Custody suit flips back to Illinois court

Trial Notebook

By Steven P. Garmisa

Hoey & Farina

Posted March 2, 2015 2:37 PM

In a child custody case where Illinois had “exclusive, continuing jurisdiction” based on Section 202 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, the question of first impression for the Illinois Appellate Court was whether a Madison County judge erred in applying California law when deciding to terminate Gabriel Smick’s parental rights. Smick, who suffered a series of strokes, continued living in Illinois after his marriage to Leslie was dissolved in Madison County. The divorce …

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