750 ILCS 5/ Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

(750 ILCS 5/Pt. I heading) PART I GENERAL PROVISIONS

(750 ILCS 5/101) (from Ch. 40, par. 101)

Sec. 101. Short Title.) This Act may be cited as the "Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act".

(Source: P.A. 86-649.)

(750 ILCS 5/102) (from Ch. 40, par. 102)

Sec. 102. Purposes; Rules of Construction. This Act shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes, which are to:

(1) provide adequate procedures for the solemnization and registration of marriage;

(2) strengthen and preserve the integrity of marriage and safeguard family relationships;

(3) promote the amicable settlement of disputes that have arisen between parties to a marriage;

(4) mitigate the potential harm to spouses and their children caused by the process of an action brought under this Act, and protect children from exposure to conflict and violence;

(5) ensure predictable decision-making for the care of children and for the allocation of parenting time and other parental responsibilities, and avoid prolonged uncertainty by expeditiously resolving issues involving children;

(6) recognize the right of children to a healthy relationship with parents, and the responsibility of parents to ensure such a relationship;

(7) acknowledge that the determination of children's best interests, and the allocation of parenting time and significant decision-making responsibilities, are among the paramount responsibilities of our system of justice, and to that end:

(A) recognize children's right to a strong and healthy relationship with parents, and parents' concomitant right and responsibility to create and maintain such relationships;

(B) recognize that, in the absence of domestic violence or any other factor that the court expressly finds to be relevant, proximity to, and frequent contact with, both parents promotes healthy development of children;

(C) facilitate parental planning and agreement about the children's upbringing and allocation of parenting time and other parental responsibilities;

(D) continue existing parent-child relationships, and secure the maximum involvement and cooperation of parents regarding the physical, mental, moral, and emotional well-being of the children during and after the litigation; and

(E) promote or order parents to participate in programs designed to educate parents to:

(i) minimize or eliminate rancor and the detrimental effect of litigation in any proceeding involving children; and

(ii) facilitate the maximum cooperation of parents in raising their children;

(8) make reasonable provision for support during and after an underlying dissolution of marriage, legal separation, parentage, or parental responsibility allocation action, including provision for timely advances of interim fees and costs to all attorneys, experts, and opinion witnesses including guardians ad litem and children's representatives, to achieve substantial parity in parties' access to funds for pre-judgment litigation costs in an action for dissolution of marriage or legal separation;

(9) eliminate the consideration of marital misconduct in the adjudication of rights and duties incident to dissolution of marriage, legal separation and declaration of invalidity of marriage; and

(10) make provision for the preservation and conservation of marital assets during the litigation.

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/103) (from Ch. 40, par. 103)

Sec. 103. Trial by Jury.) There shall be no trial by jury under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/104) (from Ch. 40, par. 104)

Sec. 104. Venue. The proceedings shall be had in the county where the plaintiff or defendant resides, except as otherwise provided herein, but process may be directed to any county in the State. Objection to venue is barred if not made within such time as the defendant's response is due. In no event shall venue be deemed jurisdictional.

In any case brought pursuant to this Act where neither the petitioner nor respondent resides in the county in which the initial pleading is filed, the petitioner shall file with the initial pleading a written motion, which shall be set for hearing and ruled upon before any other issue is taken up, advising that the forum selected is not one of proper venue and seeking an appropriate order from the court allowing a waiver of the venue requirements of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/105) (from Ch. 40, par. 105)

Sec. 105. Application of Civil Practice Law.)

(a) The provisions of the Civil Practice Law shall apply to all proceedings under this Act, except as otherwise provided in this Act.

(b) A proceeding for dissolution of marriage, legal separation or declaration of invalidity of marriage shall be entitled "In re the Marriage of ... and ...". A parental responsibility allocation or support proceeding shall be entitled "In re the (Parental Responsibility) (Support) of ...".

(c) The initial pleading in all proceedings under this Act shall be denominated a petition. A responsive pleading shall be denominated a response. If new matter by way of defense is pleaded in the response, a reply may be filed by the petitioner, but the failure to reply is not an admission of the legal sufficiency of the new matter. All other pleadings under this Act shall be denominated as provided in the Civil Practice Law.

(d) As used in this Section, "pleadings" includes any petition or motion filed in the dissolution of marriage case which, if independently filed, would constitute a separate cause of action, including, but not limited to, actions for declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, and orders of protection. Actions under this subsection are subject to motions filed pursuant to Sections 2-615 and 2-619 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/106) (from Ch. 40, par. 106)

Sec. 106. Employment of Administrative Aides.) The employment of qualified administrative aides to assist the court of any county in the administration of proceedings hereunder may be provided for by such county as the case may be. All such aides shall be appointed by the authority which provided for them, subject to the approval of a majority of the judges of each court involved, and shall serve for such terms and shall receive such compensation as provided by ordinance.

(a) The administrative aides shall perform such nonjudicial duties with respect to proceedings hereunder and matters ancillary thereto as the court shall direct.

(b) Any county may make such appropriations as may be necessary to provide for the expense and compensation of the administrative aides.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/107) (from Ch. 40, par. 107)

Sec. 107. Order of protection; status. Whenever relief is sought under Part V, Part VI or Part VII of this Act, the court shall inquire and parties shall advise the court whether any order of protection has previously been entered in the instant proceeding or any other proceeding in which any party, or a child of any party, or both, if relevant, has been designated as either a petitioner, respondent, or protected person.

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/Pt. II heading) PART II MARRIAGE

(750 ILCS 5/201) (from Ch. 40, par. 201)

Sec. 201. Formalities.) A marriage between 2 persons licensed, solemnized and registered as provided in this Act is valid in this State.

(Source: P.A. 98-597, eff. 6-1-14.)

(750 ILCS 5/202) (from Ch. 40, par. 202)

Sec. 202. Marriage License and Marriage Certificate.)

(a) The Director of Public Health shall prescribe the form for an application for a marriage license, which shall include the following information:

(1) name, sex, occupation, address, social security number, date and place of birth of each party to the proposed marriage;

(2) if either party was previously married, his name, and the date, place and court in which the marriage was dissolved or declared invalid or the date and place of death of the former spouse;

(3) name and address of the parents or guardian of each party; and

(4) whether the parties are related to each other and, if so, their relationship.

(b) The Director of Public Health shall prescribe the forms for the marriage license, the marriage certificate and, when necessary, the consent to marriage.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/203) (from Ch. 40, par. 203)

Sec. 203. License to Marry. When a marriage application has been completed and signed by both parties to a prospective marriage and both parties have appeared before the county clerk and the marriage license fee has been paid, the county clerk shall issue a license to marry and a marriage certificate form upon being furnished:

(1) satisfactory proof that each party to the marriage will have attained the age of 18 years at the time the marriage license is effective or will have attained the age of 16 years and has either the consent to the marriage of both parents or his guardian or judicial approval; provided, if one parent cannot be located in order to obtain such consent and diligent efforts have been made to locate that parent by the consenting parent, then the consent of one parent plus a signed affidavit by the consenting parent which (i) names the absent parent and states that he or she cannot be located, and (ii) states what diligent efforts have been made to locate the absent parent, shall have the effect of both parents' consent for purposes of this Section;

(2) satisfactory proof that the marriage is not prohibited; and

(3) an affidavit or record as prescribed in subparagraph (1) of Section 205 or a court order as prescribed in subparagraph (2) of Section 205, if applicable.

With each marriage license, the county clerk shall provide a pamphlet describing the causes and effects of fetal alcohol syndrome. At least annually, the county board shall submit to the Illinois Department of Public Health a report as to the county clerk's compliance with the requirement that the county clerk provide a pamphlet with each marriage license. All funding and production costs for the aforementioned educational pamphlets for distribution to each county clerk shall be provided by non-profit, non-sectarian statewide programs that provide education, advocacy, support, and prevention services pertaining to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

(Source: P.A. 96-1323, eff. 1-1-11.)

(750 ILCS 5/204) (from Ch. 40, par. 204)

Sec. 204. Medical information brochure. The county clerk shall distribute free of charge, to all persons applying for a marriage license, a brochure prepared by the Department of Public Health concerning sexually transmitted diseases and inherited metabolic diseases.

(Source: P.A. 86-884.)

(750 ILCS 5/205) (from Ch. 40, par. 205)

Sec. 205. Exceptions.

(1) Irrespective of the results of laboratory tests and clinical examination relative to sexually transmitted diseases, the clerks of the respective counties shall issue a marriage license to parties to a proposed marriage (a) when a woman is pregnant at the time of such application, or (b) when a woman has, prior to the time of application, given birth to a child born out of wedlock which is living at the time of such application and the man making such application makes affidavit that he is the father of such child born out of wedlock. The county clerk shall, in lieu of the health certificate required hereunder, accept, as the case may be, either an affidavit on a form prescribed by the State Department of Public Health, signed by a physician duly licensed in this State, stating that the woman is pregnant, or a copy of the birth record of the child born out of wedlock, if one is available in this State, or if such birth record is not available, an affidavit signed by the woman that she is the mother of such child.

(2) Any judge of the circuit court within the county in which the license is to be issued is authorized and empowered on joint application by both applicants for a marriage license to waive the requirements as to medical examination, laboratory tests, and certificates, except the requirements of paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of Section 212 of this Act which shall not be waived; and to authorize the county clerk to issue the license if all other requirements of law have been complied with and the judge is satisfied, by affidavit, or other proof, that the examination or tests are contrary to the tenets or practices of the religious creed of which the applicant is an adherent, and that the public health and welfare will not be injuriously affected thereby.

(Source: P.A. 94-229, eff. 1-1-06.)

(750 ILCS 5/206) (from Ch. 40, par. 206)

Sec. 206. Records.) Any health certificate filed with the county clerk, or any certificate, affidavit, or record accepted in lieu thereof, shall be retained in the files of the office for one year after the license is issued and shall thereafter be destroyed by the county clerk.

(Source: P.A. 82-561.)

(750 ILCS 5/207) (from Ch. 40, par. 207)

Sec. 207. Effective Date of License.) A license to marry becomes effective in the county where it was issued one day after the date of issuance, unless the court orders that the license is effective when issued, and expires 60 days after it becomes effective, provided that the marriage is not invalidated by the fact that the marriage was inadvertently solemnized in a county in Illinois other than the county where the license was issued.

(Source: P.A. 95-775, eff. 1-1-09.)

(750 ILCS 5/208) (from Ch. 40, par. 208)

Sec. 208. Judicial Approval of Underage Marriages.) (a) The court, after a reasonable effort has been made to notify the parents or guardian of each underaged party, may order the county clerk to issue a marriage license and a marriage certificate form to a party aged 16 or 17 years who has no parent capable of consenting to his marriage or whose parent or guardian has not consented to his marriage.

(b) A marriage license and a marriage certificate form may be issued under this Section only if the court finds that the underaged party is capable of assuming the responsibilities of marriage and the marriage will serve his best interest. Pregnancy alone does not establish that the best interest of the party will be served.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/209) (from Ch. 40, par. 209)

Sec. 209. Solemnization and registration.

(a) A marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court of record, by a retired judge of a court of record, unless the retired judge was removed from office by the Judicial Inquiry Board, except that a retired judge shall not receive any compensation from the State, a county or any unit of local government in return for the solemnization of a marriage and there shall be no effect upon any pension benefits conferred by the Judges Retirement System of Illinois, by a judge of the Court of Claims, by a county clerk in counties having 2,000,000 or more inhabitants, by a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, by a mayor or president of a city, village, or incorporated town who is in office on the date of the solemnization, or in accordance with the prescriptions of any religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, provided that when such prescriptions require an officiant, the officiant be in good standing with his or her religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group. Either the person solemnizing the marriage, or, if no individual acting alone solemnized the marriage, both parties to the marriage, shall complete the marriage certificate form and forward it to the county clerk within 10 days after such marriage is solemnized. A mayor or president of a city, village, or incorporated town shall not receive any compensation in return for the solemnization of a marriage.

(a-5) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require any religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, or any minister, clergy, or officiant acting as a representative of a religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, to solemnize any marriage. Instead, any religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, or any minister, clergy, or officiant acting as a representative of a religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group is free to choose which marriages it will solemnize. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a refusal by a religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, or any minister, clergy, or officiant acting as a representative of a religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group to solemnize any marriage under this Act shall not create or be the basis for any civil, administrative, or criminal penalty, claim, or cause of action.

(a-10) No church, mosque, synagogue, temple, nondenominational ministry, interdenominational or ecumenical organization, mission organization, or other organization whose principal purpose is the study, practice, or advancement of religion is required to provide religious facilities for the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony of a marriage if the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony is in violation of its religious beliefs. An entity identified in this subsection (a-10) shall be immune from any civil, administrative, criminal penalty, claim, or cause of action based on its refusal to provide religious facilities for the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony of a marriage if the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony is in violation of its religious beliefs. As used in this subsection (a-10), "religious facilities" means sanctuaries, parish halls, fellowship halls, and similar facilities. "Religious facilities" does not include facilities such as businesses, health care facilities, educational facilities, or social service agencies.

(b) The solemnization of the marriage is not invalidated: (1) by the fact that the person solemnizing the marriage was not legally qualified to solemnize it, if a reasonable person would believe the person solemnizing the marriage to be so qualified; or (2) by the fact that the marriage was inadvertently solemnized in a county in Illinois other than the county where the license was issued and filed.

(c) Any marriage that meets the requirements of this Section shall be presumed valid.

(Source: P.A. 101-14, eff. 6-14-19.)

(750 ILCS 5/210) (from Ch. 40, par. 210)

Sec. 210. Registration of Marriage Certificate.) Upon receipt of the marriage certificate, the county clerk shall register the marriage. Within 45 days after the close of the month in which a marriage is registered, the county clerk shall make to the Department of Public Health a return of such marriage. Such return shall be made on a form furnished by the Department of Public Health and shall substantially consist of the following items:

(1) A copy of the marriage license application signed and attested to by the applicants, except that in any county in which the information provided in a marriage license application is entered into a computer, the county clerk may submit a computer copy of such information without the signatures and attestations of the applicants.

(2) The date and place of marriage.

(3) The marriage license number.

(Source: P.A. 85-1307.)

(750 ILCS 5/211) (from Ch. 40, par. 211)

Sec. 211. Reporting.) In transmitting the required returns, the county clerk shall make a report to the Department of Public Health stating the total number of marriage licenses issued during the month for which returns are made, and the number of marriage certificates registered during the month.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/212) (from Ch. 40, par. 212)

Sec. 212. Prohibited Marriages.

(a) The following marriages are prohibited:

(1) a marriage entered into prior to the dissolution of an earlier marriage, civil union, or substantially similar legal relationship of one of the parties, unless the parties to the marriage are the same as the parties to a civil union and are seeking to convert their civil union to a marriage pursuant to Section 65 of the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act;

(2) a marriage between an ancestor and a descendant or between siblings, whether the relationship is by the half or the whole blood or by adoption;

(3) a marriage between an uncle and a niece, between an uncle and a nephew, between an aunt and a nephew, or between an aunt and a niece, whether the relationship is by the half or the whole blood;

(4) a marriage between cousins of the first degree; however, a marriage between first cousins is not prohibited if:

(i) both parties are 50 years of age or older; or

(ii) either party, at the time of application for a marriage license, presents for filing with the county clerk of the county in which the marriage is to be solemnized, a certificate signed by a licensed physician stating that the party to the proposed marriage is permanently and irreversibly sterile;

(5) (blank).

(b) Parties to a marriage prohibited under subsection (a) of this Section who cohabit after removal of the impediment are lawfully married as of the date of the removal of the impediment.

(c) Children born or adopted of a prohibited or common law marriage are the lawful children of the parties.

(Source: P.A. 98-597, eff. 6-1-14.)

(750 ILCS 5/213) (from Ch. 40, par. 213)

Sec. 213. Validity.) All marriages contracted within this State, prior to the effective date of this Act, or outside this State, that were valid at the time of the contract or subsequently validated by the laws of the place in which they were contracted or by the domicile of the parties, are valid in this State, except where contrary to the public policy of this State.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/213.1)

Sec. 213.1. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 89-459, eff. 5-24-96. Repealed by P.A. 98-597, eff. 6-1-14.)

(750 ILCS 5/214) (from Ch. 40, par. 214)

Sec. 214. Invalidity of Common Law Marriages.) Common law marriages contracted in this State after June 30, 1905 are invalid.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/215) (from Ch. 40, par. 215)

Sec. 215. Penalty.) Unless otherwise provided by law, any person who violates any provision of Part II of this Act is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/216) (from Ch. 40, par. 216)

Sec. 216. Prohibited Marriages Void if Contracted in Another State.) That if any person residing and intending to continue to reside in this state and who is a person with a disability or prohibited from contracting marriage under the laws of this state, shall go into another state or country and there contract a marriage prohibited and declared void by the laws of this state, such marriage shall be null and void for all purposes in this state with the same effect as though such prohibited marriage had been entered into in this state.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(750 ILCS 5/217) (from Ch. 40, par. 217)

Sec. 217. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 80-923. Repealed by P.A. 103-21, eff. 1-1-24.)

(750 ILCS 5/218) (from Ch. 40, par. 218)

Sec. 218. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 80-923. Repealed by P.A. 103-21, eff. 1-1-24.)

(750 ILCS 5/219) (from Ch. 40, par. 219)

Sec. 219. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16. Repealed by P.A. 103-21, eff. 1-1-24.)

(750 ILCS 5/220)

Sec. 220. Consent to jurisdiction. Members of a same-sex couple who enter into a marriage in this State consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of this State for the purpose of any action relating to the marriage, even if one or both parties cease to reside in this State. A court shall enter a judgment of dissolution of marriage if, at the time the action is commenced, it meets the grounds for dissolution of marriage set forth in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-597, eff. 6-1-14; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)

(750 ILCS 5/221)

Sec. 221. Name change on marriage certificate. For a person married in any county in this State, the county clerk shall issue a new marriage certificate when it receives legal documentation indicating that one of the parties listed on the certificate has legally changed names. An order for name change issued pursuant to Section 21-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall be the only legal documentation that a county clerk may require. The new marriage certificate shall reflect the legal name change and shall bear no additional markings.

(Source: P.A. 102-169, eff. 7-27-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(750 ILCS 5/222)

Sec. 222. Request for changing or removing gender identifying language on a marriage certificate.

(a) Upon completion of an affidavit provided by the county clerk and confirmation of identity, a person, still currently married, may request a certificate of the person's current marriage free of any gender identifying language. The person may request a change from terms such as "bride" and "groom" to a nongendered term such as "spouse" or a variant of "Spouse 1" or "Spouse A". Upon such request, both parties shall be listed with a nongendered identifier on a certificate. The request shall not permanently change the gender identifying language in the clerk's records, and the affidavit and issuance shall be kept in the permanent records of the clerk.

The affidavit shall be created by the county clerk, may appear on a combined form with the form under subsection (b), and shall be substantially as follows:REQUEST FOR NONGENDERED COPY OF A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

I, .........., state that I am a named spouse on a marriage license held in this office, that I am still married to the other named spouse on that marriage license as of the date of this request, and hereby request the holder of this record provide me, and only me, with a marriage certificate with any gender-identifying language removed or changed to "spouse". I affirm that this change is for purposes of this certified copy, the change will not be made to permanent records, and a record of this request shall be held by the holder of this marriage record.

Date..........

Signature..........

(b) If 2 parties currently married request a marriage certificate with gender identifiers changed, such as "bride" to "groom" or "groom" to "bride", both parties shall appear before the clerk, indicate consent, and complete an affidavit. If the clerk is technologically able and the parties desire, the change in gender is permanent.

The affidavit shall be created by the county clerk, may appear on a combined form with the form under subsection (a), and shall be substantially as follows:REQUEST FOR NONGENDERED COPY OF A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

We, ..........[Spouse A] and ..........[Spouse B], the still-married named persons on a marriage license held in this office as of the date of this request, hereby request the holder of this record to provide a marriage certificate with gender-identifying terms such as "bride" and "groom" changed as follows:

..........[Name of Spouse A] Bride, Groom, or Spouse (select one).

..........[Name of Spouse B] Bride, Groom, or Spouse (select one).

We affirm that this change is for purposes of this certified copy, and the change will not be made to permanent records, unless indicated by selecting Yes or No (select one) and a record of this request shall be held by the holder of this marriage record.

Date..........

Signature of Spouse A..........

Signature of Spouse B..........

(c) If a county provides a certified record, photocopy, or reproduction of an original record in lieu of a summary data sheet, the county clerk shall work with the Department of Public Health to develop a new certificate that can be issued in lieu of a reproduction of the prior record. Nothing in this subsection authorizes the county clerk to permanently mark or deface a prior record in lieu of a summary data sheet certificate.

(d) When a clerk issues a nongendered marriage certificate under subsection (a), the certificate shall not include any language indicating it has been amended nor that it is not a true and accurate record of the facts stated therein.

(Source: P.A. 102-171, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(750 ILCS 5/Pt. III heading) PART III DECLARATION OF INVALIDITY OF MARRIAGE

(750 ILCS 5/301) (from Ch. 40, par. 301)

Sec. 301. Declaration of Invalidity - Grounds.) The court shall enter its judgment declaring the invalidity of a marriage (formerly known as annulment) entered into under the following circumstances:

(1) a party lacked capacity to consent to the marriage at the time the marriage was solemnized, either because of mental incapacity or infirmity or because of the influence of alcohol, drugs or other incapacitating substances, or a party was induced to enter into a marriage by force or duress or by fraud involving the essentials of marriage;

(2) a party lacks the physical capacity to consummate the marriage by sexual intercourse and at the time the marriage was solemnized the other party did not know of the incapacity;

(3) a party was aged 16 or 17 years and did not have the consent of his parents or guardian or judicial approval; or

(4) the marriage is prohibited.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/302) (from Ch. 40, par. 302)

Sec. 302. Time of Commencement.) (a) A declaration of invalidity under paragraphs (1) through (3) of Section 301 may be sought by any of the following persons and must be commenced within the times specified:

(1) for any of the reasons set forth in paragraph (1) of Section 301, by either party or by the legal representative of the party who lacked capacity to consent, no later than 90 days after the petitioner obtained knowledge of the described condition;

(2) for the reason set forth in paragraph (2) of Section 301, by either party, no later than one year after the petitioner obtained knowledge of the described condition;

(3) for the reason set forth in paragraph (3) of Section 301, by the underaged party, his parent or guardian, prior to the time the underaged party reaches the age at which he could have married without needing to satisfy the omitted requirement.

(b) In no event may a declaration of invalidity of marriage be sought after the death of either party to the marriage under subsections (1), (2) and (3) of Section 301.

(c) A declaration of invalidity for the reason set forth in paragraph (4) of Section 301 may be sought by either party, the legal spouse in case of a bigamous marriage, the State's Attorney or a child of either party, at any time not to exceed 3 years following the death of the first party to die.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/303) (from Ch. 40, par. 303)

Sec. 303. Legitimacy of Children.) Children born or adopted of a marriage declared invalid are the lawful children of the parties. Children whose parents marry after their birth are the lawful children of the parties.

(Source: P.A. 94-229, eff. 1-1-06.)

(750 ILCS 5/304) (from Ch. 40, par. 304)

Sec. 304. Retroactivity. Unless the court finds, after a consideration of all relevant circumstances, including the effect of a retroactive judgment on third parties, that the interests of justice would be served by making the judgment not retroactive, it shall declare the marriage invalid as of the date of the marriage. The provisions of this Act relating to property rights of the spouses, maintenance, support of children, and allocation of parental responsibilities on dissolution of marriage are applicable to non-retroactive judgments of invalidity of marriage only.

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/305) (from Ch. 40, par. 305)

Sec. 305. Putative Spouse.) Any person, having gone through a marriage ceremony, who has cohabited with another to whom he is not legally married in the good faith belief that he was married to that person is a putative spouse until knowledge of the fact that he is not legally married terminates his status and prevents acquisition of further rights. A putative spouse acquires the rights conferred upon a legal spouse, including the right to maintenance following termination of his status, whether or not the marriage is prohibited, under Section 212, or declared invalid, under Section 301. If there is a legal spouse or other putative spouse, rights acquired by a putative spouse do not supersede the rights of the legal spouse or those acquired by other putative spouses, but the court shall apportion property, maintenance and support rights among the claimants as appropriate in the circumstances and in the interests of justice. This Section shall not apply to common law marriages contracted in the State after June 30, 1905.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/306) (from Ch. 40, par. 306)

Sec. 306. Commencement of Action.) Actions for declaration of invalidity of marriage shall be commenced as in other civil cases.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/Pt. IV heading) PART IV DISSOLUTION AND LEGAL SEPARATION

(750 ILCS 5/401) (from Ch. 40, par. 401)

Sec. 401. Dissolution of marriage.

(a) The court shall enter a judgment of dissolution of marriage when at the time the action was commenced one of the spouses was a resident of this State or was stationed in this State while a member of the armed services, and the residence or military presence had been maintained for 90 days next preceding the commencement of the action or the making of the finding:

Irreconcilable differences have caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and the court determines that efforts at reconciliation have failed or that future attempts at reconciliation would be impracticable and not in the best interests of the family.

(a-5) If the parties live separate and apart for a continuous period of not less than 6 months immediately preceding the entry of the judgment dissolving the marriage, there is an irrebuttable presumption that the requirement of irreconcilable differences has been met.

(b) Judgment shall not be entered unless, to the extent it has jurisdiction to do so, the court has considered, approved, reserved or made provision for the allocation of parental responsibilities, the support of any child of the marriage entitled to support, the maintenance of either spouse and the disposition of property. The court shall enter a judgment for dissolution that reserves any of these issues either upon (i) agreement of the parties, or (ii) motion of either party and a finding by the court that appropriate circumstances exist.

The death of a party subsequent to entry of a judgment for dissolution but before judgment on reserved issues shall not abate the proceedings.

If any provision of this Section or its application shall be adjudged unconstitutional or invalid for any reason by any court of competent jurisdiction, that judgment shall not impair, affect or invalidate any other provision or application of this Section, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/402) (from Ch. 40, par. 402)

Sec. 402. Legal Separation.

(a) Any person living separate and apart from his or her spouse may have a remedy for reasonable support and maintenance while they so live apart.

(b) Such action shall be brought in the circuit court of the county in which the petitioner or respondent resides or in which the parties last resided together as husband and wife. Commencement of the action, temporary relief and trials shall be the same as in actions for dissolution of marriage, except that temporary relief in an action for legal separation shall be limited to the relief set forth in subdivision (a)(1) and items (ii), (iii), and (iv) of subdivision (a)(2) of Section 501. If the court deems it appropriate to enter a judgment for legal separation, the court shall consider the applicable factors in Section 504 in awarding maintenance. If the court deems it appropriate to enter a judgment for legal separation, the court may approve a property settlement agreement that the parties have requested the court to incorporate into the judgment, subject to the following provisions:

(1) the court may not value or allocate property in the absence of such an agreement;

(2) the court may disapprove such an agreement only if it finds that the agreement is unconscionable; and

(3) such an agreement is final and non-modifiable.

(c) A proceeding or judgment for legal separation shall not bar either party from instituting an action for dissolution of marriage, and if the party so moving has met the requirements of Section 401, a judgment for dissolution shall be granted. Absent an agreement set forth in a separation agreement that provides for non-modifiable permanent maintenance, if a party to a judgment for legal separation files an action for dissolution of marriage, the issues of temporary and permanent maintenance shall be decided de novo.

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/403) (from Ch. 40, par. 403)

Sec. 403. Pleadings - Commencement - Abolition of Existing Defenses - Procedure.

(a) The complaint or petition for dissolution of marriage or legal separation shall be verified and shall minimally set forth:

(1) the age, occupation and residence of each party and his length of residence in this State;

(2) the date of the marriage and the place at which it was registered;

(2.5) whether a petition for dissolution of marriage is pending in any other county or state;

(3) that the jurisdictional requirements of subsection (a) of Section 401 have been met and that irreconcilable differences have caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage;

(4) the names, ages and addresses of all living children of the marriage and whether a spouse is pregnant;

(5) any arrangements as to support, allocation of parental responsibility of the children and maintenance of a spouse; and

(6) the relief sought.

(b) Either or both parties to the marriage may initiate the proceeding.

(c) (Blank).

(d) The court may join additional parties necessary and proper for the exercise of its authority under this Act.

(e) Contested trials shall be on a bifurcated basis with the issue of whether irreconcilable differences have caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, as described in Section 401, being tried first, regardless of whether that issue is contested or uncontested. Upon the court determining that irreconcilable differences have caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, the court may allow additional time for the parties to settle amicably the remaining issues before resuming the trial, or may proceed immediately to trial on the remaining issues. The court has the discretion to use the date of the trial or such other date as agreed upon by the parties, or ordered by the court within its discretion, for purposes of determining the value of assets or property. In cases where the requirements of Section 401 are uncontested and proved as in cases of default, the trial on all other remaining issues shall proceed immediately, if so ordered by the court or if the parties so stipulate. Except as provided in subsection (b) of Section 401, the court shall enter a judgment of dissolution of marriage, including an order dissolving the marriage, incorporation of a marital settlement agreement if applicable, and any other appropriate findings or orders, only at the conclusion of the case and not after hearing only the testimony as to whether irreconcilable differences have caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.

(f) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/404) (from Ch. 40, par. 404)

Sec. 404. Conciliation.

(a) If the court concludes that there is a prospect of reconciliation, the court, at the request of either party, or on its own motion, may order a conciliation conference. The conciliation conference and counseling shall take place at the established court conciliation service of that judicial district or at any similar service or facility where no court conciliation service has been established.

(b) The facts adduced at any conciliation conference resulting from a referral hereunder, shall not be considered in the adjudication of a pending or subsequent action, nor shall any report resulting from such conference become part of the record of the case unless the parties have stipulated in writing to the contrary.

The court, upon good cause shown, may prohibit conciliation or other process that requires the parties to meet and confer without counsel.

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/404.1) (from Ch. 40, par. 404.1)

Sec. 404.1. (a) In an action for dissolution of marriage involving minor children, or in a post-judgment proceeding involving minor children, the court may on its own motion order the parties, excluding the minor children, to attend an educational program concerning the effects of dissolution of marriage on the children, if the court finds that it would be in the best interests of the minor children. The program may be divided into sessions, which in the aggregate shall not exceed 4 hours in duration. The program shall be educational in nature and not designed for individual therapy.

(b) The facts adduced at any educational session resulting from a referral under this Section shall not be considered in the adjudication of a pending or subsequent action, nor shall any report resulting from such educational session become part of the record of the case unless the parties have stipulated in writing to the contrary.

(c) The fees or costs of educational sessions under this Section shall be borne by the parties and may be assessed by the court as it deems equitable.

(Source: P.A. 86-288.)

(750 ILCS 5/405) (from Ch. 40, par. 405)

Sec. 405. Hearing on Default - Notice. If the respondent is in default, the court shall proceed to hear the cause upon testimony of petitioner taken in open court, and in no case of default shall the court grant a dissolution of marriage or legal separation or declaration of invalidity of marriage, unless the judge is satisfied that all proper means have been taken to notify the respondent of the pendency of the suit. Whenever the judge is satisfied that the interests of the respondent require it, the court may order such additional notice as may be required. All of the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure relating to default hearings are applicable to hearings on default.

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/406) (from Ch. 40, par. 406)

Sec. 406. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 81-231. Repealed by P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/407) (from Ch. 40, par. 407)

Sec. 407. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 84-551. Repealed by P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/408) (from Ch. 40, par. 408)

Sec. 408. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 80-923. Repealed by P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/409) (from Ch. 40, par. 409)

Sec. 409. Proof of Foreign Marriage. A marriage which may have been solemnized or had in any foreign state or country, may be proved by the acknowledgment of the parties, their cohabitation, and other evidence. Certified copies of records of a marriage performed in any foreign state or country obtained from an authorized state governmental unit, embassy, or consulate may be admitted as an exception to the hearsay rule.

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)

(750 ILCS 5/410) (from Ch. 40, par. 410)

Sec. 410. Process - Practice - Proceedings - Publication.) The process, practice and proceedings under this Act shall be the same as in other civil cases, except as otherwise provided by this Act, or by any law or rule of court, and except that when the parties resided in a municipality, in a county with a population under 2,000,000, at the time the cause of action arose, and if service by publication is necessary, publication shall be in a newspaper published in such municipality if there is one.

(Source: P.A. 80-923.)

(750 ILCS 5/411) (from Ch. 40, par. 411)

Sec. 411. Commencement of Action.

(a) Actions for dissolution of marriage or legal separation shall be commenced as in other civil cases or, at the option of petitioner, by filing a praecipe for summons with the clerk of the court and paying the regular filing fees, in which latter case, a petition shall be filed within 6 months thereafter, or any extension for good cause shown granted by the court.

(b) When a praecipe for summons is filed without the petition, the summons shall recite that petitioner has commenced suit for dissolution of marriage or legal separation and shall require the respondent to file his or her appearance not later than 30 days from the day the summons is served and to plead to the petitioner's petition within 30 days from the day the petition is filed.

Until a petition has been filed, the court, pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) herein, may dismiss the suit, order the filing of a petition, or grant leave to the respondent to file a petition in the nature of a counter petition.

After the filing of the petition, the party filing the same shall, within 2 days, serve a copy thereof upon the other party, in the manner provided by rule of the Supreme Court for service of notices in other civil cases.

(c) Unless a respondent voluntarily files an appearance, a praecipe for summons filed without the petition shall be served on the respondent not later than 30 days after its issuance, and upon failure to obtain service upon the respondent within the 30 day period, or any extension for good cause shown granted by the court, the court shall dismiss the suit.

(d) An action for dissolution of marriage or legal separation commenced by the filing a praecipe for summons without the petition may be dismissed if a petition for dissolution of marriage or legal separation has not been filed within 6 months after the commencement of the action or within the extension granted under subsection (a) of this Section.

(e) The filing of a praecipe for summons under this Section constitutes the commencement of an action that serves as grounds for involuntary dismissal under subdivision (a)(3) of Section 2-619 of the Code of Civil Procedure of a subsequently filed petition for dissolution of marriage or legal separation in another county.

(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)