Domestic Violence Guidelines For Help

CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY

DOROTHY BROWN

Domestic violence is a crime. No one should ever be hurt by someone they love.  In order to become a survivor of domestic violence you need to get help from the court system, police, and community resources available to you. I encourage every victim of domestic violence to call the police.

My office wrote this guide for you. It answers many of the questions people have asked about domestic violence. This guide also tells you how you can get an Order of Protection and lists community services and courthouses near you.

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to call my office at (312) 325-9467, (312) 325-9468, or (312) 325-9500.

We are here to help you.

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?  Domestic violence is any physical, emotional, or sexual abuse of a household or family member by another.

WHO CAN BE PROTECTED?  The IDVA (Illinois Domestic Violence Act) defines household or family members who can be protected as follows:  spouses, former spouses, parents, children, stepchildren and other persons related by blood or by present or prior marriage, persons who share or formerly shared a common dwelling, persons who have or allegedly have a child in common, persons who share or allegedly share a blood relationship through a child, persons who have or have had a dating or engagement relationship, persons with disabilities and their personal assistants, caregivers and high-risk adult with disabilities. 50 ILCS 60/201 and 750 ILCS 60/103(6)(8).

WHAT IS AN ORDER OF PROTECTION?  An Order of Protection is a court order signed by a judge. It is designed to protect a petitioner (the person who has been hurt) from the respondent (the person who hurt the petitioner.)

WHERE CAN I GET AN ORDER OF PROTECTION?  There are several options:

Criminal Court: if the person who has been hurt (the petitioner) signs a criminal complaint against the person who hurt him or her (the respondent). The State's Attorney's Office then prosecutes the respondent and helps the petitioner get an Order of Protection. The petitioner can only keep the Order if she, or he, follows through with the criminal case.

Civil Court:  If the petitioner chooses NOT to press charges the Order of Protection can be granted by a judge in an independent action.  In Civil Court, the petitioner can have his or her own attorney or can represent him or herself; this is called pro se. 

Child Support Court, Divorce Court,  Juvenile Court and  Probate Court:  A petitioner can also request an Order of Protection in other courts where they are parties to a pending action against the respondent.

The Order of Protection is the same, no matter which court grants it.

HOW MUCH DOES THE ORDER OF PROTECTION COST?  The Order of Protection is free. There are no fees for filing the Order. The Sheriff's office serves the Order on the respondent without charge.

HOW DOES THE RESPONDENT LEARN ABOUT THE ORDER OF PROTECTION?  Once a judge grants the Order, it is filed in the Clerk's Office. A copy is sent to the Sheriff's Office and a Sheriff's deputy can then serve a copy of the Order to the respondent (the person who hurt the petitioner).

CAN A MINOR GET AN ORDER OF PROTECTION?  Anyone who is a protected party under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act is eligible for an Order of Protection. Minors, under the age of 18, (and some people with disabilities) need an adult to ask for the Order on behalf of the petitioner.

WHAT ARE REMEDIES?  Remedies are actions the respondent must do or stop doing to the petitioner. For instance, the Order could make the respondent stay out of the shared home for a period of time; or stop harassing or abusing the petitioner; or pay costs if the petitioner had to run away to a safe place. There are 18 different remedies. The Order of Protection forms list each of them.

DO I NEED A LAWYER TO GET AN ORDER OF PROTECTION?  An Assistant State's Attorney is your attorney when you go to Criminal Court. In Civil Court, it is always a good idea to have an attorney in court with you. You may qualify for free legal assistance, depending on how much money you earn. If you need to hire an attorney, call the Chicago or Suburban Bar Associations for a referral. If you do not qualify for free legal assistance, and you cannot afford an attorney, you can act as your own attorney. You must bring the respondent's date of birth, social security number and address with you to complete the forms. The Clerk's Office in each court has the forms you need.

DISTRICT 1 COURTHOUSE LOCATIONS

District 1 Courthouses

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT FOR CHICAGO

555 West Harrison
Chicago, IL 60607-4313
(312) 325-9500

Both criminal and civil domestic violence cases are heard in this courthouse.

If the petitioner presses charges against the respondent, the State’s attorney’s office assists the person in getting an order of protection. (312) 325-9220

If the petitioner does not press charges against the respondent, any attorney or a pro se petitioner can request an order of protection. (Pro se petitioners are individuals who act as their own attorneys.) (312)325-9460 or (312)325-9467

If parties are divorced or involved in domestic relations proceeding:
Domestic Relations Divisions,
Richard J. Daley Center, Room 802
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-6352


If parties involved have a pending estate or guardianship case:
Probate Division
Richard J. Daley Center, Room 1202
50 West Washington
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-6441     TDD  (312) 603-6888

If there is a pending case to establish guardian/parent-child relationship:
Child Support Division
28 North Clark, Room 200
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 345-4036 or (312) 345-4004

SUBURBAN COURTHOUSE LOCATIONS      

District 2
5600 Old Orchard Road
Skokie, IL  60077
(847) 470-7250     TDD (847) 470-7557

Deerfield l Des Plaines l Evanston l Glencoe l Glenview l Golf l Kenilworth l Lincolnwood l Morton Grove l Niles l Northbrook l Northfield l Park Ridge l Skokie l Wilmette l Winnetka

District 3
2121 Euclid Avenue
Rolling Meadows, IL  60008 
(847) 818-2719   TDD (847) 818-2076

Arlington Heights l Barrington l Barrington Hills l Bartlett l Buffalo Grove l Elgin l Elk Grove Village l Hanover Park l Harwood Heights l Hoffman Estates l Inverness l Mount Prospect l Norridge l Palatine l Prospect Heights l Rolling Meadows l Roselle l Rosemont l Schaumberg l South Barrington l Streamwood l Wheeling

District 4
1500 Maybrook Drive
Maywood, IL  60153
(708) 865-4937     TDD (708) 865-6056

Bellwood l Berkeley l Berwyn l Broadview l Brookfield l Cicero l Elmwood Park l Forest Park l Franklin Park l Hillside l La Grange Park l Maywood l Melrose Park l Northlake l North Riverside l Oak Park l River Forest l River Grove l Riverside l Schiller Park l Stone Park l Westchester

District 5
10220 South 76th Avenue
Bridgeview, IL  60425
(708) 974-6387    TDD (708) 974-6550

Alsip l Bedford Park l Bridgeview l Burbank l Burr Ridge l Chicago Ridge l Countryside l Evergreen Park l Forest View l Hickory Hills l Hinsdale l Hodgkins l Hometown l Indian Head Park l Justice l La Grange l Lemont l Lyons l McCook l Merrionette Park l Oak Lawn l Orland Hills l Orland Park l Palos Heights l Palos Hills l Palos Park l Stickney l Summit l Western Springs l Willow Springs l Worth

District 6
16501 South Kedzie Avenue
Markham, IL  60426
(708) 210-4217      TDD (708) 210-4272

Blue Island l Burnham l Calumet City l Calumet Park l Chicago Heights l Country Club Hills l Crestwood l Crete l Dixmoor l Dolton l East Hazelcrest l Flossmoor l Ford Heights l Glenwood l Harvey l Hazelcrest l Homewood l Lansing l Lynwood l Markham l Matteson l Midlothian l Oak Forest l Olympia Fields l Park Forest l Phoenix l Posen l Richton Park l Riverdale l Robbins l Sauk Village l South Chicago Heights l South Holland l Thornton l Tinley Park l Steger

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM SERVICES:

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LEGAL CLINIC
Formerly known as Pro Bono Advocates

(312) 325-9155
Languages: English, Spanish

FAMILY RESCUE CIVIL COURT ADVOCACY

(312) 325-9300
Languages: English, Spanish, French, German

HULL HOUSE

(312) 325-9155
Languages: English, Spanish

Chicago, Loop

CHICAGO METRO. BATTERED WOMEN’S NETWORK

(877) 863-6338
TDD (877) 863-6339
Language: English
Office: (312) 360-1924

METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES

(773) 884-2235
TDD (773) 884-0005
Languages: English, Spanish, Arabic
Locations: Multiple throughout Chicago

LIFESPAN

(312) 408-1210
Languages: English

C.A.W.C.- GREENHOUSE
Cook County Hospital
(312) 433-2390
Language: English

CPD, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCACY PROJECT

(Offender must work for CPD)

(312) 742-5290
Languages: English

(312) 738-5358
TDD (312) 226-3350
Languages : English, Spanish, Portuguese

NEOPOLITAN LIGHTHOUSE

(773) 722 -0005
TDD (773) 826-2883
Languages: English

WHOLENESS & WELLNESS CENTER, INC.

(773) 638-0438
Languages: English

(800) 717-0757
Languages: Hindi, Urdu, Swalhili, French, Spanish, Persian, Bangla, English

Chicago, North

C.A.W.C.- GREENHOUSE

(773) 278-4566
TDD (773) 278-4114
Languages: English, Spanish, Polish, German, French

(800) 603-4357
TDD (773) 274-6508
Languages: English

CENTER ON HALSTED

Formerly known as Horizons Anti-Violence Project

(773) 871-2273
TDD (773) 472-1277
Languages: English, Spanish

HOUSE OF GOOD SHEPHERD

(773) 935-3434
FAX (773)935-3523
Languages: English, Spanish

KOREAN WOMEN IN NEED (KAN-WIN)

(773) 583-0880
Languages: English, Korean

(773) 583-4673
Languages: English, Hebrew, Russian

(773) 561-6119
Languages: English, Spanish

CLARA’S HOUSE

(773) 778-8854
Languages: English

(773) 762-6611
TDD (773) 762-6802
Languages: English, Spanish

(773) 723-2119
Languages: English, Spanish

VIOLENCE RECOVERY SERVICES

(773) 847-4417
Languages: English, Spanish

Southeast

FAMILY RESCUE SHELTER

(800) 360-6619
TDD (773) 375-8774
Languages: English, Spanish

CRISIS CENTER FOR SO. SUBURBIA

(708) 429-7255
TDD (708) 42907284
Languages: English

(877) 335-3020
TDD (708) 647-6843
Languages: English, Spanish

Western Suburbs

CONTANCE MORRIS HOUSE

(708) 485-5254
TTY (708) 485.-257
Languages: English, Spanish

(708) 386-4225
TDD (708) 386-3687
Languages: English, Spanish

(847) 824-4454
TDD (847) 824-0189
POLISH HOTLINE: (847) 824-1158
Languages: English, Spanish, Polish

(877) 718-1868
Languages: English, Spanish

For additional agencies, see our Domestic Violence legal assistance page.

The Illinois Domestic Violence Act recognizes domestic violence as a serious crime. It creates legal remedies which may be ordered by the court. One of the most  useful of these is commonly referred to as an ORDER OF PROTECTION.

We hope the information presented here will help your understanding of the circuit court system as it relates Domestic Violence and guide you to the resources within the community  that may be available to you. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call Kathleen Monahan at (312) 325-9467.

Questions About Domestic  Violence

What is the Illinois Domestic Violence Act?
What is Domestic Violence?
What is an Order of Protection?
Who are persons considered to be family or household members?
How much will an Order of Protection Cost?
How can I file for an Order of Protection?
Where can I file for an Order of Protection?
How do I determine which courthouse to file for an Order of Protection?
How long does an Order of Protection last?
What is the Illinois Stalking Law?
Where are the Courthouses located?

 If you need help with a situation involving domestic violence and do not know where to turn, there are many Legal  Assistance, Court Advocacy, and Social Service  Organizations that provide a variety of services to victims of domestic violence.