Department of Public Aid ex rel. McFarland v. Thompsen

The defendant, Lawrence G. Thompsen, appeals from a circuit court judgment that, pursuant to the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984 (the Act) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 40, par. 2501 et seq.), declared him to be the father of Sean McFarland, the child of the relator, Margaret McFarland, and ordered him to pay both retroactive and prospective child support. On appeal, the defendant argues that (1) the trial court violated his constitutional right to choose not to procreate when it required him to support a child born only because the relator deceived him into thinking that she could not become…