What constitutes abuse for Illinois Orders of Protection?
To obtain an Order of Protection, you must demonstrate that either you or a child on whose behalf you are filing has been abused by the person from whom you are seeking protection (respondent). For this purpose, abuse is defined as: physical abuse, harassment, interference with personal liberty, intimidation of a dependent, or willful deprivation. These terms are all fully defined in the Illinois Domestic Violence Act. As an example, physical abuse includes physical force, confinement, restraint, sleep deprivation, reckless conduct creating an immediate risk of physical harm, threatening with weapons, or forcing a person to have unwanted sexual relations.