ILCS » Chapter 750 · Act 50
Illinois Compiled Statutes

750 ILCS 50/20 (2026)

Practice

✓ current as of May 2026
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(750 ILCS 50/20) (from Ch. 40, par. 1524)
    Sec. 20. Practice. The provisions of the Civil Practice Law and all existing and future amendments of that Law and the Supreme Court Rules now or hereafter adopted in relation to that Law shall apply to all adoption proceedings except as otherwise specifically provided in this Act.
    Proceedings under this Act shall receive priority over other civil cases in being set for hearing.
    No matters not germane to the distinctive purpose of a proceeding under this Act shall be introduced by joinder, counterclaim or otherwise.
    An appeal from a judgment order for adoption or other appealable orders under this Act shall be prosecuted and heard on an expedited basis, unless good cause for doing otherwise is shown.
    In the event a judgment order for adoption is vacated or a petition for adoption is denied, the court shall promptly conduct a hearing as to the temporary and permanent custody of the minor child who is the subject of the proceedings pursuant to Part VI of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. The parties to said proceedings shall be the petitioners to the adoption proceedings, the minor child, any biological parents whose parental rights have not been terminated, and other parties who have been granted leave to intervene in the proceedings.
    This Act shall be liberally construed, and the rule that statutes in derogation of the common law must be strictly construed shall not apply to this Act.
    All defects in pleadings, either in form or substance, not objected to prior to the entry of final judgment, shall be deemed to be waived.
    As to persons over whom the court had jurisdiction or persons claiming under them, it shall be no basis for attack as to the validity of an adoption judgment that the court lacked jurisdiction over some other person or persons over whom it should have had jurisdiction. If, upon attack by a person or persons over whom the court lacked jurisdiction, or persons claiming under them, an adoption judgment is set aside, it shall be set aside only insofar as it affects such person or persons.
    The provisions of this Section shall apply to all cases pending on or after July 3, 1994.
(Source: P.A. 89-315, eff. 1-1-96; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 39 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 1994–2026 · leading case: Petition of Kirchner, 649 N.E.2d 324 (Ill. 1995).
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Petition of Kirchner, 649 N.E.2d 324 (Ill. 1995). · cites it 12× “For the reasons expressed later in this opinion, we find that neither the Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act nor the recent Adoption Act amendments apply to the instant case.”
In re P.S., 2021 IL App (5th) 210027 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021). · cites it 2× “3d 310 , 315 (2003); 750 ILCS 50/20 (West 2020). 4 Rule 241 allows persons to “testify or otherwise participate” in civil trials and evidentiary hearings by videoconference from remote locations and is located under Article II of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules.”
In Re Adoption of E.L., 733 N.E.2d 846 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000). · cites it 6× “moved for summary judgment on the petitions, the trial court vacated the final judgment order of adoption and proceeded to hold a custody hearing pursuant to section 20 of the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/20 (West 1998)). Following the hearing, the court awarded legal custody and…”
In Re Adoption of Ginnell, 737 N.E.2d 1094 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000). · cites it 3× “At that point in the proceedings, the trial court should have conducted a custody hearing pursuant to section 20 of the Adoption Act (the Act) (750 ILCS 50/20 (1998)). Instead, the trial court referred the case to Judge Wiley Edmondson for determination of the issues of child…”
In re K.M., 653 N.E.2d 888 (Ill. App. Ct. 1995). · cites it 2× “” (750 ILCS 50/20 (West 1994); see also In re Joseph B.”
People v. Lashawn F., 802 N.E.2d 800 (Ill. 2003). · cites it 2× “” 750 ILCS 50/20 (West 2000). Finally, the legislature has determined that “[i]t is in the best interests of persons to be adopted” that the Adoption Act be “construed and interpreted so as not to result in extending time limits beyond those set forth [t]herein.”
In Re India B., 782 N.E.2d 224 (Ill. 2002). “2d 304 , citing 750 ILCS 50/20(b) *232 (West 1998). This is supported by public policy considerations, requiring that adoptions be accorded a certain degree of finality and stability.”
People v. Jacob R. (In Re P.J.), 2018 IL App (3d) 170539 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “750 ILCS 50/20 (West 2014). Although the plain error rule is generally applied to criminal cases, it also may be applied in civil cases, but the application is exceedingly rare.”
Petition of KM, 653 N.E.2d 888 (Ill. App. Ct. 1995). · cites it 2× “" (750 ILCS 50/20 (West 1994); see also In re Joseph B.”
People v. L.F., 772 N.E.2d 939 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002). · cites it 2× “” 750 ILCS 50/20 (West 1998). Also, “[a]n appeal from a judgment order for adoption or other appealable orders under this Act shall be prosecuted and heard on an expedited basis.”
In Re Df, 772 N.E.2d 939 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002). · cites it 2× “" 750 ILCS 50/20 (West 1999). Also, "[a]n appeal from a judgment order for adoption or other appealable orders under this Act shall be prosecuted and heard on an expedited basis * * *.”
In Re Joseph B., 630 N.E.2d 1180 (Ill. App. Ct. 1994). “" (750 ILCS 50/20 (West 1992); see also In re Custody of Mitchell (1983), 115 Ill.”
Show all 39 citing cases →
— 750 ILCS 50/20(b) — 4 cases
Petition of Kirchner, 649 N.E.2d 324 (Ill. 1995). “For the reasons expressed later in this opinion, we find that neither the Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act nor the recent Adoption Act amendments apply to the instant case.”
In Re India B., 782 N.E.2d 224 (Ill. 2002). “2d 304 , citing 750 ILCS 50/20(b) *232 (West 1998). This is supported by public policy considerations, requiring that adoptions be accorded a certain degree of finality and stability.”
People v. Denise S., 782 N.E.2d 224 (Ill. 2002).
In re Adoption of Jenna G., 2026 IL App (5th) 250748-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2026).
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