Illinois

Overview In Illinois, you may file a Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) in any county where you live, where the respondent lives, or where the alleged nonconsensual sexual conduct or penetration occurred. This venue rule is written into the Civil No Contact Order Act and gives survivors practical flexibility to optimize for safety, speed of…

Overview In Illinois, violating a Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) is a crime. A knowing violation of a CNCO is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense; a second or subsequent violation is a Class 4 felony. Police may arrest without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe a violation occurred. Courts…

Overview In Illinois, you can extend a Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) before it expires or modify it at any time to address new risks (for example, adding a newly relevant building entrance or strengthening online no-contact clauses). The Civil No Contact Order Act allows courts to set a plenary CNCO for a fixed period…

Overview Yes. In Illinois, you can file a Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) without a lawyer (“pro se”). The CNCO exists to protect survivors of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration, and the process is designed to be accessible: statewide standardized forms, clerk assistance with procedural questions, $0 filing fee, and $0 sheriff service…

Overview In Illinois, the cost to file a Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) is $0. State law explicitly prohibits the clerk from charging a filing fee and prohibits the sheriff from charging for service of CNCO papers. Many circuits also publish local fee schedules confirming a $0 filing and $0 appearance fee for CNCOs. That…

Overview In Illinois, a Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) has two common durations depending on the stage: an Emergency CNCO is short-term and generally lasts not less than 14 nor more than 21 days; a Plenary CNCO is a final order issued after notice and hearing and typically lasts for a fixed period up to…

Overview In Illinois, the Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) is a civil remedy for survivors of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration. There are two primary stages: the Emergency CNCO and the Plenary CNCO. An Emergency CNCO can be issued quickly—sometimes the same day—without prior notice to the respondent when immediate protection is necessary.…

Overview In Illinois, a Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) is a civil court order designed to protect a person who has experienced nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration. The governing law is the Civil No Contact Order Act, 740 ILCS 22. In plain terms, if the court finds that the petitioner was a victim…

Overview Illinois provides a standardized, statewide set of Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) forms for survivors of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration to request court protection. These forms—approved for use in every circuit court—cover the petition, summons, emergency and plenary orders, and later motions to extend or modify. Centralizing the forms improves clarity,…

Overview A Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) is a court order that protects survivors of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration by prohibiting the offender from contacting, harassing, or approaching the survivor. Unlike a domestic violence Order of Protection, a CNCO does not require a specific family or household relationship between the survivor and…