Sharpe v. Westmoreland

Illinois Supreme Court
Civil Court
Civil Unions
Citation
Case Number: 
2020 IL 124863
Decision Date: 
Thursday, September 24, 2020
District: 
5th Dist.
Division/County: 
Madison Co.
Holding: 
Certified questions answered; reversed and remanded.
Justice: 
GARMAN

Civil union partner of child's deceased father filed petition for visitation and allocation of parental responsibilities as child's step-parent. A civil union partner is a "step-parent" as defined by Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act's provisions that grant step-parents standing to seek visitation and parental responsibilities of their step-children. (A. BURKE, KILBRIDE, KARMEIER, THEIS, NEVILLE, and M. BURKE, concurring.)