In Illinois, individuals can petition the Court for three common protective orders: Order of Protection, Stalking No Contact Order and Civil No Contact Order. If you are unsure which order is appropriate for your circumstance, the Protective Orders Comparison Chart from the Illinois Attorney General explains the different legal remedies available.
Get Help
Domestic Violence advocacy organizations may be of assistance to those seeking or responding to Orders of Protection. Advocates may be immediately available at the courthouse; however, they may also be busy assisting others. If you would like to speak to a Domestic Violence advocate, you can call the Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line at (877) 863-6339. This is a toll-free, confidential, multilingual 24-hour information service staffed by trained personnel. They can answer any question that you may have as well as refer you to advocates who may be able to provide you with additional help.
Contact the Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line
How to Obtain a Protective Order
If you are a seeking a protective order, you may obtain assistance in two ways:
Obtain Paperwork Online
You can find online resources about protective orders at Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO), including an online program to assist with preparing an Order of Protection before you come to court.
You can also access the necessary court paperwork online and fill it out before bringing it to the courthouse. Paperwork is available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Visit a Courthouse
There may be assistance available for you at the courthouse. Services are provided at each Domestic Violence Division site, go to the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office and tell the clerk you want to file a protective order. If you require assistance in filling it out, the clerk will direct you to the appropriate resources within the building. Otherwise, the clerk will give you the required paperwork and you can fill it out by yourself. After the paperwork is completed, it must be returned to the clerk’s office for filing. The clerk will then direct you to the courtroom where your case will be called.
Responding to a Protective Order
- The Illinois Department of Human Services offers information about Partner Abuse Intervention Services on its website.
- Call the Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line at (877) 863-6338 for other referrals.
- For legal Information and assistance, call CARPLS Cook County Legal Advice and Referrals Hotline, (312) 738-9200, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- The location, date, time and court room number are located at the bottom of the order. Please refer to that information to locate where and when you must appear in court.
Important Forms
Court forms, including forms to Petition for Order of Protection, Petition for Stalking No Contact Order and Petition for Civil No Contact Order, are available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
How Do I ?
There are three ways to obtain assistance with seeking a protective order.
ONLINE: You can find online resources about protective orders at Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO), including an online program to assist with preparing an Order of Protection before you come to court.
To learn more about e-filing for a protective order, you can visit the Illinois Supreme Court’s Access to Justice resource page.
- PHONE: Non-lawyer Legal Advocates are available to answer questions and support those affected by domestic violence as they navigate the criminal and civil legal systems. For those who qualify, services include assistance with preparation of order of protection paperwork, support during virtual hearings, safety planning, crisis management around legal options and referrals for future resources. They are available by phone Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. The number is (708) 689-3422.
IN PERSON: Assistance may be available for you at the courthouse.
Domestic Violence Courthouse in Chicago – Go directly to the screening room, Room 1400, and check in at the help desk where staff will direct you to the appropriate resources within the courthouse.
Suburban Municipal Districts in Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview and Markham – Go to the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and tell personnel you want to file a protective order. Clerk personnel will give you the required forms which you can fill out by yourself. If you require assistance in filling them out, clerk personnel can direct you to the appropriate resources within the building. After all the paperwork is completed, you must return to the clerk's office to file it. Clerk personnel will then direct you to the courtroom where your case will be heard.
The location, date, time and courtroom number are located at the bottom of the front page of the protective order. Please refer to that information to learn where and when you must appear in court. It will also state if your next court date will be in-person or virtual (Zoom).
There are domestic violence advocacy organizations located in many of the courthouses which may be able to offer assistance to persons seeking or responding to orders of protection. However, advocates may not always be immediately available if they are busy assisting others.
- Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line – The Help Line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your conversation with the Help Line Advocate is confidential. The advocate can give you information and support and/or link you to shelter, counseling, supervised child visitation services, legal services and other free community-based sources of assistance. The number is (877) 863-6338.
- Cook County Legal Advocates – Non-lawyer Legal Advocates are available to answer questions and support those affected by domestic violence as they navigate the criminal and civil legal systems. For those who qualify, services include assistance with preparation of order of protection paperwork, support during virtual hearings, safety planning, crisis management around legal options and referrals for future resources. The number is (708) 689-3422.
- Legal Aid Attorneys
- Ascend Justice Remote Order of Protection Hotline: (312) 239-0413
- Legal Aid Society: (312) 986-4200
- Legal Aid Chicago: (312) 341-1070
After-Hours Remote Hearing for a Civil Emergency Order of Protection (EOP)
- Outside of regular court hours, remote hearings are available at the following times (excluding all National and Legal Court Holidays):
- Monday through Friday, 9 p.m. - 3 a.m.
- Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
- An Order of Protection may be granted to a person who has been abused by another person with whom they currently or formally have a domestic relationship (romantic partner, relative, roommate, caregiver).
- Only during the hours above, request a Civil EOP hearing by visiting Illinois Legal Aid Online.
- For assistance from a 24/7 advocate, please contact Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline at (877) 863-6338.
- Keep a copy of any Civil or Criminal Protective Order with you at all times.
- If the respondent should violate the Protective Order, call the police immediately.
- If you have a police report and there is a domestic relationship between you and the respondent, you may be able to file criminal charges and get a criminal Order of Protection at 555 W. Harrison. The State’s Attorney’s Office at 555 W. Harrison is open from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- If you have a protective order and the respondent violates it after they have been served, you can bring a police report that documents the Violation of a Protective Order to the State’s Attorney’s Office at 555 W. Harrison. The SAO may pursue a criminal case for the violation of the Protective Order. The State’s Attorney’s Office screening at 555 W. Harrison is open from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- If criminal charges are filed, the Court will issue a warrant or summons for the abuser. The State’s Attorney’s Office can help you ask for the Order of Protection in criminal court.
If criminal, contact the State's Attorney's Office at (312) 325-9200.
If civil, file a motion with the Clerk of the Circuit Court's Office.
- The Illinois Department of Human Services offers information about Partner Abuse Intervention Services on its website.
- Call the Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line at (877) 863-6338 for other referrals.
- For legal Information and assistance, call CARPLS Cook County Legal Advice and Referrals Hotline, (312) 738-9200, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.