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Preparation

There are some steps you can take to prepare yourself for the hearing as well as possible. 

You will want to bring the following:

• Appearance (3 copies, free filing in the clerk’s office before stepping up in court),
• Copy of the Petition,
• Copy of the EOP,
• Direct examination of client and witnesses,
• Exhibits (3 copies of each),
• Evidentiary cheat sheet,
• Anticipated court documents.

Further, bring witnesses, and make sure that you have properly vetted their testimony. Be certain to arrive in your assigned courtroom on time. Find the line number (usually highlighted) on the sheet outside the courtroom. The line number should be to the left of the case name. Finally, prepare yourself emotionally to tell the judge their story, and prepare to have the respondent tell theirs. 

Result

Any of the following may occur:

• Proceed to hearing on the Plenary Order of Protection,
• Proceed to default and request that a Plenary Order of Protection be entered by default,
• If the Respondent has been served and is not present, you may proceed to a default prove up. A draft Plenary Order of Protection should be prepared, marked as “Default” and reviewed by the client,
• Enter a Plenary Order of Protection by agreement,
• Continue the case and extend the EOP (there must be good cause) 750 ILCS 60/213, or
• Terminate or vacate the EOP and dismiss the case (vacate is different from terminate—vacate is as if the EOP never existed.).

If the Respondent has not been served and is not present, you may request a second (alias) summons be issued, or service through other methods.