Sole Custody

               Jurisdiction; Commencement of Proceeding.

    (a)  A court of this State competent to decide child custody matters

has jurisdiction to make a child custody determination  in  original  or

modification  proceedings  as provided in Section 4 of the Uniform Child

Custody Jurisdiction Act as adopted by this State.

    (b)  A child custody proceeding is commenced in the court:

         (1)  by a parent, by filing a petition:

              (i)  for dissolution of marriage or  legal  separation  or

         declaration of invalidity of marriage; or

              (ii)  for  custody of the child, in the county in which he

         is permanently resident or found;

         (2)  by a person other than a parent, by filing a petition  for

    custody  of  the  child  in  the  county  in which he is permanently

    resident or found, but only if he is not in the physical custody  of

    one of his parents; or

         (3)  by  a  stepparent,  by  filing  a  petition, if all of the

    following circumstances are met:

              (A)  the child is at least 12 years old;

              (B)  the custodial parent and stepparent were married  for

         at least 5 years during which the child resided with the parent

         and stepparent;

              (C)  the  custodial  parent is deceased or is disabled and

         cannot perform the duties of a parent to the child;

              (D)  the stepparent provided for the  care,  control,  and

         welfare  to  the  child  prior  to  the  initiation  of custody

         proceedings;

              (E)  the child wishes to live with the stepparent; and

              (F)  it is alleged to be in the best interests and welfare

         of the child to live with the stepparent as provided in Section

         602 of this Act.

    (c)  Notice of a child custody proceeding, including an  action  for

modification  of a previous custody order, shall be given to the child's

parents, guardian and custodian, who may appear, be heard,  and  file  a

responsive  pleading.  The court, upon showing of good cause, may permit

intervention of other interested parties.

    (d)  Proceedings  for  modification  of  a  previous  custody  order

commenced more than 30 days following the entry of  a  previous  custody

order  must  be  initiated by serving a written notice and a copy of the

petition  for  modification  upon  the  child's  parent,  guardian   and

custodian at least 30 days prior to hearing on the petition.  Nothing in

this  Section shall preclude a party in custody modification proceedings

from moving for a temporary order under Section 603 of this Act.

    (e)  In a custody proceeding involving an  out-of-state  party,  the

court,  prior to granting or modifying a custody judgment, shall consult

the registry of out-of-state judgments to determine whether there exists

any communications or documents alleging  that  the  child  who  is  the

subject of custody proceedings may have been improperly removed from the

physical  custody  of  the  person  entitled to custody or may have been

improperly retained after a visit or other temporary  relinquishment  of

physical   custody.    Where,   on   the  basis  of  such  documents  or

communications contained in the registry of out-of-state judgments,  the

court  determines  that the child who is the subject of custody may have

been improperly removed or retained, the court shall notify  the  person

or  agency  who  submitted such communications as to the location of the

child, as soon as is practicable.

(Source: P.A. 90-782, eff. 8-14-98.)