What To Know About Orders of Protection During Divorce

Not all divorces proceed seamlessly. In some regrettable instances, the heightened acrimony or fear of loss can lead one spouse to pursue an order of protection against the other. Similar to a restraining order in other states, in Illinois, an order of protection is a court order that prohibits a person committing abusive behavior from making contact with a party in various ways. It may ban all communication, require that person to stay beyond a certain distance, or order them to vacate the premises. Courts most typically issue these orders during divorces when tensions are high and the likelihood of domestic violence is higher. Before you pursue an order, here’s what to know about orders of protection during divorce proceedings.

Orders Cover More Than Physical Contact

In the popular imagination, a “restraining order” is a simple interdiction against stepping within, for instance, a 100-yard radius of the person who filed the order. Today, owing to the complexity of modern communication, a mere ban against proximity is often insufficient. An order of protection in Illinois can encompass multiple forms of contact, including texting, emailing, calling, writing notes, and even attempting to communicate through a third party.