Q: Hello I live in Chicago and I have 2 daughters ages 6 and 7 with my ex. He lives in PR. Can I serve him through court?
He's not in asume and child support in chicago isn't working fast enough. I don't have the money to fly to PR to serve him. I want to file a petition here in Chicago.
A:
If the children were born here in Chicago and he then left the state, you may file a petition to establish him as the father of the children in Cook County. You will then need to contact a "Process Server" in the city/town in which he lives (use Google), call them, and then fax/scan/mail a copy of the Summons and Petition to Establish the Father Child Relationship.
For the Petition and Summons, look up the court forms on Cook County's website. When you go into the clerk's office to file it, they will certify your Summons and petition, which you will then scan/fax/email to the Process Server you previously contacted.
Give the Process server his name, a physical description, make/model of his car, and any other details that will help him identify the father. The Process Server will then "serve" him with the Summons and Petition you filed with the court, and he will have 30 days to either file his Appearance electronically, or hire local counsel in Chicago to file one for him.
And then.. off you go..!
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