) The court, in its discretion, may require a hearing 27 prior to granting the judicial authorization. This hearing 28 shall be conducted according to the provisions of this Act. 29 (e) The court shall determine, no later than 60 days 30 after the filing or re-filing of the petition or, in cases 31 involving a hearing, within 60 days after the hearing, 32 whether all of the required documents, evaluations, and 33 consents have been filed and the requirements of this Act 34 have been satisfied. An order granting authorization of the -12- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 surrogacy contract shall be given only upon the finding that: 2 (1) all parties to the contract have given their 3 informed consent; 4 (2) the surrogacy contract conforms to all of the 5 requirements of this Act and contains no prohibited or 6 unconscionable terms; 7 (3) the evaluations and counseling required by this 8 Act have been sufficiently completed by qualified health 9 care providers; and 10 (4) the surrogacy contract is in the best interest 11 of the intended child. 12 If the court finds that the required documents, evaluations, 13 and consents are not sufficient in the original filing, the 14 court shall give the parties one month to correct the filing. 15 (f) If the parties submit another insufficient petition 16 or fail to submit an amended petition, the court shall 17 dismiss the petition. The same parties are prohibited from 18 submitting another petition for authorization of a surrogacy 19 contract for 6 months after the dismissal of the most recent 20 petition. 21 (g) The court shall refuse to authorize the surrogacy 22 contract if the court finds that any misrepresentation or 23 false statement or document was submitted in connection with 24 the petition. Any parties involved in such a filing shall be 25 prohibited from filing for authorization for one year from 26 the date of refusal. 27 (h) Either party may request a hearing to be held within 28 60 days after the order authorizing or denying the surrogacy 29 contract and may offer additional relevant information. 30 (i) The effect of the judicial order authorizing the 31 surrogacy contract shall be the termination of the parental 32 rights of the surrogate and her husband, if any, after the 33 birth of the intended child and a vesting of those rights in 34 the intended parent or parents of the surrogacy contract. -13- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 (j) The court shall retain jurisdiction over the 2 arrangement throughout the duration of the surrogacy contract 3 and for 8 weeks thereafter. 4 Section 65. Notice; hearings. If the court requires a 5 hearing on the petition for judicial authorization, the 6 hearing shall be held within 30 days after the filing of the 7 petition. At least 10 days prior to the hearing, notice of 8 the hearing shall be given to the parties and any mental 9 health practitioner, child placing agency, health care 10 provider, or any other person who conducted nonmedical or 11 medical evaluation or counseling with respect to a party to 12 the contract. The notice shall include the time and place of 13 the hearing. 14 All hearings shall be closed to the public and the court 15 shall admit only the essential officers of the court, 16 parties, witnesses, and counsel. The parties to the surrogacy 17 contract must be present at the hearing. 18 Papers and records pertaining to the surrogacy hearing 19 shall be subject to inspection only upon consent of all 20 petitioners or upon a showing of good cause supported by a 21 court order. 22 Section 70. Liabilities. A person who acts in negligent 23 noncompliance of this Act shall be liable for resulting 24 damages and may be jointly and severally liable for child 25 support to the resulting child under the laws of this State. 26 The sanctions provided in this Section shall be in addition 27 to any other sanctions provided by this Act. 28 Section 75. Sperm donor liability. A sperm donor may be 29 liable for child support only if he signs an agreement with 30 the other parties in the surrogacy contract to that effect. -14- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 Section 80. Immunities. 2 (a) Except as provided in this Act, no person shall be 3 civilly or criminally liable for nonnegligent actions taken 4 pursuant to the requirements of this Act. 5 (b) A health care provider whose actions, taken in 6 performance of a contract under this Act, are in accord with 7 reasonable medical standards shall not be subject to criminal 8 or civil liability or discipline for unprofessional conduct 9 with respect to those actions. 10 Section 85. Noncompliance. 11 (a) Noncompliance by the surrogate in artificial 12 insemination surrogacy occurs when a paternity test reveals 13 that the intended father or agreed-upon sperm donor is not 14 the natural father. Only the surrogate or the intended parent 15 or parents may petition the court to determine paternity of 16 the child. The petition for the determination of paternity 17 must be submitted to the court within 14 calendar days after 18 the birth of the child. 19 (b) Noncompliance by the surrogate or the intended parent 20 or parents occurs when that party breaches a provision of the 21 contract. 22 Section 90. Effect of noncompliance. Except as provided 23 in this Section, noncompliance with the requirements of this 24 Act shall not affect the determination of parenthood under 25 this Act nor shall breach of a judicially authorized 26 surrogacy contract affect the transfer of parentage under 27 this Act. All legal remedies are available to the non- 28 breaching party. 29 In the case of noncompliance by the surrogate in 30 artificial insemination surrogacy, the surrogate's breach 31 shall mean that the custody is placed with the surrogate and 32 her spouse, if she is married, and the intended parents shall -15- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 not have any legal responsibility concerning the child. In 2 this case, all legal remedies are available to the intended 3 parent or parents against the surrogate. 4 There shall be no specific performance requirement for a 5 breach by the surrogate of a surrogacy contract term that 6 requires her to be impregnated. 7 Section 95. Damages. If the surrogate fails to become 8 pregnant within a reasonable time after the surrogacy 9 contract has been judicially approved, the contract shall be 10 voidable at the option of either party. 11 If the intended parents breach a material term of the 12 contract, the surrogate may recover health care expenses that 13 the intended parents were required to pay, collect the fees 14 provided for in the contract, and, if the breach was the 15 refusal to accept the child, collect child support from the 16 intended parents. 17 Section 100. Rulemaking. The Department of Public 18 Health may adopt rules pertaining to the required medical and 19 psychological evaluations for a surrogacy contract. Until the 20 Department of Public Health adopts these rules, medical 21 evaluations and procedures shall be conducted in accordance 22 with the relevant sections of the most recent guidelines 23 produced by the American Fertility Society. 24 Section 105. Severability. If any provision of this Act 25 or application of any provision of this Act to any person or 26 circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect 27 the other provisions or applications of the Act that can be 28 given effect without the invalid provision or application and 29 for this purpose the provisions of this Act are severable. 30 Section 800. The Illinois Parentage Act of 1984 is -16- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 amended by changing Section 6 as follows: 2 (750 ILCS 45/6) (from Ch. 40, par. 2506) 3 Sec. 6. Establishment of Parent and Child Relationship 4 by Consent of the Parties. 5 (a) A parent and child relationship may be established 6 voluntarily by the signing and witnessing of a voluntary 7 acknowledgment of parentage in accordance with Section 12 of 8 the Vital Records Act,orSection 10-17.7 of the Illinois 9 Public Aid Code, or the provisions of the Surrogacy Act. The 10 voluntary acknowledgment of parentage shall contain the 11 social security numbers of the persons signing the voluntary 12 acknowledgment of parentage; however, failure to include the 13 social security numbers of the persons signing a voluntary 14 acknowledgment of parentage does not invalidate the voluntary 15 acknowledgment of parentage. 16(1) A parent-child relationship may be established17in the event of surrogacy if all of the following18conditions are met prior to the birth of the child:19(A) The surrogate mother certifies that she is20not the biological mother of the child, and that she21is carrying the child of the biological father22(sperm donor) and of the biological mother (egg23donor).24(B) The husband, if any, of the surrogate25mother certifies that he is not the biological26father of the child and that the child is that of27the biological father (sperm donor) and of the28biological mother (egg donor).29(C) The biological mother certifies that she30donated the egg from which the child being carried31by the surrogate mother was conceived.32(D) The biological father certifies that he33donated the sperm from which the child being carried-17- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1by the surrogate mother was conceived.2(E) A physician licensed to practice medicine3in all its branches in the State of Illinois4certifies that the child being carried by the5surrogate mother is the biological child of the6biological mother (egg donor) and biological father7(sperm donor), and that neither the surrogate mother8nor the surrogate mother's husband, if any, is a9biological parent of the child being carried by the10surrogate mother.11(F) All certifications shall be in writing and12witnessed by 2 competent adults who are not the13surrogate mother, surrogate mother's husband, if14any, biological mother, or biological father.15Certifications shall be on forms prescribed by the16Illinois Department of Public Health, shall be17executed prior to the birth of the child, and shall18be placed in the medical records of the surrogate19mother prior to the birth of the child. Copies of20all certifications shall be delivered to the21Illinois Department of Public Health prior to the22birth of the child.23(2) Unless otherwise determined by order of the24Circuit Court, the child shall be presumed to be the25child of the surrogate mother and of the surrogate26mother's husband, if any, if all requirements of27subdivision (a)(1) are not met prior to the birth of the28child. This presumption may be rebutted by clear and29convincing evidence. The circuit court may order the30surrogate mother, surrogate mother's husband, biological31mother, biological father, and child to submit to such32medical examinations and testing as the court deems33appropriate.34 (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, -18- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 paternity established in accordance with subsection (a) has 2 the full force and effect of a judgment entered under this 3 Act and serves as a basis for seeking a child support order 4 without any further proceedings to establish paternity. 5 (c) A judicial or administrative proceeding to ratify 6 paternity established in accordance with subsection (a) is 7 neither required nor permitted. 8 (d) A signed acknowledgment of paternity entered under 9 this Act may be challenged in court only on the basis of 10 fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact, with the burden 11 of proof upon the challenging party. Pending outcome of the 12 challenge to the acknowledgment of paternity, the legal 13 responsibilities of the signatories shall remain in full 14 force and effect, except upon order of the court upon a 15 showing of good cause. 16 (e) Once a parent and child relationship is established 17 in accordance with subsection (a), an order for support may 18 be established pursuant to a petition to establish an order 19 for support by consent filed with the clerk of the circuit 20 court. A copy of the properly completed acknowledgment of 21 parentage form shall be attached to the petition. The 22 petition shall ask that the circuit court enter an order for 23 support. The petition may ask that an order for visitation, 24 custody, or guardianship be entered. The filing and 25 appearance fees provided under the Clerks of Courts Act shall 26 be waived for all cases in which an acknowledgment of 27 parentage form has been properly completed by the parties and 28 in which a petition to establish an order for support by 29 consent has been filed with the clerk of the circuit court. 30 This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit filing any 31 petition for child support, visitation, or custody under this 32 Act, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 33 or the Non-Support Punishment Act. This subsection shall 34 also not be construed to prevent the establishment of an -19- LRB093 02043 LCB 02101 b 1 administrative support order in cases involving persons 2 receiving child support enforcement services under Article X 3 of the Illinois Public Aid Code. 4 (Source: P.A. 91-308, eff. 7-29-99; 91-613, eff. 10-1-99; 5 92-16, eff. 6-28-01)