Prepare your documents for a Civil No Contact Order in Illinois

Your personal testimony is evidence. However, the more supporting material you provide, the stronger your request for an Illinois Civil No Contact Order may be. Courts may consider the following types of evidence:

Evidence Type 1: Evidence of Non-Consensual Sexual Conduct or Sexual Penetration
Provide any evidence showing that non-consensual sexual conduct or sexual penetration occurred. This may include police reports, criminal complaints, investigative records, or other documentation related to the incident.

Evidence Type 2: Medical or Counseling Records
Include medical records, hospital reports, sexual assault examination records, or counseling records documenting injuries, trauma, emotional distress, or treatment following the incident.

Evidence Type 3: Written or Digital Communications
Provide copies of text messages, emails, social media messages, letters, or other communications that contain threats, admissions, harassment, intimidation, or references to the incident. Screenshots and printouts may be useful.

Evidence Type 4: Witness Testimony or Affidavits
Friends, family members, healthcare providers, counselors, or other individuals who observed the incident, its aftermath, injuries, emotional distress, or disclosures about the incident may provide statements or testimony.

Evidence Type 5: Police Reports or Emergency Records
Include any police reports, incident reports, 911 call records, or emergency response documentation related to the incident. If available, provide the date of the report, responding agency, and a brief description of what was reported.

Evidence Type 6: Photographs, Videos, or Other Physical Evidence
Photographs of injuries, damaged property, surveillance footage, or other physical evidence may help support the request by documenting relevant events or their aftermath.

Providing clear, detailed, and relevant evidence can help the court evaluate whether a Civil No Contact Order is necessary for your protection.

Determine whether your situation may qualify for an Illinois Civil No Contact Order by completing a short screening. The screening will ask questions about your circumstances and help identify whether this type of protection may be available. You can begin by entering your ZIP code in the Start box at the top of this page.

After the screening, this website will guide you through the remaining steps needed to prepare your case documents.

For your information: To request an Illinois Civil No Contact Order (CNCO), you must complete and file official Illinois court forms. These forms ask for information about the incident, the respondent, and the protection you are requesting.

The most important form is the Petition for Civil No Contact Order, which explains the facts supporting your request and why you believe the court should issue a Civil No Contact Order.

Illinois allows you to file a Petition for a Civil No Contact Order in person at the courthouse or online. The petition must be filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where you live, where the respondent lives, or where the non-consensual sexual conduct or sexual penetration occurred.

To formally request court protection, you must complete and submit the Petition for Civil No Contact Order to the Clerk of Court. This process is known as filing.

Filing options in Illinois:

• In person: File your petition directly with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the courthouse in the appropriate county.
• Electronically (E-Filing): Illinois uses the statewide e-filing system. In many cases, electronic filing may be available or required unless you qualify for an exemption. Documents submitted after business hours are generally processed according to local court rules.

Civil No Contact Order cases are typically filed in the Circuit Court. Once your petition is accepted, the court will assign a case number, which is used to track and manage your case throughout the proceedings.

Based on the information and evidence you provide, a judge in Illinois may issue an Emergency Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) on the same day you file your petition. This type of order is often issued ex parte, meaning the respondent is not present, and is intended to provide immediate protection until a full court hearing can be held.

If the court determines that additional review is necessary, the judge may take more time to consider the petition before deciding whether to grant temporary relief.

A judge may deny a request for an Emergency Civil No Contact Order if:

• The petition does not establish legal grounds for a Civil No Contact Order;
• The petition is incomplete or lacks required information;
• The court lacks jurisdiction over the matter; or
• The evidence provided is insufficient to justify immediate relief.

Even if an emergency order is denied, the court may still schedule a hearing so that both the petitioner and the respondent have an opportunity to appear, present evidence, and be heard before the judge makes a final decision.

Once a judge issues an Emergency Civil No Contact Order (CNCO), it must be officially delivered (served) to the respondent before it becomes legally enforceable. Until the respondent is served, law enforcement may be unable to enforce the order against that individual.

After service is completed, the respondent is legally required to comply with all terms of the order. Any violation—such as prohibited contact, approaching protected locations, harassment, intimidation, or other conduct prohibited by the order—may result in arrest, contempt proceedings, criminal charges, or other legal consequences under Illinois law.

After the Emergency Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) is issued and served, the court schedules a full hearing. At this hearing, both you (the petitioner) and the respondent may appear, present evidence, call witnesses, and provide testimony.

The judge may review:

• Evidence submitted by both parties
• Witness testimony and affidavits
• Any relevant documents, communications, medical records, or police reports
• Any incidents that occurred after the emergency order was issued

If the judge determines that the legal requirements for a Civil No Contact Order have been met, the court may issue a Plenary Civil No Contact Order.

The final order may:

• Remain in effect for a specific period set by the court; or
• Continue for a longer duration as permitted under Illinois law and the circumstances of the case

If you (the petitioner) do not attend the hearing, the court may dismiss your case. If the respondent does not attend after being properly served, the judge may proceed with the hearing and issue a final order based on the evidence presented.

If the judge issues a Plenary Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) after the hearing, you will be provided with an official, signed copy of the order. Make sure to collect a paper copy from the Clerk’s Office before leaving the courthouse.

The order will detail:

• The specific protections granted to you
• Any restrictions placed on the respondent
• The duration of the order (set time period or indefinite)

Keep this copy in a safe but accessible place, as you may need to show it to law enforcement, your workplace, your school, or other institutions as part of your safety plan.