Legal Question in Family Law in Illinois

Re: Child Support

The simple answer to your question is no. Under state law, parents have an obligation to support their children, subject to their resources and ability to earn income and the needs of the child. A parent may give up all rights to the child, as in an adoption, and the obligation for support is transferred to the adoptive parent. However, a parent cannot merely give up all rights to the child as a defense against child support claims of the other parent or the state, if the child is a ward of the state. Otherwise, "deadbeat dads" and moms could avoid their support obligation merely by rejecting parenthood and any rights to the child.