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New Parental Rights Law in Effect
(IRN) -- A new law allows Illinois mothers to regain their parental rights through adoption.

The law applies to children who have been adopted through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services by relatives. Birth parents can petition the court to restore their parental rights if the adoptive parent dies or becomes too disabled to provide care. It is estimates that 500 adopted children are left without a legal parent each year due to their adoptive parent's death.

The first case was completed last week in Chicago. Yolanda Miller, a mother of 11 children, had her children removed by DCFS more than 14 years ago because of her drug abuse problems. A court terminated her parental rights and placed the children for adoption with her mother. After overcoming the drug addiction, and upon her mother's death, Miller sought to reclaim her children. Rights to Miller's children, two minors and two adults, were restored June 27. Five of her other adult children also wish to have her rights to them restored. Another court date is scheduled for that process.

The process includes a DCFS investigation of the birth parent and the home, and approval by both the public guardian and a court.

(Illinois Radio Network)
07 05 11 by Newsroom
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