Legal Question in Family Law in Illinois

Re: Visitation/Joint Bills

Your friend would have no rights with regards to the child. As for the credit cards, look at the user agreement but likely what's known as joint/several liability...i.e., if there were a problem the credit card company could pursue either or both of the card holders.

Re: Visitation/Joint Bills

He has no rights to the child as he has no legal or biological relationship with the child. The credit cards are joint, so its just like cosigning a car, the CC company can come after both of them for the bill.

Re: Visitation/Joint Bills

Your friend may wish to consider adopting the child assuming that the mother would agree. The couple need not be married for purposes of the adoption. Certainly the biological father has abandoned the child and even if he were to object to the adoption, its likely that the court would find him unfit and approve the adoption. This would, of course, subject "your friend" to paying child support until the child is 18 or graduates high school but it would also give him visitation rights and custody of the child if something were to happen to the mother. Even if the parties are breaking up, mother may be happy to allow your friend to adopt. As for the credit cards, depending on the various balances and how the property is divided, the parties may want to enter into a private agreement as to who pays what. Otherwise, both parties are going to be liable for the full amount of the credit card debt and the CC companies can go after both of them.