In Re Marriage of Highsmith

The issue here is whether an Illinois court had personal jurisdiction over a nonresident respondent in an action commenced by the respondent’s ex-wife seeking contempt sanctions for the respondent’s failure to comply with a child support order. Both the petitioner and child are Illinois residents. In 1970, the parties were divorced in California. The respondent was given custody of the couple’s minor child. In 1981, the respondent sent the child to live with respondent’s parents in Illinois and sent a notarized statement with the child which purported to grant custody to the grandparents. A…