Start an online petition to ask for an Order of Protection
FIRST, look at the information below to see if you meet the three requirements for this kind of case. If you meet these requirements, then you may ask (petition) for an Order of Protection in Kane County.
The person needing protection (usually you) is called the “Petitioner”. The “Respondent” is the person that you want protection from.
1. HOW YOU ARE RELATED TO THE RESPONDENT (at least one must apply)
- We are married, or we used to be married (husband, wife, spouse)
- We are dating each other, or we used to date (boyfriend, girlfriend, intimate partner)
- We have a child together
- We are family members (parent, child, sibling, step-parent, step-child, or other family relationship)
- We live together, or we used to live together (roommate, housemate, live-in partner)
- I have a disability, and the Respondent is my caregiver (personal assistant)
2. RECENT INCIDENT OF ABUSE OR THREAT (most, if not all, must apply)
- The Respondent has done something abusive (physical, verbal, harassing, or stalking)
- This abuse happened roughly within the past 3 weeks
- The Respondent has a history of abuse toward you or other people
- The abuse is getting worse, or you think the abuse would get worse if the Respondent knew you were asking for an Order of Protection
3. LOCATION (at least one must apply)
- I (the Petitioner) live in Kane County
- The Respondent lives in Kane County
- The abuse happened in Kane County
- I (the Petitioner) fled to Kane County for my safety, and I am living here for now to stay safe
If you do not meet the requirements to ask for an Order of Protection, there are other types of protective orders that may meet your situation.
Click here to learn about other kinds of protective orders.
SECOND, if you qualify to ask for an Order of Protection
Note: When you submit an
online Petition for Order of Protection, you must provide a valid email address
so you can receive your receipt number.
If the person you are asking for the Order of Protection against was NOT arrested, or taken to jail for the abuse, then:
You should check the box next to “Civil Proceeding” on the Petition for Order of Protection form, then complete the rest of the online
Petition for Order of Protection. You will not be able to change it once it is submitted so be sure it is accurate and complete before you do. You will receive an email with a receipt number
on it once you submit the form. Be sure to bring the email with you, or
have electronic access to it, when you go to the Kane County Judicial Center.
For the next steps, you will need to know the following information about the Respondent:
Full name
Complete address and county where they live
Date of birth
To
continue your application, you must physically go to the
Kane County Judicial Center and let a staff member know you are asking for an Order of Protection.
Give the staff member the receipt number so they may review what you have submitted, discuss the process with you, and complete the rest of the needed forms. You may have an opportunity to meet with a domestic violence advocate from Mutual Ground, Community Crisis Center, or Prairie State Legal Services. This may take several hours.
Kane County Judicial Center
8:30am – noon or 1:00pm – 3:30pm, Monday - Friday
Family Division, Room 149 (1st Floor)
37W777 Route 38, St. Charles, Illinois
If you do NOT physically go to the Kane County Judicial Center to continue the application within 14 days of submitting the online form, the information you submitted will be deleted.
If the person you are asking for the Order of Protection against was arrested or taken to jail for the abuse, then:
You should check the box next to “Criminal Proceeding” on the Petition for Order of Protection form, then complete the rest of the online
Petition for Order of Protection.
You will not be able to change it once it is submitted so be sure it is accurate and complete before you do. You will receive an email with a receipt number
on it once you submit the form. Be sure to bring the email with you, or
have electronic access to it, when you go to the Kane County Judicial Center.
For the next steps, you will need to know the following information about the Respondent:
Full name
Complete address and county where they live
Date of birth
To continue your application, you must physically go to the
Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office and let a staff member know you are asking for an
Order of Protection. They will have you meet with a domestic violence advocate.
Give the advocate the receipt number so they may review what you have submitted, discuss the process with you, and complete the rest of the needed forms. This may take several hours.
Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office
8:30am – noon, 1:00pm - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday
Kane County Judicial Center, Suite 300 (3rd floor)
37W777 Rt 38 St. Charles, IL 60175 630.232.3500
If you do NOT physically go to the Kane County Judicial Center to continue the application within 14 days of submitting the online form, the information you submitted will be deleted.
THIRD, to finish the process you must go before a judge. An advocate will go with you or a staff member will direct you where to go.
If the Petition is granted by the judge, the Respondent will automatically be served the paperwork by the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.
If the Petition is denied by the judge, and if you were working with an advocate, the advocate will talk to you about possible options and safety plans.
If you are an attorney or work for a law office
To begin the online application process for an
Order of Protection, please complete this
Petition for Order of Protection.
You will receive an email with a receipt number
on it once you submit the form. Be sure to bring the email with you, or
have electronic access to it, when you go to the Kane County Judicial Center.
Kane County Judicial Center
Kane County Law Library & Self Help Legal Center, 2nd floor
8:30am – 3:30pm (for orders of protection), Monday - Friday
37W777 Route 38, St. Charles, Illinois
Let a Law Library staff member know you need to complete an
Order of Protection. The staff member will guide you to a meeting room where you will be able to access the Order of Protection software needed to complete the forms in order to proceed with the application.
Use the receipt number to pull up the work you have already done, and complete the process. This may take several hours.
If you do NOT physically go to the Kane County Judicial Center to continue the application within 14 days of submitting the online form, the information you submitted will be deleted.
Read About the Different Kinds Protective Orders
Petition for Order of Protection
