705 ILCS 405/2-29
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 705 - COURTS|705 ILCS 405/ - Juvenile Court Act of 1987.|Article II - Abused, Neglected Or Dependent Minors

 (from Ch. 37, par. 802-29)Sec. 2-29.     Adoption; appointment of guardian with power to consent.(1) With leave of the court, a minor who is the subject of an  abuse, neglect, or dependency petition under this  Act  may be the subject of a petition for adoption under the Adoption Act.(1.1) The  parent or parents of a child in whose interest a petition under Section 2-13  of this Act is pending may, in the manner  required by the Adoption Act, (a) surrender him  or her for adoption to an agency legally authorized or licensed to place  children for adoption, (b) consent to his or her adoption, or (c) consent to  his or her adoption by a specified person or persons. Nothing in this  Section requires that the parent or parents execute the surrender, consent, or  consent to adoption by a specified person in open court.(2) If a petition or motion alleges and the court  finds that it  is in the  best  interest of the minor that parental rights be terminated and the petition or  motion requests that a guardian of  the person be appointed and  authorized to consent to the adoption of the minor, the court,  with the consent of the parents, if living, or after finding,  based  upon clear  and convincing evidence, that a  parent is an unfit person as defined in Section 1 of the Adoption Act, may  terminate parental rights and empower the guardian of the  person of the minor, in the order appointing him or her as such guardian, to  appear in court where any proceedings for the adoption of the minor may at  any time be pending and to consent to the adoption. Such consent is  sufficient to authorize the court in the adoption proceedings to enter a  proper order or judgment of adoption without further notice to, or consent  by, the parents of the minor. An order so empowering the guardian to  consent to adoption deprives the parents of the  minor of all legal rights as respects the minor and relieves them of all  parental responsibility for him or her, and frees the minor from all  obligations of maintenance and obedience to his or her natural parents.If the minor is over 14 years of age, the court may, in its discretion,  consider the wishes of the minor in determining whether the best interests  of the minor would be promoted by the finding of the unfitness of a  non-consenting parent.(2.1) Notice to a parent who has appeared or been served with summons  personally or by certified mail, and for whom an order of default has been  entered on the petition for wardship and has not been set aside shall be  provided in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 11.  Notice to a parent who was  served by publication and for whom an order of default has been entered on the  petition for wardship and has not been set aside shall be provided in  accordance with Sections 2-15 and 2-16.(3) Parental consent to the order terminating  parental rights and authorizing the  guardian of the person  to consent to adoption of the minor must be in writing and signed in the form provided  in the Adoption Act,  but no names of petitioners for adoption need be included.(4) A finding of the  unfitness of a parent must be made in compliance with the  Adoption Act, without regard to the likelihood that the child will be placed  for adoption, and be based upon clear and convincing  evidence.  Provisions of the Adoption Act relating to minor  parents and to mentally ill  or mentally deficient parents apply to proceedings under this Section and  any findings with respect to such parents shall be based upon clear and  convincing evidence.    (Source: P.A. 89-704, eff. 8-16-97 (changed from 1-1-98 by P.A. 90-443);  90-28, eff. 1-1-98; 90-443, eff. 8-16-97; 90-608, eff. 6-30-98.)