To be protected by the IDVA, a victim of abuse must have a “family or household relationship” with person who is abusing him or her.

Under the IDVA, the following persons are considered family or household members:

(i) parties related by blood or by present or prior marriage;

(ii) parties who share or formerly shared a common dwelling (a romantic relationship is not required);

(iii) parties who have or allegedly have a child in common;

(iv) parties who share or allegedly share a blood relationship through a child (includes in-laws);

(v) parties have or have had a dating or engagement relationship;

(vi) a person with disabilities and his or her personal assistant or caregiver.

The following persons can be listed on the order of protection as protected persons:

• anyone who lives in the petitioner’s household;
• any minor child or dependent adult in the petitioner’s care;
• persons employed at the residence; and/or
• employees of a domestic violence program where a protected person resides.

A petition for an order of protection may be filed only by those persons who:

(i) are being abused by a family or household member;

(ii) are filing it on behalf of a minor child or adult who is being abused by a family or household member, and who, because of age, health, disability, or inaccessibility, cannot file the petition on their own;

(iii) are filing it on behalf of a high-risk adult with disabilities who has been abused, neglected, or exploited by a family or household member.

If you have a pending family law case, you should file at the courthouse where your case is being heard.

If you do not have a pending family law case, then you may file at your local suburban courthouse or downtown at the Domestic Violence Courthouse located at 555 W. Harrison.

You can also file any documents online via the Clerk’s e-filing platform.

There are no costs involved for filing an order of protection.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several legal assistance agencies set up hotlines to help litigants obtain orders of protection including:

• The Remote Orders of Protection Assistance Project: (312) 229-6020
• Sarah’s Inn, Metro Family Services and Family Rescue Hotline: (708) 689-3422
 • Ascend Justice Remote Order of Protection Hotline: (312) 239-0413

There are several legal assistance agencies that represent victims of domestic violence. Please contact one of the agencies below to see if you qualify for free legal services:

Life Span Center for Legal Services & Advocacy:
ph: (312) 408-1210
www.life-span.org

Legal Aid Chicago:
ph: (312) 341-1070
www.legalaidchicago.org

Ascend Justice:
ph: (312) 239-0413
www.ascendjustice.org

The Illinois Supreme Court Statewide Standardized Forms can be found here.

Alternatively, you can access an interactive platform through Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) here that will help you fill out your forms.