(750 ILCS 61/15)

Sec. 15. Address confidentiality program; application; certification.

(a) An adult person, a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a minor, or a guardian acting on behalf of a person with a disability, as defined in Article 11a of the Probate Act of 1975, may apply to the Attorney General to have an address designated by the Attorney General serve as the person's address or the address of the minor or person with a disability. The Attorney General shall approve an application if it is filed in the manner and on the form prescribed by him or her and if it contains:

(1) a sworn statement by the applicant that the applicant has good reason to believe (i) that the applicant, or the minor or person with a disability on whose behalf the application is made, is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking; and (ii) that the applicant fears for his or her safety or his or her children's safety, or the safety of the minor or person with a disability on whose behalf the application is made;

(2) a designation of the Attorney General as agent for purposes of service of process and receipt of mail;

(3) a State mailing address where the applicant can be contacted by the Attorney General, and the phone number or numbers where the applicant can be called by the Attorney General;

(3.5) proof of a State residential street address where the applicant resides or a signed statement affirming the applicant's status as homeless in this State;

(4) the new address or addresses that the applicant requests not be disclosed for the reason that disclosure will increase the risk of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking; and

(5) the signature of the applicant and of any individual or representative of any office designated in writing under Section 40 of this Act who assisted in the preparation of the application, and the date on which the applicant signed the application.

(b) Applications shall be filed with the office of the Attorney General.

(c) Upon filing a properly completed application, the Attorney General shall certify the applicant as a program participant. Applicants shall be certified for 4 years following the date of filing unless the certification is withdrawn or invalidated before that date. The Attorney General shall by rule establish a renewal procedure.

(d) A person who falsely attests in an application that disclosure of the applicant's address would endanger the applicant's safety or the safety of the applicant's children or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made, or who knowingly provides false or incorrect information upon making an application, is guilty of a Class 3 felony.

(Source: P.A. 101-270, eff. 1-1-21; 102-292, eff. 1-1-22.)