Restraining Orders: How To File A Restraining Order In Chicago

If you need to file a restraining or protective order in Chicago, it can be intimidating to deal with the court system. Keep reading to learn DoNotPay's tips for and how it can help you complete the paperwork.

What Kind Of Order Do You Need?

First, you need to know the of protective order that you need. Every state is different. The Circuit Court of Cook County website outlines three options and the legal remedies for each one. Every circumstance is different, so review this information before you go forward with your request. If you need to speak with someone, a domestic violence advocacy group may be able to help you with your Order of Protection.

A good place to start is the Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line at (877) 863-6339. This is a free and confidential service, available 24 hours a day, with multilingual, trained personnel to answer your questions. They can also refer you to outside advocates who can give you further assistance.

Types of Orders of Protection

These are the three options for an order of protection. Which one applies to you?

Domestic Violence

These are the people who are able to seek a Protective Order for domestic violence.

Any household or family member who is related in some way to the abuser
Housemates or roommates if there is no familial relationship
Share a child with the abuser, whether documented or alleged
Former partners, whether married, common law, or dating
Adults with disabilities who have been abused by a caregiver

A judge can issue any or all of the following remedies for the victim.

Prohibit further contact with the victim
Prohibit further threatening actions by the abuser
Prohibit the abuser from going to specified locations (victim's home, place of work, etc)
Prohibit abuser or stalker from owning a firearm
Offer any other relief that will protect the victim

If the abuser fails to follow these restrictions, they are guilty of an Illinois Class 4 felony.

Sexual Assault Civil No Contact Order

Any person who has been non-consensually sexually assaulted in any way can seek this type of Protective Order. In Illinois, family and household members of the victim, and rape crisis center employees and volunteers can also from the courts.

A judge can include any or all of the following restrictions in this type of Order.

No contact with the victim
Prohibited from visiting specific locations where the victim goes
Require the offender to transfer to another school if the victim attends the same school

The first time the offender violates the Order it's a Class A misdemeanor; the second time is a Class 4 felony

Stalking No Contact Order

If you have been stalked or harassed, and fear for your physical or psychological safety, this is the order you request.

The judge can issue any or all of the following conditions to the Order.

Forbid additional stalking or threats of stalking
Forbid any contact with the victim, and order to stay away from certain and specified locations
Prohibited from owning a firearm

If your stalker violates the Order, the penalties are the same as for sexual assault.

While I’m Thinking About It, Exactly What Are Those Penalties?

Class A misdemeanor	This is the most serious misdemeanor. The punishment is up to 364 days in jail, a $2,500 fine, plus court costs.
Class 4 felony	There's a one to a three-year prison sentence, a fine of up to $25,000, and court costs.

How To Get an Order of Protection in Chicago

Online

There are two ways to get a protective order. Whichever you decide, you must complete the paperwork before you bring it to the courthouse. You can find the paperwork on the Cook County website.

In Person

You may be able to get help at the courthouse, or at a Domestic Violence Division site in the city.

First Municipal District, Chicago, Room 1400—go to the Help Desk for assistance

Suburban Municipal Districts

Go to the Clerk of Circuit Court's Office in your district and ask for the protective order paperwork. If you need help completing the forms, they will send you to the appropriate place for assistance.

When the paperwork is complete, you'll need to go back to the Clerk of Court to file the forms.

Let DoNotPay Handle the Paperwork for You

If this all seems too stressful, that's okay. You are dealing with a horribly stressful situation. DoNotPay can complete and the paperwork for you, making sure it's filled out correctly and gets filed as soon as possible. Also, DoNotPay lets you complete the paperwork from the privacy of your home, so all you have to do is take the completed paperwork to the courthouse.

Here's how it works.

How to apply for a restraining order with the help of DoNotPay:

Search for relationship protection on DoNotPay.
Answer a few easy questions on DoNotPay’s File a Restraining Order product.
Submit the form and you're done.

What Else Can DoNotPay Do For You?

You don't need to hire an expensive lawyer to help you out. DoNotPay is an AI lawyer that can file all kinds of paperwork on your behalf, anywhere in the US. DoNotPay can help you get a divorce settlement agreement, file a police report, and help you find unclaimed money—who doesn't need that? Browse around DoNotPay’s website and find all the ways it can make your life a little easier.