725 ILCS 5/112A-17.5

(725 ILCS 5/112A-17.5)

Sec. 112A-17.5. Ex parte protective orders.

(a) The petitioner may request expedited consideration of the petition for an ex parte protective order. The court shall consider the request on an expedited basis without requiring the respondent's presence or requiring notice to the respondent.

(b) Issuance of ex parte protective orders in cases involving domestic violence. An ex parte domestic violence order of protection shall be issued if petitioner satisfies the requirements of this subsection (b) for one or more of the requested remedies. For each remedy requested, petitioner shall establish that:

(1) the court has jurisdiction under Section 112A-9 of this Code;

(2) the requirements of subsection (a) of Section 112A-11.5 of this Code are satisfied; and

(3) there is good cause to grant the remedy, regardless of prior service of process or notice upon the respondent, because:

(A) for the remedy of prohibition of abuse described in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code; stay away order and additional prohibitions described in paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code; removal or concealment of minor child described in paragraph (8) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code; order to appear described in paragraph (9) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code; physical care and possession of the minor child described in paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code; protection of property described in paragraph (11) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code; prohibition of entry described in paragraph (14) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code; prohibition of firearm possession described in paragraph (14.5) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code; prohibition of access to records described in paragraph (15) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code; injunctive relief described in paragraph (16) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code; and telephone services described in paragraph (18) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code, the harm which that remedy is intended to prevent would be likely to occur if the respondent were given any prior notice, or greater notice than was actually given, of the petitioner's efforts to obtain judicial relief;

(B) for the remedy of grant of exclusive possession of residence described in paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code; the immediate danger of further abuse of the petitioner by the respondent, if the petitioner chooses or had chosen to remain in the residence or household while the respondent was given any prior notice or greater notice than was actually given of the petitioner's efforts to obtain judicial relief outweighs the hardships to the respondent of an emergency order granting the petitioner exclusive possession of the residence or household; and the remedy shall not be denied because the petitioner has or could obtain temporary shelter elsewhere while prior notice is given to the respondent, unless the hardship to the respondent from exclusion from the home substantially outweigh the hardship to the petitioner; or

(C) for the remedy of possession of personal property described in paragraph (10) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code; improper disposition of the personal property would be likely to occur if the respondent were given any prior notice, or greater notice than was actually given, of the petitioner's efforts to obtain judicial relief or the petitioner has an immediate and pressing need for the possession of that property.

An ex parte domestic violence order of protection may not include the counseling, custody, or payment of support or monetary compensation remedies provided by paragraphs (4), (12), (13), and (16) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 of this Code.

(c) Issuance of ex parte civil no contact order in cases involving sexual offenses. An ex parte civil no contact order shall be issued if the petitioner establishes that:

(1) the court has jurisdiction under Section 112A-9 of this Code;

(2) the requirements of subsection (a) of Section 112A-11.5 of this Code are satisfied; and

(3) there is good cause to grant the remedy, regardless of prior service of process or of notice upon the respondent, because the harm which that remedy is intended to prevent would be likely to occur if the respondent were given any prior notice, or greater notice than was actually given, of the petitioner's efforts to obtain judicial relief.

The court may order any of the remedies under Section 112A-14.5 of this Code.

(d) Issuance of ex parte stalking no contact order in cases involving stalking offenses. An ex parte stalking no contact order shall be issued if the petitioner establishes that:

(1) the court has jurisdiction under Section 112A-9 of this Code;

(2) the requirements of subsection (a) of Section 112A-11.5 of this Code are satisfied; and

(3) there is good cause to grant the remedy, regardless of prior service of process or of notice upon the respondent, because the harm which that remedy is intended to prevent would be likely to occur if the respondent were given any prior notice, or greater notice than was actually given, of the petitioner's efforts to obtain judicial relief.

The court may order any of the remedies under Section 112A-14.7 of this Code.

(e) Issuance of ex parte protective orders on court holidays and evenings.

When the court is unavailable at the close of business, the petitioner may file a petition for an ex parte protective order before any available circuit judge or associate judge who may grant relief under this Article. If the judge finds that petitioner has satisfied the prerequisites in subsection (b), (c), or (d) of this Section, the judge shall issue an ex parte protective order.

The chief judge of the circuit court may designate for each county in the circuit at least one judge to be reasonably available to issue orally, by telephone, by facsimile, or otherwise, an ex parte protective order at all times, whether or not the court is in session.

The judge who issued the order under this Section shall promptly communicate or convey the order to the sheriff to facilitate the entry of the order into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System by the Illinois State Police under Section 112A-28 of this Code. Any order issued under this Section and any documentation in support of it shall be certified on the next court day to the appropriate court. The clerk of that court shall immediately assign a case number, file the petition, order, and other documents with the court and enter the order of record and file it with the sheriff for service under subsection (f) of this Section. Failure to comply with the requirements of this subsection (e) shall not affect the validity of the order.

(f) Service of ex parte protective order on respondent.

(1) If an ex parte protective order is entered at the time a summons or arrest warrant is issued for the criminal charge, the petition for the protective order, any supporting affidavits, if any, and the ex parte protective order that has been issued shall be served with the summons or arrest warrant. The enforcement of a protective order under Section 112A-23 of this Code shall not be affected by the lack of service or delivery, provided the requirements of subsection (a) of Section 112A-23 of this Code are otherwise met.

(2) If an ex parte protective order is entered after a summons or arrest warrant is issued and before the respondent makes an initial appearance in the criminal case, the summons shall be in the form prescribed by subsection (d) of Supreme Court Rule 101, except that it shall require respondent to answer or appear within 7 days and shall be accompanied by the petition for the protective order, any supporting affidavits, if any, and the ex parte protective order that has been issued.

(3) If an ex parte protective order is entered after the respondent has been served notice of a petition for a final protective order and the respondent has requested a continuance to respond to the petition, the ex parte protective order shall be served: (A) in open court if the respondent is present at the proceeding at which the order was entered; or (B) by summons in the form prescribed by subsection (d) of Supreme Court Rule 101.

(4) No fee shall be charged for service of summons.

(5) The summons shall be served by the sheriff or other law enforcement officer at the earliest time and shall take precedence over other summonses except those of a similar emergency nature. Special process servers may be appointed at any time, and their designation shall not affect the responsibilities and authority of the sheriff or other official process servers. In a county with a population over 3,000,000, a special process server may not be appointed if an ex parte protective order grants the surrender of a child, the surrender of a firearm or Firearm Owner's Identification Card, or the exclusive possession of a shared residence. Process may be served in court.

(g) Upon 7 days' notice to the petitioner, or a shorter notice period as the court may prescribe, a respondent subject to an ex parte protective order may appear and petition the court to re-hear the petition. Any petition to re-hear shall be verified and shall allege the following:

(1) that respondent did not receive prior notice of the initial hearing in which the ex parte protective order was entered under Section 112A-17.5 of this Code; and

(2) that respondent had a meritorious defense to the order or any of its remedies or that the order or any of its remedies was not authorized under this Article.

The verified petition and affidavit shall set forth the evidence of the meritorious defense that will be presented at a hearing. If the court finds that the evidence presented at the hearing on the petition establishes a meritorious defense by a preponderance of the evidence, the court may decide to vacate the protective order or modify the remedies.

(h) If the ex parte protective order granted petitioner exclusive possession of the residence and the petition of respondent seeks to re-open or vacate that grant, the court shall set a date for hearing within 14 days on all issues relating to exclusive possession. Under no circumstances shall a court continue a hearing concerning exclusive possession beyond the 14th day except by agreement of the petitioner and the respondent. Other issues raised by the pleadings may be consolidated for the hearing if the petitioner, the respondent, and the court do not object.

(i) Duration of ex parte protective order. An ex parte order shall remain in effect until the court considers the request for a final protective order after notice has been served on the respondent or a default final protective order is entered, whichever occurs first. If a court date is scheduled for the issuance of a default protective order and the petitioner fails to personally appear or appear through counsel or the prosecuting attorney, the petition shall be dismissed and the ex parte order terminated.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)