In this article we answer the frequently asked questions about Voluntary Acknowledgments of Parentage (also known as a “Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity” or “VAP”) including: What is a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage/ Paternity?, where can parents get a blank VAP in Illinois?, who can sign a VAP in Illinois?When should a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity be signed in Illinois?, how do the parents make the VAP official in Illinois?, how can a parent get a copy of a completed VAP in Illinois?, in Illinois, for unmarried couples, can the father’s name be added to the birth certificate without a VAP?, what if the Mother is married to a person who is not the biological parent of the child in Illinois?, can I change my mind about a VAP in Illinois?, and can I challenge a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity in Illinois after 60 days?

The baseline rule is that the disabled adult’s home state has jurisdiction over the guardianship proceeding. The disabled adult’s home state is defined as a state in which the disabled adult was physically present for at least six consecutive months immediately prior to the filing of the guardianship proceeding. A temporary absence counts toward this six month period. If the disabled adult does not have a “home state” because he or she has not lived in the same state for six consecutive months prior to filing the guardianship proceeding a state with a significant connection to the disabled adult may assert jurisdiction.

In this article, we explain the differences between a testamentary special needs trust and a stand-alone special needs trust as well as the pros and cons of each. We answer the questions, “what is a special needs trust?”, “what is a testamentary special needs trust?”, “what is a stand-alone special needs trust?”, “what are the benefits of a stand-alone special needs trust compared to a testamentary special needs trust?”, and “when is a testamentary special needs trust appropriate?”