Legal Question in Family Law in Illinois

You need his written consent or a court order (if there is a parentage case). If you were never married and no parentage case was ever started you can leave.

You can leave. You just can't take your children. I disagree with Mr. Shimberg about the issue of leaving w/o the court's permission in the absence of a previously filed parentage case. I believe that under either set of circumstances, you need leave of court. The safest course is to file a petition with the court for leave to remove. If your child's father has never previously filed a petition to establish his rights, then the court should have no trouble granting you permission to leave and ordering that he pay you child support.