(a) An unaccompanied child in the custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement housed in Illinois who is alleged to have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by one or both parents may file a petition seeking a finding of dependency upon the court under this Act. (b) The petition must: (1) set forth the facts that bring the child under the court's jurisdiction under this Act; (2) state the child's name, age, and country of birth; (3) identify the facility in Illinois where the child is housed in the custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement; (4) set forth facts alleging that reunification of the child with one or both of the child's parents is not viable because of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or another similar basis; and (5) set forth facts alleging that it is not in the best interest of the child to be returned to the child's or parent's previous country of nationality or last habitual residence. (c) Statements in the petition may be made upon information and belief. (d) The petition may not name the child's parent as a respondent. (e) The petition must clearly state that parental rights may not be terminated through proceedings under this Act.
705 ILCS 420/20
Petition
Known as the Dependency Determinations for Unaccompanied Children Act
The act spans §§ 705-420-1 to 705-420-99 (10 sections).
P.A. 104-462, eff. 6-1-26.
Official source: Illinois General Assembly. Reproduced from public-domain Illinois statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.