How do I Get a Order of Protection in Illinois?
Recently updated on November 7th, 2024 at 10:58 pm
Overview
Orders of protection are court orders that can protect one family member or household member from the actions of another. They are governed by the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.
The petitioner needs to prove the following three elements to get an Order of Protection:
- That the petitioner (or a protected party on whose behalf the petition has been filed) is a “family or household member” of the respondent;
- That the respondent has “abused” the petitioner; and
- That the court has jurisdiction to hear the case.
Definition of Domestic Violence in Illinois
Orders of protection are governed under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.
750 ILCS 60/103(1), (14) “Domestic violence” is abuse perpetrated against any of the following persons:
- Spouses, former spouses, parents, children, stepchildren and anyone else related by blood or a current or past marriage;
- People who currently share or previously shared a common dwelling;
- People who actually or allegedly have a child in common or share a blood relationship through a child;
- People who are dating or who have dated or have been engaged; and
- People with disabilities and their caregivers and personal assistants
Comparison with Criminal Case
If you’re victims of domestic violence, then you can file the following legal cases:
- Criminal Case: In a criminal case, the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest burden of proof.
- Order of Protection for Domestic Violence: This is considered a family law case, and the victim has to give some evidence generally the burden is low and the victim must establish “reasonable proof of a past act or acts of abuse”. For an Order of Protection, you just need evidence to support that abuse occur which is defined as bodily injury or fear that you will get bodily injury.
The court considers accusations of abuse leniently, and favors on issuing orders as long as there is some evidence.
Does my situation qualify for a Order of Protection?
Here’s a summary of the different types of protection orders. There are a few different types of protection orders and typically only one of them may apply to your situation. The first step is to see if any of the different types of protection order applies to your situation or is remotely related as that might help you decide whether to apply.
The types are:
1. Domestic Violence Order of Protection
This court order protects a person who has been abused by a family or household member or by a current or former sexual or intimate partner as defined in 750 ILCS 60/214.
2. Stalking No Contact Orders
This court order protects a person who has been stalked as defined by 740 ILCS 21/10.The person who wants protection (“the plaintiff”) files the case against the other party (“the defendant”). There does not need to be a special relationship between the plaintiff and the defendant. A person who has been stalked by a family member, household member, or current or former intimate partner might also qualify for a Domestic Violence Order of Protection.
3. Civil No Contact Orders
As defined in 740 ILCS 22/201, it deals with individuals who are facing harassment or threats from non-family members. A court order telling someone (“the defendant”) to stay away from or to stop an action that directly affects the person asking for the order (“the plaintiff”). There are no special relationships or specific criminal acts that are needed to ask for a Civil No Contact Order. This order prohibits unwanted contact or harassment.
What if I am under 18 years of Age?
Protective orders can be requested by anyone 12 years or older, and without your parent’s permission. If you are under 18, then in some situations, a judge may ask you to have a trusted adult help you in your case after you have filed for the petition. such as a parent a counselor or a neighbor.
If you are under 18, you can go to your local court’s Self-Help Center for help. For support and safety tips, you can chat at loveisrespect.org, text “LOVEIS” to 22522, or call 1-866-331-9474.
If you are 12 or older and someone has asked for a restraining order against you, you can go to court without a parent. In some situations, the judge may ask you to have a trusted adult help you in your case.
Situation Examples
Example 1: Husband is sexually and verbally abusive, and controlling
My husband doesn’t allow me the option to say no to sex, and often that warning is not explicit but I know bad things will happen if I say no such as bullying, threats and immense tension. As a couple we have been having sex everyday for nearly two decades now. He verbally abuses me by calling me a whore if I don’t sleep with him. During this time he is intoxicated so I am fearful of having a discussion as his anger will quickly get out of control, and he will hurl things at home thereby inducing more fear in me. Such behavior has been going on for over a decade now so I am not sure about the date of the first incident now. One day I very carefully chose my words and mentioned that maybe we are not a right fit, and should seek counseling. He was enraged and threatens me that he will utterly destroy me, my work reputation, and expose some minor things I did to the immigration authorities. Since about six months, I have been sleeping in a separate room. He comes there routinely and tries to sleep with me forcefully. Often times I feel that if I resist, or decline his advances that my reputation, our property, or even me life will me in danger. I feel little, humiliated and disgusted with myself.
Example 2: Boyfriend blackmails and destroys property to control and induce fear
Today, Michael was armed with a pistol and seemed to be under the influence of an unidentified substance. He made threats to create false narratives with the aim of jeopardizing my 28-year accounting career, stating he would falsely accuse me of engaging in illegal financial activities. His menacing statement, “if you mess with me, I’ll retaliate,” was accompanied by destructive actions, such as damaging property in my home, including creating a hole in the wall. Michael’s behavior becomes particularly alarming when he is under the influence of drugs.
Example 3: Ex-boyfriend stalks
Jenna’s ex-boyfriend shows up at Jenna’s work unexpectedly and drives around. Jenna is fearful, and had earlier clearly asked him to leave her alone.
Is a protection order helpful?
The purpose of a protection order is to restrict the contact or proximity of one person (the respondent or alleged perpetrator) to another person (the petitioner or victim) in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the petitioner.
The specific terms of a protection order can vary depending on the circumstances of the case e.g. if the people live together then it might require one party to vacate the place.
Typically, a protection order may prohibit the respondent from
- Approaching or contacting the petitioner including via text or social media
- Staying away from the usual places petitioner is at such as home, work or school
- Prohibit stalking, or surveillance of any kind
- In situations where they lived together, provide custody or access to
- Children
- Pets
- Important documents
- Personal items such as clothes, medications, cell phones
- Cars
- Extending the protections to others living with the petitioner
Research findings on benefits of protection orders
Here are the top three findings from a study on domestic violence and protection orders from the University of New Hampshire
Reduce Violence
Civil protective orders (such as an Order of Protection) are effective in reducing partner violence for many women. For half the women in the sample, a protective order stopped the violence. For the other half, the orders significantly reduced violence and abuse.
Cost Effective
They are a relatively low-cost solution, particularly when compared with the social and personal costs of partner violence.
Urban Vs. Rural
The impact of civil protective orders on reducing violence and abuse did not differ for rural and urban women. In rural areas where resources and services for partner violence may be more limited, the protection orders hold greater importance.
Process for getting an Order of Protection
Step 1: Gather Evidence
The first step is to gather the evidence to support your case. The following are considered evidence of domestic violence:
Evidence Type 1: Pending Criminal Case
Judges are also more likely to issue an order if there is an ongoing criminal case, therefore it’s important to call such cases out when seeking a temporary restraining order.
When a judge sees that there’s a criminal case happening, they might think it means the police or the district attorney are pretty sure they can prove the crime happened.
Examples of evidence are:
Evidence Type 2: Photos of violence, injuries, damage
These are the most common types of evidence submitted. These can be photos of victim’s injuries inflicted by the abuser. It is helpful to add photos next to the related incident description to help create a complete picture for the judge.
Evidence Type 3: Print outs of messages, emails or transcripts of voicemail
You can take screenshots of text messages and attach them. Similarly you can print emails and attach them as pictures or PDF files. While in most cases you cannot submit digital files such as
Evidence Type 4: 911 Calls
Rather than just saying you called 911 or any specific hotline, you can make your case stronger by listing the following items
- The number dialed in case of the domestic hotline
- The date and time (or approximate date and time) when the call was made
- Who made the call
- What was reported on the call
- Any specific details of the person who answer the 911 call e.g. male/female voice
Evidence Type 5: Medical Records
You can attach documentation of previous medical emergencies or injuries that resulted from the actions of the abuser. These could be hospital visit records, print outs from your hospital portal (E.g. mychart) showing details of your visit.
Evidence Type 6: Police reports
You can attach a copy of the police reports filed against the abuser for domestic violence.
Evidence Type 7: Testimony
A testimony from a witness. The witness can be anyone such as a family member, neighbor a co-worker or a bystander. The testimony is just an essay written describing the incidents witnessed, with as many specifics as possible.
Step 2: Get a copy of court forms
In order to apply for a civil protection order, you need to fill and submit a specific set of official court forms. These have questions aimed at understanding your situation and the people involved.
The complete set of documents is on the Illinois Courts website. While these forms are used in most courts, certain courts use modified versions of these forms, and its important to uses those versions.
Tip: You can check your local court’s website to see the exact versions and set of court forms needed. You need to prepare these forms. Courts also offer a free self help center where you can take forms. Alternatively you can use a free website such as LegalAtoms to prepare the protection orders paperwork online.
Nothing happens until you file the forms. So it’s a good idea to step through the forms even if you think you don’t plan to file for a protection order right now, to get
You can then file them online when you’ve thought through all aspects. There are special protections for victims, and you’re protected even if your immigration status is undocumented in United States.
Step 3: File the Court Forms
Submit your case documents at the court such that the clerk reviews their corrects and accepts them is called filing.
Identify the court at your county
In Illinois, if you need to apply for an Order of Protection, you’ll typically go to the Illinois Circuit Courts in your county.
The Circuit Courts where you can apply for Order of Protection orders in some of the major counties in Illinois:
- Cook County:
Address: Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
- DuPage County:
Address: DuPage County Courthouse, 505 N County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187
- Lake County:
Address: Lake County Courthouse, 18 N County St, Waukegan, IL 60085
- Will County:
Address: Will County Courthouse, 14 W Jefferson St, Joliet , IL 60432
- Kane County:
Address: Kane County Judicial Center, 37W777 IL-38, St. Charles, IL 60175
Methods of Filing
Method # 1: In Person:
Your court location would accept the forms to be submitted in person at the court hours.
Tip: All courts have lunch hours when they are closed for an hour
When you submit your case documents at the court, typically you take 3 copies.
The clerks review it, and if everything is ok, they formally enter it into the court system and put a stamp near the top of the documents. That acceptance is called filing.
Method # 2: Electronically via a portal
Some counties now have one or more online portals where you create an account for free, and then you can upload documents and hit submit. You will be required to pay around $5-$10 filing fees.
Method # 3: Via another person
Some counties accept filing via a friend or legal courier. These companies or individuals charge a flat or hourly fee and file the documents at the court.
Step 4: Get a Temporary Order
There are three basic types of Orders of Protection in Illinois: Emergency Orders of Protection, Interim Orders of Protection, and Plenary Orders of Protection. Emergency Orders of Protection are intended to cover the time period before a respondent can be properly served with process.
Depending on the facts and evidence presented, a Judge can issue a protection order with immediate effect until the hearing, called an Emergency Temporary Order. In relatively less risky situations, a temporary order is issued in a few days.
If there are no grounds or if the application is incomplete or the jurisdiction is incorrect the application may be rejected.
The temporary order is only valid for about 3 weeks which is the amount of time until the hearing. If the hearing is delayed for any reason, you need to check with the court to ensure the temporary order is renewed until the hearing.
Step 5: Serve the abuser
If you were successful in getting a temporary order only then this step is necessary, otherwise you will have to wait until you get one.
In the Illinois legal system, whenever one party initiates a protection order it needs to inform or serve the other party formally by delivering the court documents. That step is called serving the respondent, and is often seen in movies and TV shows as “You’ve been served”.
Under the Illinois law there are multiple ways in which the other party can be served.
You cannot serve your papers yourself.
Option 1: Ask a Cop (FREE)
A sheriff or marshal can serve the opposing party for you which is a big help. This service is offered for FREE. You will however need the address of the abuser. To ask the sheriff to serve your papers, you must have an address or location for the other side (restrained person). If the other side is in jail, the sheriff can serve them. If the other side is in prison, prison staff, not the sheriff, will serve your papers. Follow the instructions by the Illinois Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for serving someone in prison
Option 2: Ask a friend, relative or any adult (FREE)
You ask someone you know to be your server
- 18 or over, and
- not part of your case
Think about safety when choosing your server. Get step-by-step instructions for how to have someone else, not the sheriff, serve your court papers in the County.
Option 3: Hire a specialized courier
You can also hire a courier called professional process server. You can search on Yelp or Google to get a list of options near you. Yelp Example. An example is ABC Legal Services.
You cannot hire regular couriers such as UPS, FedEx or US Postal Service unless in exceptional scenarios where the judge authorizes service by mail, but that’s a whole different topic altogether.
Step 6: Present Evidence in a Court Hearing
Attend a hearing: The court holds a hearing within a couple of weeks where the evidence is examined. If there is sufficient supporting evidence as determined by a Judge, a full protection order is issued. At this point it becomes a crime for the abuser to break the conditions of the protection order.
Step 7. Collect the Final Order
After the hearing, a final order may be issued. You can take a paper copy of the order with you. The order is typically valid for five years.
Costs
There are no costs associated with an Order of Protection.
- FREE forms : You can get the court forms for free, or prepare them using the guided experience below.
- FREEfiling: There is fees for filing. Online filing platforms may charge a service fees
Process Duration
You can get a temporary protection order the same day as you file.
Courts can have a cutoff of around 2 p.m. for the same day service, so you need to file before then. Otherwise, the order would be issued the following day when courts open.
Courts are generally open Monday-Friday and closed on Saturday-Sunday.
The temporary order is valid until a formal hearing is held in which both parties need to be present. Typically a hearing is scheduled in 2 weeks of filing.
At the hearing a formal order may be issued
Risks
It is conceivable that following the submission of a civil protection order, the abuser particularly in domestic violence situations may react with anger due to the perceived loss of control over you and your household. In certain instances, the abuser may portray themselves as the victim and shift blame onto the actual victim they were mistreating.
The response of your abuser after the filing of a protection order is unpredictable. While a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) can provide legal protection, one should not automatically assume that it guarantees safety. The initial weeks post-filing can be particularly precarious, contingent on your abuser’s reaction.
Despite the safeguards intended by a Order of Protection, abusers may retaliate through various means, such as:
- Physical assault or violence
- Harming or taking away children
- Damaging jointly owned property
- Disregarding the order and persisting with threats, possibly through intermediaries
- Inflicting harm or causing harm to pets
- Harassing your loved ones for information
- Engaging in stalking behavior
- Initiating a retaliatory restraining order against you
- Spreading false information about you in court documents, online, or publicly
Following the submission of a Order of Protection, it’s important to continuously assess your situation and prepare for the potential escalation of your case into more violent territory.
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