Article IX. Child Custody or Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Proceedings · Part A. Rules of General Application to Child Custody or Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Proceedings · Last amended 2016 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 902 requires parties in a custody case to disclose, under oath, any other pending custody proceedings or existing custody orders involving the same child, and to keep updating that disclosure as the case goes on.
(a)Complaint or Petition. The initial complaint or petition in a child custody or allocation of
parental responsibilities proceeding shall state (1) whether the child involved is the subject of any other child custody or allocation of parental responsibilities proceeding pending before another division of the circuit court, or another court or administrative body of Illinois or of any other state, an Indian tribe, or a foreign country and (2) whether any order affecting the custody, allocation of parental responsibilities, visitation, or parenting time of the child has been entered by the circuit court or any of its divisions, or by another court or administrative body of Illinois or of any other state, an Indian tribe, or a foreign country. If any child custody or allocation of parental responsibilities proceeding is pending with respect to the child, or any order has been entered with respect to the custody, allocation of parental responsibilities, visitation, or parenting time of the child, the initial complaint or petition shall identify the tribunal involved and the parties to the action.
(b)Verification of Initial Complaint or Petition. The plaintiff or petitioner in a child custody or allocation of parental responsibilities proceeding shall verify the pleadings required by paragraph (a) of this rule. If the plaintiff or petitioner is a public agency, the verification shall be on information and belief of the attorney filing the pleading and shall state that reasonable efforts were made to obtain all information relevant to the matters verified.
(c)Answer or Appearance. In a child custody or allocation of parental responsibilities proceeding the defendant’s (or respondent’s) answer, if required, shall include a verified disclosure of any relevant information known to the defendant (or respondent) regarding any pending proceedings or orders described in paragraph (a) of this rule. Any defendant or respondent who appears but is not required to file an answer in the child custody or allocation of parental responsibilities matter shall be questioned under oath by the court at the party’s first appearance before the court regarding any proceedings or orders described in paragraph (a) of this rule.
(d)Continuing Duty. The parties have a continuing duty to disclose information relating to
other pending child custody or allocation of parental responsibilities proceedings or any existing orders affecting the custody, allocation of parental responsibilities, visitation, or parenting time of the child, and shall immediately disclose to the court and the other parties to the proceeding any such information obtained after the initial pleadings, answer or appearance.
Plain-English Summary
A child can end up the subject of more than one court case at once — an abuse case in one courtroom, a guardianship petition in another, maybe an order from a different state. Rule 902 makes sure the judge hearing a custody matter knows about all of them.
The party who files the first pleading must state whether the child is part of any other custody proceeding, and whether any court or agency, in Illinois or elsewhere, has already entered a custody, visitation, or parenting-time order. That statement has to be verified — sworn to, not just alleged. A defendant who answers must disclose the same information; one who appears without filing an answer gets questioned about it under oath at the first appearance.
The duty doesn’t end at filing. If a party learns of another proceeding or order later, they must tell the court and the other parties right away. The goal is to keep one judge from issuing an order that conflicts with another court’s ruling on the same child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the court need to know about other custody cases?
So it doesn’t issue an order that conflicts with one already in place, and so the same dispute doesn’t get litigated in two courts at once.
Do I have to disclose a custody order from another state?
Yes. Rule 902 reaches orders entered by any court or administrative body in Illinois, another state, an Indian tribe, or a foreign country.
What if I find out about another proceeding after I’ve already filed?
You have a continuing duty to disclose it to the court and the other parties as soon as you learn of it.
Does this disclosure requirement apply to government agencies that file custody cases?
Yes, but a public agency’s verification can be based on information and belief, as long as it states that reasonable efforts were made to gather the relevant facts.
What happens if a party skips this disclosure?
The court can question any appearing party under oath about other proceedings or orders, and the continuing duty to disclose remains in force throughout the case.
Committee Comments
(Revised March 8, 2016)
Special Supreme Court Committee on Child Custody Issues The purpose of Rule 902 is to ensure that the trial court is aware of all custody and allocation of parental responsibilities proceedings and orders relating to the child who is before the court. The Special Committee found that child custody and allocation of parental responsibilities, visitation and parenting time may be the subject of multiple proceedings and orders. Rule 902 addresses the problem of multiple proceedings that may occur intrastate and intra-circuit. Multiple proceedings may arise intra-circuit when parties file for relief under different statutory provisions (e.g., an abuse case and a simultaneous guardianship case). Paragraph (a) provides that the initial pleading of a party to a custody or allocation of parental responsibilities proceeding must include information regarding other pending custody or allocation of parental responsibilities proceedings and prior orders relating to custody, allocation of parental responsibilities, visitation or parenting time. Information in paragraph (a) may be submitted to the court in a joint filing including the information required by section 209(a) of the Uniform Child- Custody and Enforcement Act (750 ILCS 36/209(a)). Paragraph (b) requires that the pleadings required by paragraph (a) of this rule be verified by the plaintiff or petitioner in child custody or allocation of parental responsibilities proceedings. Paragraph (c) provides that parties not required to file pleadings may be questioned by the trial court regarding other pending matters and prior orders. Paragraph (d) provides that all parties have a continuing duty to disclose such matters to the court. Requiring disclosure of other proceedings and orders should minimize the possibility of inconsistent child custody or allocation of parental responsibilities orders and help to prevent forum shopping.
Amendment History
Adopted February 10, 2006, effective July 1, 2006; amended Mar. 8, 2016, eff. immediately.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
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