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, reduces clerical rejection risk, and helps self-represented litigants complete filings that judges and law enforcement can interpret and enforce quickly. You can generally file in the county where you live, where the respondent lives, or where the incident occurred, and you may ask for an Emergency CNCO first (fast, short-term protection) followed by a Plenary CNCO after notice and hearing. The Illinois Courts’ forms hub links the current CNCO suite; the governing statute is the Civil No Contact Order Act, 740 ILCS 22, which defines eligibility and remedies (including stay-away and no-contact terms).

Because CNCO matters often move quickly, it’s smart to download the entire CNCO suite, read the instruction sheets, pre-draft your incident summary, and map the remedies you’ll request (specific addresses and communication channels). The standardized Summons (Protective Orders) form is also part of this ecosystem and cues respondents about deadlines and hearing appearances.

Who Typically Benefits and Who Can Apply

Intended users are survivors of sexual assault/abuse who need civil, court-ordered boundaries to stop contact and prevent intimidation—regardless of any family or household relationship with the respondent. Petitioners may also request protection for family/household members exposed to risk due to the assault and, in appropriate cases, file on behalf of a minor or dependent adult. Venue is flexible: file in the county where the petitioner resides, the respondent resides, or where the incident occurred. Definitions (including “civil no contact order,” “non-consensual,” and others) appear in Section 103; venue appears in Section 207.

Benefits of Using the Illinois CNCO Forms

The forms translate the statute’s remedies (Section 213) into structured checkboxes and fields so judges can order precise no-contact and stay-away terms that officers can enforce “curbside.” They support emergency relief without advance notice when harm is imminent, followed by a plenary order after due process. Using the standardized set reduces mismatches across petition/summons/orders and simplifies later extensions or modifications. The Attorney General’s guidance aligns with these protections (stay-away, no-contact, and other measures the court deems necessary).

Detailed 10-Step Process to Use the Illinois Civil No Contact Order Forms

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility, Pick the Correct Venue, and Define the Exact Relief You Need

A Civil No Contact Order (CNCO) exists to protect a person who has experienced nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration by establishing court-ordered boundaries that law enforcement can enforce. Before you touch a form, verify that your facts align with those legal definitions. Write a neutral, chronological summary that captures who did what, when, and where, and include the impact on your safety, education, work, or daily life. Focus on observable behavior (e.g., “waited outside south entrance after texts asking me to meet; tried to follow me inside”) rather than conclusions (“he is dangerous”). If you are filing on behalf of a minor or a dependent adult, note your legal role (parent, guardian) and keep proof of authority ready (e.g., guardianship papers). List any other people to protect (children, roommates, close family) with full names and birth years so the court can include them if appropriate.

Next, decide where to file. Illinois venue rules typically allow filing in the county where you live, where the respondent lives, or where the incident occurred. Choose the venue that balances safety and logistics. If the respondent is more likely to be encountered at a particular courthouse, consider a different permitted county that still fits venue rules. If you have temporarily relocated for safety, ask the clerk whether you can use a confidential or substitute address on public forms and whether your circuit supports remote appearances for protection-order calendars. If travel is an issue, check how your court handles remote attendance (platform, identification, time zone, and whether the link appears on the summons or minute order).

Then, translate your lived experience into precise remedies. CNCOs are powerful because they are specific. You will typically request: (1) No contact by any means—in person, phone, SMS, email, social media, and through third parties; (2) Stay-away from clearly named locations you frequent; and (3) Additional conditions necessary for safety, such as banning online harassment, doxxing, impersonation, or the creation of new accounts to contact or monitor you. Begin a “coverage map” now: list exact addresses with unit numbers, building names, entrances, and parking areas. Replace vague phrases (“near my campus”) with enforceable ones (“Arts Hall – south entrance and south lot; Science Center – east doors; Campus Rec Center – main doors and bike rack area”). Officers can only enforce what’s explicit on the order; this initial mapping ensures your later paperwork matches the realities of your day.

Decide your posture: Emergency CNCO or direct to plenary. If immediate harm is likely without swift relief—recent threats, stalking behavior, escalating messages—prioritize an Emergency CNCO first. You’ll prepare to show recent, dated facts demonstrating urgency and explain why notifying the respondent in advance could increase risk (e.g., retaliation or evasion). Emergency relief is short-term but fast; it protects you while the court schedules the noticed plenary hearing. If your risk profile is lower, you can file for a plenary CNCO and proceed directly to the noticed hearing. Either way, keep your presentation crisp and evidence-anchored.

Now build a one-page briefing sheet you will reuse at every phase: (a) a concise timeline with two to four pivotal incidents; (b) the exact remedies tied to real places and communication channels; (c) witness names and best contact info; and (d) a draft exhibit list (e.g., “A: SMS 03/14–03/15; B: doorbell still 03/16 10:42 pm; C: email 03/17”). This sheet helps you complete forms accurately, brief the clerk quickly, and present confidently to the judge. It will also serve as your anchor if emotions run high. Finally, accept that clarity beats length: judges, clerks, and officers need precise terms they can read in seconds. Every choice you make in this step—the venue, the relief, the map of places and channels—sets up a clean, enforceable order and minimizes future amendments.

Step 2: Assemble Evidence, Plan for Safety, and Script Your Short Explanations

Evidence turns your narrative into courtroom-ready facts. Create a simple incident log with columns for date, time, location, what happened, how it happened (in person, text, social media, third party), and who else saw/heard it. Keep the language neutral and specific. Collect screenshots (show handles and timestamps), call logs, voicemails, emails, social media messages or posts, doorbell/camera stills, police incident numbers, medical records (if any), and a list of witnesses with reliable contact information. Print screenshots legibly; grainy, out-of-sequence images frustrate judges and can weaken your point. If a video matters, print key still frames with timestamps and bring the original file only if the courtroom supports playback.

Prepare two sets of materials. Your working set includes notes and highlights. Your hearing set is clean and labeled (Exhibit A, B, C…) with a one-page index. Many courts prefer that sensitive exhibits be brought to the hearing rather than attached to the publicly filed petition; ask your clerk about sealing and redaction if you must file attachments. When redacting, remove only truly sensitive data (e.g., bank details) while preserving context (names, times, and places). If a third party (like a school) provided records, verify you may present them; otherwise, rely on your own first-hand testimony and neutral exhibits you control.

Translate each incident into a relief-linked statement. After the factual line in your log, add a short “ask” that will become order language. Example: “Respondent waited at Arts Hall south lot after class on 03/12 and 03/14 → Ask: stay-away to include Arts Hall south entrance and south parking lot; no in-person or third-party contact.” This habit yields precise, enforceable text later and cuts argument. It also clarifies which entrances, lots, or hallways you must name for enforcement. For online risks, capture impersonation, doxxing, or “new account” attempts; later you will ask the court to prohibit posting/sharing your images or personal data and to bar creation of new accounts to contact or monitor you.

Build a micro safety plan covering the period between filing and your first court date. Decide safe travel routes and times. If the respondent frequents certain waiting areas, avoid them and choose monitored entrances. Program non-emergency police and clerk numbers into your phone. If you study or work on a campus, identify the Title IX or security office and plan to share a certified copy of any temporary order. Save a digital copy of your petition and, later, your signed order to your phone and email so you can show it quickly if enforcement is needed on the spot.

Finally, script two versions of your explanation: a 3-minute emergency script (if you will seek an Emergency CNCO) and a 5-minute plenary script (for the noticed hearing). Both should start with who you are and what order you seek, then move through two to four dated incidents, and end with the exact relief tied to places and communication channels. Practice aloud. Clarity and brevity help the judge grant what is necessary and help you stay steady if the respondent disputes facts. If the thought of typing long narratives into static PDFs is daunting, prepare the Illinois forms by answering friendly questions with LegalAtoms; you can then review, print, and file consistent documents without re-typing across multiple PDFs.

Step 3: Fill the Illinois CNCO Forms Precisely (Petition, Proposed Orders, and Data That Must Match)

Open the statewide CNCO form suite and start with the Petition. In the caption, enter the court, county, your name as Petitioner, and the respondent’s full legal name (use exact spellings). If the respondent uses known aliases or social-media handles relevant to enforcement, add them where the form allows “Other names used.” List additional protected persons (children/household members) with full names and birth years. In the narrative, paste the concise, dated facts from your incident log—short paragraphs with who/what/when/where. Avoid editorializing; let the behavior show why relief is necessary. Then, in the “what you want the court to order” section, convert your relief-linked statements into clear text: no contact of any kind (in person, phone, SMS, email, social media, indirect/third-party) and stay-away from named addresses/buildings/entrances/parking areas with a reasonable distance (e.g., 500 feet). If online harassment is a risk, add bans on doxxing, posting your images, or creating new accounts to contact or monitor you.

Complete the Proposed Emergency Order (if you will seek emergency relief) and the Proposed Plenary Order. Mirror the Petition’s specifics exactly. Courts often appreciate a clean proposed order they can mark and sign—so make it curbside enforceable: a patrol officer should be able to read it in seconds and know whether a violation occurred. Include addresses, building names, entrances, parking lots, and explicit communication bans. Where you and the respondent share environments (campus or employer), include logistical separations—different sections, seating, shifts, or “no waiting in lobby X.” Create two versions of each order: a clean one for the judge and a working copy with your notes so you can check the signed order and ask for corrections before you leave.

If you are proceeding directly to a plenary hearing, make sure the Summons (Protective Orders) is prepared with the correct hearing date/time and the respondent’s best service address(es) (home/work). Include unit numbers, work hours, and access notes (concierge, gate codes) to improve service success. Regardless of emergency or plenary posture, proofread across the entire packet. Names, dates, addresses, distances, and building labels must match everywhere. Many delays and continuances come from minor mismatches (e.g., “Apt 4B” versus “Apt 4-B”).

Finally, manage versions and reduce re-typing. Save PDFs with dated filenames. If maintaining multiple static forms increases error risk, prepare and keep your data synchronized in LegalAtoms: you’ll answer a guided interview once, then generate the Illinois-approved Petition, Orders, and—when needed—updated drafts for extensions or modifications without starting over. This precision step is about alignment: when the Petition, proposed Orders, and Summons all say the same thing, your hearing goes faster, your order is cleaner, and street-level enforcement is straightforward.

Step 4: Prepare the Emergency and Plenary Order Templates So They’re Ready to Sign

Think of the proposed order as the on-ramp from your paperwork to real-world protection. Judges frequently prefer a clean, pre-filled order (emergency or plenary) that mirrors your petition and can be signed with minimal edits. Start by opening the statewide Emergency CNCO and Plenary CNCO templates. In each, carry over the exact names, addresses, building names, entrances, and distances used in your petition. Where the template lists “No Contact,” enumerate channels with specificity: in-person, phone, SMS, email, social media (list examples like Instagram DMs or WhatsApp), and indirect/third-party contact. Add explicit language against doxxing, impersonation, posting your images, or creating new accounts to contact or monitor you if online harassment is part of your facts. Under “Stay-Away,” list every physical location you need covered: home (with unit number), workplace (address + building/wing), campus buildings (by name), entrances (north/south/east/west doors), rehearsal rooms, labs, and parking areas. A patrol officer should be able to read this order curbside and answer one question in seconds: “Is the respondent violating?” Clear, mapped terms make that possible.

Draft two versions of each order: (1) a clean order for the judge, and (2) a working order with your marginal notes. On your working copy, place a small checklist of “must-have” terms in priority order (e.g., “Arts Hall south entrance,” “Science Center east doors,” “no third-party contact”). When you receive a signed order, compare it line-by-line to your checklist before leaving the courthouse. If something crucial is missing or mis-spelled (e.g., “Apt 4-B” instead of “Apt 4B”), politely alert the clerk or bailiff; it is far simpler to correct now than to return for an amendment later.

Tailor logistics for shared environments. If you and the respondent share a campus or employer, integrate practical separation terms that preserve your access while preventing contact: different class sections or lab blocks; “no waiting in [named lobby]”; separation near rehearsal halls; no presence in the south lot between specified class change windows; routing restrictions for common stairwells if prior encounters happened there. Judges respond well to targeted, workable solutions. Over-broad zones (“no presence on campus”) are more likely to be narrowed; granular, evidence-tied requests are more likely to be granted.

Plan for emergency presentation. If you will seek an Emergency CNCO, prepare a tight two-to-three minute oral script that tracks your proposed emergency order: two or three recent incidents (dates/locations), why immediate protection is necessary, and why prior notice would increase risk (retaliation, evasion, ambush at known exits). Keep your clean emergency order on top of your file so you can hand it up when invited. If the court narrows a clause (e.g., removes “south lot”), briefly and respectfully explain your evidence-based reason to keep it (reference specific exhibits if permitted).

Finally, synchronize data consistency across petition, summons, and orders. Names, addresses, distances, and building labels must match everywhere. Consistency is not clerical nitpicking—it prevents street-level confusion during enforcement and avoids contested hearings over whether a location was truly covered. If maintaining multiple PDFs risks drifting data, consider preparing and maintaining the entire Illinois CNCO packet through a guided interview. You can also generate these orders by answering friendly questions in LegalAtoms; the workflow keeps your canonical data in one place and outputs updated, Illinois-approved orders without re-typing, which is invaluable if you later need to extend or modify.

Step 5: Complete and Use the Summons (Protective Orders) for the Plenary Hearing

For a plenary Civil No Contact Order, valid notice to the respondent is non-negotiable. Illinois’ standardized Summons (Protective Orders) is built for this purpose and should be filled precisely. After the clerk sets your plenary hearing date, ensure the summons contains the correct date, time, courtroom (or remote link), and the respondent’s best service address. Treat the service section like a mini-investigation: list the residential address with unit number, a workplace address with typical hours, and access notes a server needs (concierge, broken buzzer, rear entrance). If you know the respondent’s routine (e.g., night shift), include that. The goal is enabling the sheriff (or special process server) to complete service quickly so your case can proceed.

Ask the clerk how service packets move in your county. In some circuits, the clerk electronically transmits the summons and petition to the sheriff; in others, you hand-deliver them to the civil division. If you deliver, go the same day. Bring a written sheet with all addresses, hours, and a safe callback number (so the server can clarify details without exposing your personal phone). If photos help identify the respondent, ask whether the sheriff accepts a copy stapled to the packet. Then, start a service log in your notes: date/time you delivered, clerk name, sheriff intake contact, estimated attempt dates, and follow-up reminders.

Never serve the papers yourself. Neutral service is important both for safety and legal validity. If the sheriff’s attempts fail, ask the clerk about a motion for alternative service when personal service appears impracticable under local rules (for example, service at work during posted hours, or other court-approved methods). Be proactive—check the docket a week before your hearing for a return of service. If nothing is posted, call the sheriff’s civil division and the clerk the same day. If service will not be completed in time, appear anyway, ask for a continuance and request that any emergency order be extended to the new date to avoid a protection gap.

Finally, proofread the summons against your petition and minute order: the date/time must match, the courtroom or remote link should be correct, and the respondent’s name spelling must be identical. Small inconsistencies can cause avoidable delays. If managing these details across multiple PDFs feels brittle, consider preparing the summons along with the rest of the packet through a guided system so all fields reference the same canonical data. If you are using LegalAtoms, you can regenerate the summons instantly when the court updates a hearing date, which prevents copy-paste errors and ensures the sheriff serves the right information the first time.

Step 6: File and Present for Emergency Relief (If Sought) or Proceed to Plenary

If you are seeking an Emergency CNCO, be ready for a same-day or rapid presentation. The court’s focus is immediacy and necessity, so keep your statement compact and dated: “On March 12 at the Arts Hall south door … On March 14 in the south lot … On March 17 via Instagram DMs … I’m asking for no contact of any kind and stay-away from [addresses and building names]. Prior notice would increase risk because …” Bring your clean emergency order to hand up when invited, and keep your working copy with sticky flags under it. If the judge narrows a term, briefly point to the specific incident that justifies your original request, then accept the ruling and secure the strongest set of protections the court will grant. If the order is granted, confirm the return date for the plenary hearing and ask about law-enforcement transmission and certified copies.

If you did not request emergency relief, your priority is the plenary hearing. Confirm service is on track (or complete), refine your five-minute script, and assemble three exhibit sets (court/respondent/you). Your script should flow from identity and ask (“plenary CNCO”) to two-to-four dated incidents, then to precise terms (no contact via all channels including third-party/social media; stay-away from named locations, entrances, and parking areas; online prohibitions against doxxing/impersonation/new accounts). Practice twice out loud—brevity and clarity are your advantage when time is short or emotions rise.

Regardless of posture, police your document consistency one more time. Mismatches—like a 500-foot distance in the petition but 1,000 feet in the proposed order—invite confusion or edits in court. Fix them now. If your life map changes fast (new section or job site), consider maintaining your data in a single source of truth; with LegalAtoms, for example, you can update your canonical locations once and regenerate the full Illinois packet so your petition, orders, and any amended drafts all match without re-typing.

Logistics matter on hearing day: arrive early, dress neatly, silence your phone, and keep your exhibits accessible. If remote, test your camera and microphone and sit somewhere quiet with a neutral background. Have your ID and case number ready. Most of all, stay anchored in your prepared script; judges are deciding necessity and tailoring, and your clarity helps them grant what is required to keep you safe between now and the plenary return date—or for the duration of a plenary order.

Step 7: Prepare Your Hearing Packet and Witnesses for the Plenary Order

A persuasive plenary presentation is built on organization and focus. Assemble three identical exhibit sets—for the court, respondent, and yourself—each page-numbered and indexed (“A: SMS 03/14–03/15; B: Doorbell still 03/16 10:42 pm; C: Email 03/17”). Print screenshots so timestamps and handles are legible. If you rely on video, also print still frames that capture key moments; playback may be unavailable or time-limited. Place your clean proposed plenary order on top of your file and keep a one-line “must-have” checklist clipped to your working copy so you can confirm signed terms quickly.

Draft a five-minute script and practice aloud. Open with your request: “I’m seeking a plenary Civil No Contact Order.” Then, present two to four pivotal, dated incidents with locations. Each should support your requested relief without extraneous detail. Close with a crisp summary of terms: (1) no contact of any kind, including indirect/third-party and social media; (2) stay-away from named addresses, buildings, specified entrances, and parking areas with a reasonable distance (e.g., 500 feet); and (3) online restrictions (no doxxing, no posting/sharing images, no new accounts to contact/monitor). Judges often have limited time; your brevity helps them grasp necessity and tailoring at a glance.

Coordinate witnesses like a mini project. Confirm availability a week and a day before the hearing. If someone is essential but cannot attend in person, ask the clerk early about remote testimony (platform, oath procedure, camera requirements). Prepare two or three questions per witness designed to elicit precise, observed facts—“Where were you standing?” “What did you see/hear?” “What time was that?” Avoid leading speeches and let the witness deliver short, factual answers. If a witness falters, pivot to your exhibits and your own testimony without losing momentum.

Rehearse ask-and-reason pairs for terms you anticipate the respondent will contest. For example, “South entrance coverage is necessary because two contacts occurred there within three days; see Exhibits A and B.” Link every contested ask to a dated fact and an exhibit. This style is powerful because it gives the court a legal and factual basis to include your term as “necessary for safety.” If the judge trims something despite your explanation, accept the ruling, secure the rest of your must-haves, and keep the hearing focused; credibility and composure often gain you more than argument.

Finally, stage your materials for quick access. Use sticky tabs for exhibits; keep a pen and notepad to jot objections or points to address when the judge turns back to you. If the respondent speaks, do not interrupt; write down items to clarify and wait. Your ability to stay disciplined and factual—while your documents are clean and your asks are concrete—does more for your outcome than any speechmaking.

Step 8: Present Effectively; Secure Clear, Enforceable Written Terms

When your case is called, step forward (or unmute), state your name, and clearly say you are seeking a plenary Civil No Contact Order. Follow your script: facts first, then relief. If invited, hand up your exhibit set and proposed order; keep one set for yourself and use exhibit labels as you speak (“Exhibit B is the March 14 south-lot photo at 9:18 pm”). If the judge asks questions, answer directly and briefly; if you do not know, say so. Maintain eye contact with the court, not the respondent. If the respondent speaks, take notes quietly and wait—interruptions undermine credibility.

Center your ask on prevention. The court is weighing whether your evidence meets the statute and whether your requested terms are necessary and tailored. Where you anticipate narrowing, be ready with one or two sentences linking the contested term to dated events: “Covering the south entrance prevents predictable encounters because that’s where two contacts occurred; see Exhibits A and B.” If the court narrows despite your explanation, pivot to the next priority without friction; preserving credibility often secures the remainder of your must-haves.

When the judge indicates the order will be granted, slow down and verify. Read the signed order before you leave the courtroom. Confirm every protected person is listed, each address/building/entrance/lot is named, distances are stated, and the no-contact section includes indirect/third-party and social media. Check spellings and apartment numbers meticulously. If a correction is needed, politely alert staff while the judge is still available. Request certified copies and ask whether the court transmits CNCOs automatically to law-enforcement systems. Save a PDF to your phone and email immediately so you can present it on demand.

If the hearing must be continued (e.g., service issues), ask to extend any emergency order until the new date and request court-endorsed service logistics that are more likely to succeed (e.g., allowing work-address service during posted hours). Leave with a written note of the new date/time and instructions. You win hearings not only by making the case, but by leaving with a precise, enforceable document that officers and institutions can act on in seconds.

Step 9: Distribute, Enforce, and Keep the Order Current in Daily Life

An order’s power rests on distribution and enforcement. Obtain certified copies from the clerk and carry one with you. Provide copies to your school’s Title IX or campus safety office, employer HR or security, and building management as appropriate. When you share it, highlight the specific places covered (entrances, lots) so staff know how to respond if the respondent appears. Save a PDF to your phone and a cloud folder for instant access. If online harassment is a risk, keep a copy handy to attach to platform reports; many safety teams act faster with a court order attached.

Create a simple violation log. Record date, time, place, what happened, who saw it, and any attachments (screenshots, photos, voicemails). If a violation occurs, call law enforcement immediately and show the order. Do not respond to baiting messages—silence plus documentation strengthens enforcement and avoids claims of mutual contact. For indirect contact through friends or acquaintances, screenshot the relay and save it; third-party contact is typically barred. If you observe attempts at impersonation or new accounts created to reach you, capture them quickly (screenshots + URL + timestamp) and consider asking the court to add explicit “no new accounts” language if not already present.

Keep the order aligned with your real life. Schedules change; campuses reassign rooms; jobs move buildings. If a new place becomes relevant (e.g., different lab entrance, new parking lot), file to modify. Judges appreciate targeted updates supported by recent facts, and the statewide forms make modifications straightforward. Coordinate with your institution’s security: if the order names specific entrances, ask security to watch those doors at class change or shift turnover. Provide them certified copies so they can act without delay.

Manage privacy and technology. Tighten social-media privacy, disable location sharing where possible, and review app permissions that may leak your location. Block known numbers and handles, and consider changing predictable routines (same path, same time). Share a one-sentence script with supervisors or friends: “If you see [respondent] near [named entrance], call security and 911; do not mediate.” Consistency in responses deters escalation and builds a clean record for the court if you need to extend or strengthen terms later.

Step 10: Extend or Modify the Order; Maintain Compliance and Documentation

Treat your CNCO as a living perimeter that evolves with your risks and routines. On the day you receive the signed order, calendar its expiration and set reminders for 45, 30, and 14 days out. At 45 days, assemble extension materials: your violation log (if any), a short declaration explaining why protection remains necessary (e.g., proximity at school/work, recent attempted contact, credible fear tied to facts), and any new addresses/buildings/entrances or online behaviors to include. Use the latest statewide extension/modification forms, keep the same case number, and request the earliest hearing date that allows proper notice. Bring two proposed orders: a clean version and a working copy with changes highlighted for yourself.

When you modify, be surgical. Judges favor narrow, necessary updates tied to evidence: add “Arts Hall west entrance” because contact occurred there twice last month; expand online terms to cover a new app the respondent used; refine stay-away distances to account for a newly assigned clinic rotation. Link each change to a dated fact and, where possible, an exhibit. Over-broad edits are more likely to be trimmed; focused updates are more likely to be granted and enforced.

Audit your own compliance. Do not reply to messages, even to say “stop”—let the order speak. If you must share space (campus or employer), follow routing/seating/shift logistics precisely. Accidental contact complicates enforcement and can be exploited by the respondent. Keep key allies aligned—supervisors, professors, security—so well-meaning attempts at “mediation” don’t undercut your protections. If a serious violation occurs, call law enforcement, log it, gather exhibits, and bring the record to court; documented patterns often justify extensions or strengthened terms.

Maintain a clean document stack: the current order PDF, your log template, and draft motion/notice files ready to adapt. If keeping multiple PDFs in sync is tedious, prepare, update, and regenerate your Illinois CNCO forms by answering friendly questions in LegalAtoms. The guided interview preserves consistency across Petition, Orders, and extension/modification filings so you can focus on the facts that matter. This steady rhythm—monitor, document, update, and strictly comply—keeps your protection real-world-effective and minimizes the administrative burden as your life and surroundings inevitably change.

Costs

Illinois protection-order proceedings are designed to minimize petitioner costs. Filing fees for CNCOs are commonly waived; check with your circuit clerk. Sheriff’s civil service is often provided at low or no cost in these matters. You may still incur small expenses (certified copies, printing). Use only the current, free statewide forms from the Illinois Courts hub.

Time Required

Emergency orders can be issued very quickly—often the same day—when immediacy is shown; a plenary hearing follows after notice. Plenary orders may last up to two years (with the potential to extend). Actual timelines depend on local calendars and service success. Use the standardized Summons (Protective Orders) and track service to avoid continuances.

Limitations

A CNCO is a civil order tailored to prevention; it is not a criminal conviction. Relief must be within the statute and reasonably necessary for safety. Physical injury is not required to issue an order, but you must present facts meeting the statutory definitions and support precise, enforceable terms. Enforcement occurs through criminal proceedings or civil contempt as set forth in statute.

Risks and Unexpected Problems

Common pitfalls include: using outdated forms; mismatched names/addresses between petition, summons, and order; vague location terms that are hard to enforce; and service failures that force continuances. Reduce risk by using the current CNCO suite from the Illinois Courts hub, proofreading across all documents, and tracking service with the standardized summons. If online harassment escalates, preserve screenshots immediately and seek to modify the order to cover new apps or behaviors.

Primary Illinois Sources

• Illinois Courts – Civil No Contact & Stalking No Contact Orders (current CNCO suite).
• Illinois Courts – Documents & Forms hub (approved statewide standardized forms).
• Summons (Protective Orders) – standardized form PDF.
• Illinois General Assembly – 740 ILCS 22 (definitions, venue, remedies, enforcement).
• Illinois Attorney General – Orders of Protection page (CNCO protections overview).