In accordance with William's wishes, the trial court conducted an adjudicatory hearing at which it determined that D.J.S. was an abused and neglected minor with regard to William. The court then proceeded to consider whether William was an unfit parent and whether his parental rights should be terminated. In each instance, the court resolved these questions against William. He maintains that the lack of jurisdiction renders all subsequent orders of the court void. Proper service of summons is necessary to establish in personam jurisdiction.
Service of process serves two objectives.
It notifies the defendant of pending litigation and enables him to appear and defend against it, and it vests jurisdiction in the trying court. A plaintiff need not serve process upon a defendant who voluntarily appears in the proceeding. 103 Ill. App. However, William voluntarily appeared at the initial hearing and thus subjected himself to the jurisdiction of the court. He knew that the matter had been continued and that he would have to appear again if he intended to defend himself against the State's allegations.