Sharpe v. Westmoreland

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Visitation
Citation
Case Number: 
2019 IL App (5th) 170321
Decision Date: 
Thursday, April 11, 2019
District: 
5th Dist.
Division/County: 
Madison Co.
Holding: 
Reversed and remanded.
Justice: 
CATES

Court granted petition for leave to intervene filed by woman, finding that she had standing as a stepparent to seek visitation with and to seek parental responsibilities of her deceased partner's child. Intervenor and her deceased partner were joined in a civil union, not in marriage. Under the Marriage Act,  stepparentage requires a legal marriage as opposed to a civil union. (WELCH and CHAPMAN, concurring.)