Buffalo Grove, IL asked in Child Custody, Divorce and Family Law for Illinois

Q: Hi my name is Jonathan M and I was wondering what the age limit is for a child to represent themselves in court 4divorce

I am a student in school and I need to know what the age limit is for me to represent myself in court in my parents divorce situation and they have been involved in the court for 5yrs about now and I have been thinking it would be nice to hear what is being said about me right there and then because I want to be with my mom but I cannot make that fully happen without going through a GAL as of right now and I am 17yrs old and have been thinking would it be nice or what to be able to represent myself or what.

2 Lawyer Answers
Brian W. Reidy
PREMIUM
Brian W. Reidy
Answered
  • Divorce Lawyer
  • Orland Park, IL
  • Licensed in Illinois

A: You cannot represent yourself in a divorce because the divorce is between two adults. You can have an attorney appointed to represent you and report to the court, which it sounds like you already have a GAL. A child's "preference" as to which parent that they wish to live with is one of many factors that the court considers in determining the best place for a child to live. In other words, a child never gets to "decide" which parent to live with in Illinois. A court will consider the child's wishes but also the other factors that you may/may not be aware of. I suggest that you speak to the GAL to discuss more.

Cheryl Powell
Cheryl Powell
Answered
  • Divorce Lawyer
  • Mt Vernon, IL
  • Licensed in Illinois

A: There is no such age. The case is public record. You could look at the court file for documents but i don' t think you will learn a lot.

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