When you can't wait for the normal court schedule. Emergency motions get you in front of a judge immediately when irreparable harm is imminent.
Illinois courts take emergency motions seriously. They exist for genuine emergencies - not for gaining tactical advantage or expressing frustration with the normal process. To get emergency relief, you must demonstrate:
When a child is in immediate danger - abuse, neglect, or a parent planning to flee with the child.
When your spouse is draining accounts, selling assets, or hiding money.
When you need the other spouse removed from the marital home immediately.
When there's risk of international parental abduction.
Prepare a verified motion explaining the emergency, the relief needed, and why immediate action is required. Attach all supporting evidence.
Contact the court's emergency judge or clerk. For ex parte relief, you may go directly to the judge. For noticed emergencies, request the earliest available date.
For ex parte motions, you present your case without the other side present. For noticed emergencies, both sides argue. Be prepared with evidence and legal authority.
If relief is granted, serve the order immediately. For TROs, you may need law enforcement to enforce. Mark the return date for the full hearing.
Filing frivolous or exaggerated emergency motions can backfire severely. Judges remember attorneys and parties who cry wolf. Consequences include:
Time matters. If you're dealing with a real threat to your children, your assets, or your safety, don't wait. Call now for immediate guidance.