To avoid losing his parental rights on this ground, a potential father who receives a certain legal notice must now both file a paternity action and serve the mother with a copy of it within 30 days after that notice is served.
Official title: termination; parent-child relationship; service
- September 12, 2026
What changes
BeforeA potential father's failure to file a paternity action within 30 days of completion of service of a notice under section 8-106, subsection G, was a ground for ending his parent-child relationship.
NowThat ground now applies if the potential father fails to file a paternity action and to serve the mother with a copy of the filed action within 30 days after completion of service of that notice.
BeforeA potential father who did not file a paternity action within 30 days after that notice waived his right to be notified about the termination of parental rights, and his consent to the termination was not required.
NowThe same result now applies if he does not both file the paternity action and serve the mother with a copy of it within those 30 days.
Who it affects
- Potential fathers who are served with notice under section 8-106, subsection G
- Mothers of children involved in these cases
- Courts handling cases to end parental rights
What you need to do
A potential father served with this notice who wants to keep his rights on this ground must, within 30 days after completion of service, file a paternity action and serve the mother with a copy of it.
What the law doesn't answer
- What the notice under section 8-106, subsection G is or when it is given
- How the mother must be served with the copy of the paternity action
- Whether the change applies to cases already pending or notices already served
- What happens if the mother cannot be located for service
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.