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Legal Information: Illinois

Restraining Orders

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Updated: 
January 23, 2024

Step 5: The hearing

You must go to the hearing if you want to keep your order of protection. If you do not go to the hearing, your emergency or interim order will be canceled, and you will have to start the process over. If you do not show up at the hearing, it may be harder for you to be granted an order in the future.

If the abuser does not show up for the hearing, the judge may still grant you a plenary order or the judge may order a new hearing date.1

See the At the Hearing section for ways you can show the judge that you were abused. You can learn more about the court system in our Preparing for Court – By Yourself section.

1 750 ILCS 60/210(f)

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