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Illinois Compiled Statutes

755 ILCS 5/2-4 (2026)

Adopted child

✓ current as of May 2026
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(755 ILCS 5/2-4) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 2-4)
    Sec. 2-4. Adopted child.
    (a) An adopted child is a descendant of the adopting parent for purposes of inheritance from the adopting parent and from the lineal and collateral kindred of the adopting parent and for the purpose of determining the property rights of any person under any instrument, unless the adopted child is adopted after attaining the age of 18 years and the child never resided with the adopting parent before attaining the age of 18 years, in which case the adopted child is a child of the adopting parent but is not a descendant of the adopting parent for the purposes of inheriting from the lineal or collateral kindred of the adopting parent. An adopted child and the descendants of the child who is related to a decedent through more than one line of relationship shall be entitled only to the share based on the relationship which entitles the child or descendant to the largest share. The share to which the child or descendant is not entitled shall be distributed in the same manner as if the child or descendant never existed. For purposes of inheritance, the changes made by this amendatory Act of 1997 apply to all decedents who die on or after January 1, 1998. For the purpose of determining the property rights of any person under any instrument, the changes made by this amendatory Act of 1997 apply to all instruments executed on or after January 1, 1998.
    (b) An adopting parent and the lineal and collateral kindred of the adopting parent shall inherit property from an adopted child to the exclusion of the natural parent and the lineal and collateral kindred of the natural parent in the same manner as though the adopted child were a natural child of the adopting parent, except that the natural parent and the lineal or collateral kindred of the natural parent shall take from the child and the child's kindred the property that the child has taken from or through the natural parent or the lineal or collateral kindred of the natural parent by gift, by will or under intestate laws.
    (c) For purposes of inheritance from the child and his or her kindred (1) the person who at the time of the adoption is the spouse of an adopting parent is an adopting parent and (2) a child is adopted when the child has been or is declared by any court to have been adopted or has been or is declared or assumed to be the adopted child of the testator or grantor in any instrument bequeathing or giving property to the child.
    (d) For purposes of inheritance from or through a natural parent and for determining the property rights of any person under any instrument, an adopted child is not a child of a natural parent, nor is the child a descendant of a natural parent or of any lineal or collateral kindred of a natural parent, unless one or more of the following conditions apply:
        (1) The child is adopted by a descendant or a spouse
    
of a descendant of a great-grandparent of the child, in which case the adopted child is a child of both natural parents.
        (2) A natural parent of the adopted child died before
    
the child was adopted, in which case the adopted child is a child of that deceased parent and an heir of the lineal and collateral kindred of that deceased parent.
        (3) The contrary intent is demonstrated by the terms
    
of the instrument by clear and convincing evidence.
    An heir of an adopted child who, by reason of this subsection (d), is not a child of a natural parent is also not an heir of that natural parent or of the lineal or collateral kindred of that natural parent. A fiduciary who has actual knowledge that a person has been adopted, but who has no actual knowledge that any of paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection apply to the adoption, shall have no liability for any action taken or omitted in good faith on the assumption that the person is not a descendant or heir of the natural parent. The preceding sentence is intended to affect only the liability of the fiduciary and shall not affect the property rights of any person.
    For purposes of inheritance, the changes made by this amendatory Act of 1997 apply to all decedents who die on or after January 1, 1998. For the purpose of determining the property rights of any person under any instrument, the changes made by this amendatory Act of 1997 apply to all instruments executed on or after January 1, 1998.
    (e) For the purpose of determining the property rights of any person under any instrument executed on or after September 1, 1955, an adopted child is deemed a child born to the adopting parent unless the contrary intent is demonstrated by the terms of the instrument by clear and convincing evidence.
    (f) After September 30, 1989, a child adopted at any time before or after that date is deemed a child born to the adopting parent for the purpose of determining the property rights of any person under any instrument executed before September 1, 1955, unless one or more of the following conditions applies:
        (1) The intent to exclude such child is demonstrated
    
by the terms of the instrument by clear and convincing evidence.
        (2) An adopting parent of an adopted child, in the
    
belief that the adopted child would not take property under an instrument executed before September 1, 1955, acted to substantially benefit such adopted child when compared to the benefits conferred by such parent on the child or children born to the adopting parent. For purposes of this paragraph:
            (i) "Acted" means that the adopting parent made
        
one or more gifts during life requiring the filing of a federal gift tax return or at death (including gifts which take effect at death), or exercised or failed to exercise powers of appointment or other legal rights, or acted or failed to act in any other way.
            (ii) Any action which substantially benefits the
        
adopted child shall be presumed to have been made in such a belief unless a contrary intent is demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence.
    (g) No fiduciary or other person shall be liable to any other person for any action taken or benefit received prior to October 1, 1989, under any instrument executed before September 1, 1955, that was based on a good faith interpretation of Illinois law regarding the right of adopted children to take property under such an instrument.
    (h) No fiduciary under any instrument executed before September 1, 1955, shall have any obligation to determine whether any adopted child has become a taker under such instrument due to the application of subsection (f) unless such fiduciary has received, on or before the "notice date", as defined herein, written evidence that such adopted child has become a taker of property. A fiduciary who has received such written evidence shall determine in good faith whether or not any of the conditions specified in subsection (f) exists but shall have no obligation to inquire further into whether such adopted child is a taker of property pursuant to such subsection. Such written evidence shall include a sworn statement by the adopted child or his or her parent or guardian that such child is adopted and to the best of the knowledge and belief of such adopted child or such parent or guardian, none of the conditions specified in such subsection exists. The "notice date" shall be the later of February 1, 1990, or the expiration of 90 days after the date on which the adopted child becomes a taker of property pursuant to the terms of any instrument executed before September 1, 1955.
    (i) A fiduciary shall advise all persons known to him or her to be subject to these provisions of the existence of the right to commence a judicial proceeding to prevent the adopted child from being a taker of property under the instrument.
(Source: P.A. 90-237, eff. 1-1-98.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 18 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1995–2026 · leading case: In Re Est. of Roller, 880 N.E.2d 549 (Ill. App. Ct. 2007).
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In Re Est. of Roller, 880 N.E.2d 549 (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). · cites it 7× “Ronald relied on section 2-4 of the Probate Act of 1975(Act) (755 ILCS 5/2-4 (West 2006)) to support his position that he was not excluded from the Trust.”
Faville v. Burns, 2011 IL App (1st) 110335 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). · cites it 6× “¶2 On appeal, plaintiffs contend the trial court erred in dismissing their claims based on a determination that section 2-4(a) of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/2-4(a) (West 2010)), rather than section 2-4(f), applied with regard to whether plaintiffs were…”
Faville v. Burns, 960 N.E.2d 99 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). · cites it 8× “¶ 2 On appeal, plaintiffs contend the trial court erred in dismissing their claims based on a determination that section 2-4(a) of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/2-4(a) (West 2010)), rather than section 2-4(f), applied with regard to whether plaintiffs were…”
Adoption of Sg v. Sg, 929 N.E.2d 78 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010). · cites it 6× “*88 Section 2-4(b) of the Probate Act of 1975 (Probate Act) (755 ILCS 5/2-4(b) (West 2008)), which addresses inheritance from an adopted child, supports the conclusion the rights of the natural parent and the natural parent's relatives are severed upon an adoption judgment and…”
Gearhart v. Gearhart, 2020 IL App (1st) 190042 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). “See 755 ILCS 5/2-4(e) (West 2018) (an adopted child is deemed a child born to the adopting parent for the purpose of determining the property rights - 29 - being entitled to his share of the trust’s assets.”
Dixon v. Weitekamp-Diller, 2012 IL App (4th) 120209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). · cites it 2× “110 1/2, ¶ 2-4(e) (now 755 ILCS 5/2-4(e) (West 2010)))–which reflects the idea that an adopted child is treated as if that child were born to the adoptive parent–establishes a rebuttable presumption that Barbara’s daughters should be treated as if they were Hughes’ biological…”
First Nat. Bank of Chicago v. King, 651 N.E.2d 127 (Ill. 1995). “The statute provides: "After September 30, 1989, a child adopted at any time before or after that date is deemed a child born to the adopting parent for the purpose of determining the property rights of any person under any instrument executed before September 1, 1955, unless *…”
In re: Est. of Johnson, 2023 IL App (4th) 220488 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “” 755 ILCS 5/2-4(a) (West 2020). ¶ 26 Indeed, it is a fair question whether Cross’s subterfuge analysis is still valid in any case where the amendment applies.”
In Re Est. of Brittin, 664 N.E.2d 687 (Ill. App. Ct. 1996). · cites it 2× “Respondent acknowledges that pursuant to section 2-4(a) of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/2-4(a) (West 1992)), petitioners' father, as the adopted child of the decedent, is a descendant of his adoptive parent, and had he not predeceased decedent, he would be entitled to half of…”
In Re Est. of Goodkind, 827 N.E.2d 6 (Ill. App. Ct. 2005). “See 755 ILCS 5/2-4(d) (West 1998) ("For purposes of inheritance from or through a natural parent and for determining the property rights of any person under any instrument, an adopted child is not a child of a natural parent, nor is the child a descendant of a natural parent or…”
In Re Est. of Renchen, 939 N.E.2d 605 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010). · cites it 7× “755 ILCS 5/2-4(d) (West 2008). Establishing a parent-child relationship under the Parentage Act is an entirely different matter from seeking to establish heirship under the Probate Act.”
In re the Est. of Weidner, 2016 IL App (4th) 160306 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016). “110 1/2, ¶ 2­ 4(e) (now 755 ILCS 5/2-4(e) (West 2014))) provides: “For the purpose of determining the property rights of any person under any instrument executed on or after September 1, 1955, an adopted child is deemed a child born to the adopting parent unless the contrary…”
Show all 18 citing cases →
— 755 ILCS 5/2-4(a) — 4 cases
Faville v. Burns, 2011 IL App (1st) 110335 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). “¶2 On appeal, plaintiffs contend the trial court erred in dismissing their claims based on a determination that section 2-4(a) of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/2-4(a) (West 2010)), rather than section 2-4(f), applied with regard to whether plaintiffs were…”
Faville v. Burns, 960 N.E.2d 99 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). “¶ 2 On appeal, plaintiffs contend the trial court erred in dismissing their claims based on a determination that section 2-4(a) of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/2-4(a) (West 2010)), rather than section 2-4(f), applied with regard to whether plaintiffs were…”
In re: Est. of Johnson, 2023 IL App (4th) 220488 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “” 755 ILCS 5/2-4(a) (West 2020). ¶ 26 Indeed, it is a fair question whether Cross’s subterfuge analysis is still valid in any case where the amendment applies.”
In Re Est. of Brittin, 664 N.E.2d 687 (Ill. App. Ct. 1996). “Respondent acknowledges that pursuant to section 2-4(a) of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/2-4(a) (West 1992)), petitioners' father, as the adopted child of the decedent, is a descendant of his adoptive parent, and had he not predeceased decedent, he would be entitled to half of…”
— 755 ILCS 5/2-4(b) — 1 case
Adoption of Sg v. Sg, 929 N.E.2d 78 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010). “*88 Section 2-4(b) of the Probate Act of 1975 (Probate Act) (755 ILCS 5/2-4(b) (West 2008)), which addresses inheritance from an adopted child, supports the conclusion the rights of the natural parent and the natural parent's relatives are severed upon an adoption judgment and…”
— 755 ILCS 5/2-4(d) — 4 cases
Adoption of Sg v. Sg, 929 N.E.2d 78 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010). “*88 Section 2-4(b) of the Probate Act of 1975 (Probate Act) (755 ILCS 5/2-4(b) (West 2008)), which addresses inheritance from an adopted child, supports the conclusion the rights of the natural parent and the natural parent's relatives are severed upon an adoption judgment and…”
In Re Est. of Goodkind, 827 N.E.2d 6 (Ill. App. Ct. 2005). “See 755 ILCS 5/2-4(d) (West 1998) ("For purposes of inheritance from or through a natural parent and for determining the property rights of any person under any instrument, an adopted child is not a child of a natural parent, nor is the child a descendant of a natural parent or…”
In Re Est. of Renchen, 939 N.E.2d 605 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010). “755 ILCS 5/2-4(d) (West 2008). Establishing a parent-child relationship under the Parentage Act is an entirely different matter from seeking to establish heirship under the Probate Act.”
Dept. of Healthcare & Fam. Svcs. v. Warner, 853 N.E.2d 435 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006).
— 755 ILCS 5/2-4(d)(1) — 3 cases
In Re Est. of Renchen, 939 N.E.2d 605 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010). “755 ILCS 5/2-4(d) (West 2008). Establishing a parent-child relationship under the Parentage Act is an entirely different matter from seeking to establish heirship under the Probate Act.”
In re Est. of Snodgrass (Ill. App. Ct. 2003).
In re Est. of Andrew, 2026 IL App (3d) 250222-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2026).
— 755 ILCS 5/2-4(e) — 4 cases
Gearhart v. Gearhart, 2020 IL App (1st) 190042 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). “See 755 ILCS 5/2-4(e) (West 2018) (an adopted child is deemed a child born to the adopting parent for the purpose of determining the property rights - 29 - being entitled to his share of the trust’s assets.”
Dixon v. Weitekamp-Diller, 2012 IL App (4th) 120209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). “110 1/2, ¶ 2-4(e) (now 755 ILCS 5/2-4(e) (West 2010)))–which reflects the idea that an adopted child is treated as if that child were born to the adoptive parent–establishes a rebuttable presumption that Barbara’s daughters should be treated as if they were Hughes’ biological…”
In re the Est. of Weidner, 2016 IL App (4th) 160306 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016). “110 1/2, ¶ 2­ 4(e) (now 755 ILCS 5/2-4(e) (West 2014))) provides: “For the purpose of determining the property rights of any person under any instrument executed on or after September 1, 1955, an adopted child is deemed a child born to the adopting parent unless the contrary…”
In re the Est. of Weidner, 2016 IL App (4th) 160306 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017).
— 755 ILCS 5/2-4(f) — 3 cases
Faville v. Burns, 2011 IL App (1st) 110335 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). “¶2 On appeal, plaintiffs contend the trial court erred in dismissing their claims based on a determination that section 2-4(a) of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/2-4(a) (West 2010)), rather than section 2-4(f), applied with regard to whether plaintiffs were…”
Faville v. Burns, 960 N.E.2d 99 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). “¶ 2 On appeal, plaintiffs contend the trial court erred in dismissing their claims based on a determination that section 2-4(a) of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/2-4(a) (West 2010)), rather than section 2-4(f), applied with regard to whether plaintiffs were…”
Dixon v. Weitekamp-Diller, 2012 IL App (4th) 120209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). “110 1/2, ¶ 2-4(e) (now 755 ILCS 5/2-4(e) (West 2010)))–which reflects the idea that an adopted child is treated as if that child were born to the adoptive parent–establishes a rebuttable presumption that Barbara’s daughters should be treated as if they were Hughes’ biological…”
— 755 ILCS 5/2-4(f)(1) — 3 cases
In Re Est. of Roller, 880 N.E.2d 549 (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). “Ronald relied on section 2-4 of the Probate Act of 1975(Act) (755 ILCS 5/2-4 (West 2006)) to support his position that he was not excluded from the Trust.”
First Nat. Bank of Chicago v. King, 651 N.E.2d 127 (Ill. 1995). “The statute provides: "After September 30, 1989, a child adopted at any time before or after that date is deemed a child born to the adopting parent for the purpose of determining the property rights of any person under any instrument executed before September 1, 1955, unless *…”
In re Est. of Roller (Ill. App. Ct. 2007).
— 755 ILCS 5/2-4(f)(2) — 2 cases
In Re Est. of Roller, 880 N.E.2d 549 (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). “Ronald relied on section 2-4 of the Probate Act of 1975(Act) (755 ILCS 5/2-4 (West 2006)) to support his position that he was not excluded from the Trust.”
In re Est. of Roller (Ill. App. Ct. 2007).
— 755 ILCS 5/2-4(g) — 1 case
Chicago Title & Trust Co. v. Steinitz (Ill. App. Ct. 1997).
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