Section Newsletters

Articles From Sean McCumber

Family vs. Fosters: When Competing Adoption Petitions Create Court Conundrums By Sean McCumber Child Law, February 2026 In a situation where the child has been under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services for over two years, with loving foster parents, what happens when the foster parents file an adoption petition and a family member immediately, but subsequently, files their own adoption petition? This query causes problems and raises many questions over what the court should do.
Child support in parentage cases: Does In re Marriage of Turk apply? By Sean McCumber Family Law, September 2015 Since the statutory language in the Parentage Act contains very specific and different provisions than the IMDMA, any Turk-like changes to support obligations in parentage cases must come from the General Assembly, not the Courts.
4 comments (Most recent September 11, 2015)
A case law overview for child custody disputes in civil union dissolutions By Sean McCumber Child Law, November 2011  A brief case law overview of custody and visitation issues for non-biological parents.
When a parent fails to exercise his or her parenting time By Sean McCumber & Hon. Harry E. Clem Child Law, June 2010 What is a custodial parent to do when the non-custodial parent fails to exercise his or her designated parenting time with the minor children?
Next friends: Can the attorney for the minor act as next friend in emancipation proceedings? By Sean McCumber Child Law, June 2009 The functions and powers of a next friend are the same as those of a guardian ad litem, and with the exception of on which side they represent the minor, the next friend or guardian ad litem is to represent the minor’s interest in the litigation.
DuPage County modifies local rule on adoptions By Sean McCumber Child Law, September 2008 The changes to the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit court local rule regarding adoptions, while expansive, are simple and user-friendly.
The role of a Guardian Ad Litem in litigation: Not just a witness By Thomas A. Else, J.D. & Sean McCumber, J.D. Family Law, September 2008 The role a Guardian Ad Litem in custody litigation is sometimes confused as to whether the Guardian (GAL) may be allowed to both testify as a witness and to advocate on behalf of the children as an attorney participating in the litigation.
Taking adoption out of the closet and into the open By Sean McCumber Child Law, January 2008 When I was younger, I remember many television shows and after-school dramas about the topic of adoption.

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