An Illinois Judgment of Paternity is a court order issued by an Illinois court that legally establishes the paternity of a child. The judgment may be requested by a mother, father, or the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). There are two types of Illinois Judgment of Paternity: Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAP) and Adjudicated Paternity. A VAP is a form signed by both the mother and the father that establishes legal paternity of the child. An Adjudicated Paternity is a court order issued by an Illinois court that legally establishes the paternity of a child when the father is not willing or able to sign a VAP. In order to obtain an Adjudicated Paternity, the mother, father, or HFS must file a Petition for Adjudication of Paternity in the appropriate Illinois court.