In this video, our Cook County adoption lawyers explain the adoption process in Illinois. We explain how to file an adoption petition, how to determine which court to file in, the deadline to file the petition, and how to obtain leave of court to file the petition if you have missed the deadline. We also explain what to expect from the adoption hearing. There are five different types of adoption: related adoption, agency adoption, private adoption, adoption of an adult, and standby adoption. A person is eligible to adopt a child in Illinois if he or she: does not have a legal disability; has lived in Illinois for at least 6 months (this requirement is reduced to 90 days if the adopting individual is a member of the Armed Forces); has a good reputation. A child is available for adoption in Illinois if: the child has been surrendered to an agency and the agency has consented to adoption; a person authorized by a court to consent to adoption has consented; the child's biological parents have placed the child in the custody of the prospective adoptive parents.