Restraining Orders

In some states, you will need a certified copy of your order of protection. A certified copy says that it is a “true and correct” copy; it is signed and initialed by the clerk of court that gave you the order, and usually has some kind of court stamp on it. In Illinois, a certified copy will either have a stamp or a seal on it depending on which office gives you the copy.

The copy that you originally received from court should have been a certified copy.¹ However, if your copy is not a certified copy, you can go to the court that gave you the order and ask the clerk’s office for a certified copy. There is no fee for a certified copy of an Illinois order of protection.²

Note: It is usually a good idea to keep a copy of the order with you at all times. You may also want to leave copies of the order at your workplace, at your home, at your children’s school or daycare, in your car, with a sympathetic neighbor, and so on. You can give a copy to the security guard or person at the front desk where you live and/or work along with a photo of the abuser. You may also want to give a copy of the order to anyone who is named in and protected by the order.

¹ 750 ILCS 60/222(a)
² 750 ILCS 60/202(b)