{ "id": 5457162, "name": "In re MARRIAGE OF JEFFREY D. SKELTON, Petitioner-Appellant, and ALESHA M. SKELTON, Respondent-Appellee", "name_abbreviation": "In re Marriage of Skelton", "decision_date": "2004-09-01", "docket_number": "No. 5-04-0262", "first_page": "348", "last_page": "352", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "352 Ill. App. 3d 348" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "Wis. Stat. \u00a7 767.45", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Wis. Stat.", "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(3)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "689 N.E.2d 397", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "294 Ill. App. 3d 159", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 35442 ], "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/294/0159-01" ] }, { "cite": "791 N.E.2d 674", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "339 Ill. App. 3d 743", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2469299 ], "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/339/0743-01" ] }, { "cite": "666 N.E.2d 44", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "48", "parenthetical": "temporary restraining order" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "281 Ill. App. 3d 41", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 150247 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "46-47", "parenthetical": "temporary restraining order" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/281/0041-01" ] }, { "cite": "690 N.E.2d 1040", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1043", "parenthetical": "permanent injunction" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "294 Ill. App. 3d 839", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 35448 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "844", "parenthetical": "permanent injunction" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/294/0839-01" ] }, { "cite": "792 N.E.2d 421", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "427" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "341 Ill. App. 3d 238", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5574785 ], "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "247" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/341/0238-01" ] }, { "cite": "812 N.E.2d 49", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "53" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "349 Ill. App. 3d 437", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5434673 ], "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "442" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/349/0437-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 511, "char_count": 8419, "ocr_confidence": 0.749, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.518461695170957e-08, "percentile": 0.2832064726553556 }, "sha256": "faf6b7d99330feff772f2916ac2ebbc48f66b4f3257f1dc2b7c5ae585402883d", "simhash": "1:2e3a34b671c4cff4", "word_count": 1405 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:57:06.765456+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "GOLDENHERSH and MAAG, JJ., concur." ], "parties": [ "In re MARRIAGE OF JEFFREY D. SKELTON, Petitioner-Appellant, and ALESHA M. SKELTON, Respondent-Appellee." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE KUEHN\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nJeffrey D. Skelton (Jeffrey) appeals from the trial court\u2019s April 19, 2004, order denying a portion of his request for a temporary and permanent injunction and reserving its ruling on all matters pertaining to the Skeltons\u2019 unborn child.\nJeffrey and Alesha M. Skelton (Alesha) were married in Texas on June 13, 2002. Following the marriage, the Skeltons resided in Madison County. Jeffrey and Alesha separated on or about January 9, 2004. At that time, Alesha was two months pregnant. Apparently, while Jeffrey was at work and without his advance knowledge, Alesha moved out of the marital home, returning to Texas.\nJeffrey filed a petition for a dissolution of the marriage on February 3, 2004, in Madison County. In this petition, he requested custody of the unborn child. In response, Alesha filed a special and limited appearance denying that the State of Illinois had subject matter jurisdiction relative to her unborn child and his or her future custody. In her supporting affidavit, Alesha averred that she planned to give birth to and raise this child in Texas.\nThereafter, on April 13, 2004, Jeffrey filed a motion for a temporary and permanent injunction, asking the court for the following relief:\n1. To order Alesha to move back to Illinois until the unborn child\u2019s delivery and until a temporary custody determination can be made.\n2. To order Alesha to provide advance notice of the location and time of the delivery.\n3. To restrict Alesha from naming the unborn child until a determination could be made regarding Jeffrey\u2019s rights to name the unborn child.\n4. To enjoin Alesha after the child\u2019s birth from bringing the child around her aunt and uncle.\n5. To order Alesha to provide Jeffrey with all relevant information regarding the pregnancy and her personal contact information.\nOn April 19, 2004, the trial court held a hearing on this motion and on Alesha\u2019s previously filed special and limited appearance in response to the dissolution petition. At the hearing, Alesha\u2019s attorney argued that the court could not make rulings relative to the unborn child because the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction. The trial court determined that it had jurisdiction over the parties to the dissolution proceeding \u2014 Jeffrey and Alesha \u2014 and over the marital property. Turning to the matter of the unborn child, the court noted that the State of Illinois does not consider an unborn child as a child for purposes of the relative marital dissolution statutes. Consequently, the court ordered Alesha to file an answer to the petition for dissolution regarding all matters except the issues involving the unborn child. The court stated that it would retain jurisdiction over the child custody matter when it became ripe for adjudication. Specifically addressing the request for injunctive relief, the court denied the request to order Alesha to move back to Illinois. In so ruling, the court noted that we now live in a mobile society and that there was no basis upon which it could order her return. The court reserved its ruling with respect to all the remaining matters, finding that in this situation the State of Illinois simply did not recognize the unborn child as a child. In so ruling, the court acknowledged that, after the birth, some of the matters raised by Jeffrey would probably not be relevant.\nFrom the transcript of this hearing, we know that the baby\u2019s due date was July 27, 2004. From a motion filed after the case was argued on appeal, we know that the Skelton baby boy was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 15, 2004.\nJeffrey appeals.\nAt issue is whether the courts of the State of Illinois have subject matter jurisdiction over an unborn child in the context of a future child custody matter or other marital dissolution issue.\nBefore we address the issue, we must initially decide Alesha\u2019s motion to dismiss this case on the basis that, because the baby has now been born, this court no longer has subject matter jurisdiction to render an opinion. We agree with Alesha that the issues raised by Jeffrey on appeal are moot. However, as we recently said in In re Linda W., \u201c[Sjince this case involves an event of short duration that is capable of repetition yet evades review, we will address the issues raised ***.\u201d In re Linda W., 349 Ill. App. 3d 437, 442, 812 N.E.2d 49, 53 (2004), citing In re Robert S., 341 Ill. App. 3d 238, 247, 792 N.E.2d 421, 427 (2003). We deny Alesha\u2019s motion to dismiss and turn to the merits of this appeal.\nThe standard of review on an appeal from the trial court\u2019s decision relative to a request for temporary or permanent injunctive relief is whether or not the trial court abused its discretion. Young v. Mory, 294 Ill. App. 3d 839, 844, 690 N.E.2d 1040, 1043 (1998) (permanent injunction); C.D. Peters Construction Co. v. Tri-City Regional Port District, 281 Ill. App. 3d 41, 46-47, 666 N.E.2d 44, 48 (1996) (temporary restraining order).\nJeffrey cites to an Illinois statute affording a man who is both the father of a viable unborn child and the spouse of the pregnant mother certain rights relative to the mother\u2019s plans to abort the child. 735 ILCS 5/11 \u2014 107.1 (West 2002). He asks this court to extend the rights granted to a husband under this statute, arguing that our legislature has recognized that matters related to a pregnancy may require intervention prior to the child\u2019s birth. He also points out that in dissolution actions, the courts are often required to make rulings in anticipation of future events, as in the case of making determinations about the postsecondary education of minor children.\nWhile we appreciate the concern that Jeffrey had relative to his unborn child, we must agree with the position taken by the trial court \u2014 Illinois courts simply lack jurisdiction in this type of situation over an unborn child. Virtually everything about a dissolution of a marriage is statutory, and a deviation from these statutory guidelines typically results in a ruling that the trial court\u2019s determination was erroneous. See, e.g., In re Marriage of Waller, 339 Ill. App. 3d 743, 791 N.E.2d 674 (2003). While our state recognizes an unborn child as a child for purposes of criminal prosecutions (see, e.g., 720 ILCS 5/9\u20141.2 (West 2002)) and wrongful-death actions (740 ILCS 180/2.2 (West 2002)), those situations are statutory in nature. And the appellate court has refused to intervene on behalf of an unborn child whose mother planned to refuse certain medical treatments on religious grounds. See In re Brown, 294 Ill. App. 3d 159, 689 N.E.2d 397 (1997). Wisconsin statutorily authorizes the filing of a paternity suit prior to a child\u2019s birth but states that except for initial pleadings and depositions for the purpose of preserving testimony, \u201call proceedings shall be stayed until after the birth.\u201d Wis. Stat. \u00a7 767.45(3) (2003). We cite to this statute as an example of how a state\u2019s courts could obtain subject matter jurisdiction over an unborn child in a family court matter. At this point, the State of Illinois has no such provision, and because we have no authority to expand the subject matter of the Illinois abortion statute cited by Jeffrey, we conclude that the trial court\u2019s ruling was correct.\nJeffrey also argues that section 4 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (750 ILCS 35/4 (West 2002)) is applicable. That statute ascertains the home state of the child at issue. Nothing in the language of this statute addresses a situation of an unborn child or otherwise defines \u201cchild\u201d as including unborn fetuses. We cannot read that intent into the statute. While not the answer that Jeffrey is seeking, the home state of his son has now been determined by his birth.\nFor the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Madison County is hereby affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nGOLDENHERSH and MAAG, JJ., concur.\nThe Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act was repealed on January 1, 2004. Pub. Act 93 \u2014 108, \u00a7 404, eff. January 1, 2004. On the same date, Illinois\u2019s enactment of the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act became effective. 750 ILCS 36/101 et seq. (West Supp. 2003).", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE KUEHN" } ], "attorneys": [ "Suzanne Vogel, of Bethalto, for appellant.", "Allen H. Collins, of Collinsville, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "In re MARRIAGE OF JEFFREY D. SKELTON, Petitioner-Appellant, and ALESHA M. SKELTON, Respondent-Appellee.\nFifth District\nNo. 5\u201404\u20140262\nOpinion filed September 1, 2004.\nSuzanne Vogel, of Bethalto, for appellant.\nAllen H. Collins, of Collinsville, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0348-01", "first_page_order": 366, "last_page_order": 370 }