Applying for any kind of order of protection is never easy, and is usually preceded by months or years or terrifying emotional or physical abuse. But the state of Illinois takes the safety of its residents very seriously, particularly when they are children, and has several types of orders of protection available to those who need them.

One of these - a Plenary Order of Protection, or POP - is a long-standing order of protection that lasts much longer than an Emergency Order of Protection or “restraining order.” POPs do require a hearing, but because the hearing is evidence-based and requires the presence of both parties, it can grant victims greater protection.

How Can I File for a Plenary Order of Protection in Illinois?

In order to file for any order of protection, you must bring the appropriate paperwork to your local courthouse. This paperwork is available online and can be filled out in advance. Sometimes a clerk may be available to help you fill out forms, but not always.

Engagement rings are one of the most exciting aspects of a wedding. Many people dream for years of their perfect ring and are thrilled to find themselves engaged and later married. But just as the ring is a symbol of the hope of marriage, it can also be a source of conflict and sadness when the relationship comes to an end. Many people wonder - What happens to the engagement or wedding ring in a divorce? 

When Does an Engagement Ring Have to Be Returned? 

Illinois law regarding the ownership of a ring differs depending on whether a couple is married or engaged when the relationship ends. If the couple is engaged, then the person who ends the relationship may determine who keeps the ring. 

Illinois courts have determined that gifts given as a promise of marriage are conditional on the marriage itself. If a man bought and presented his girlfriend with an engagement ring, and she later called off the engagement, she is required by Illinois law to return the ring. If the couple mutually agrees to end the relationship, the ring and any other gifts are likewise returned. 

If you are in an abusive relationship and are ready to end it, you may worry that taking steps to end the relationship will make the abuse worse. You may feel stuck in a cycle of fear, intimidation, and even violence. Research shows that many, if not most, injuries in domestic relationships occur when the victim attempts to leave the relationship. 

Fortunately, Illinois law provides protection for victims of domestic abuse in the form of an Order of Protection. An Order of Protection can force your abuser to move out of your home and prohibit contact between you and your children. Listed below are the three types of Order of Protection in Illinois.

Emergency Order of Protection

Illinois law allows an Emergency Order of Protection (EOP) to be granted even when the subject – in this case, the abusive partner – is not present or even aware of the order. This kind of order is most often used when the immediate safety of a victim is at risk.  

During a custody dispute, parents will often wonder: Who will get the most time with my kids? Will I miss out on important parts of their life? How will custodial sharing change my relationship with my children? The idea of sharing parenting time, especially with a spouse who may be hostile, is difficult for many parents to contemplate.

If parents cannot agree on a visitation schedule, the court will step in and make arrangements for them. Unless parents split custody 50/50, one parent will be given most of the parental responsibilities and the other parent will get a set amount of parenting time or visitation. 

Any divorce As a divorcing parent, one of the most challenging concerns you may currently be facing is the prospect of seeing your child less often than you are used to. For a parent who is heavily involved in his or her child’s daily life, transitioning to a shared parenting schedule after divorce can be very difficult. This is one reason that disagreements about parental responsibilities and parenting time can become heavily contested during a divorce. The “right of first refusal” is an important element in an Illinois parenting plan that any parent in a child custody dispute should be aware of.  

What Does “Right of First Refusal” Mean?

When you file your divorce petition, you will be asked to create a parenting plan and submit it to the court. This plan outlines how you will share parenting time, make important decisions about your child, and handle other co-parenting issues. The parenting plan also includes a provision explaining the right of first refusal. This is the right that parents have to be informed when the other parent cannot fulfill his or her allotted parenting time. The other parent must be given a chance to “refuse” the additional parenting time before the original parent can hire a babysitter or make other childcare arrangements.

Deciding How and When the Right of First Refusal Applies

You and your former spouse can decide how and when the right of first refusal applies. For example, you may decide that if a parent is absent for more than three hours of his or her allotted parenting time, the parent must inform the other parent of the absence. The other parent then has the opportunity to care for the child during the absence. You may also want to include provisions about how much advance notice you must give the other parent if you cannot fulfill your parenting time obligation. It is also a good idea to address how the child will be transported between the homes in this circumstance.