(820 ILCS 275/50)

Sec. 50. Process.

(a) Any action for a workplace protection restraining order requires that a separate summons be issued and served. The summons shall require the respondent to answer and appear within 7 days. Attachments to the summons or notice shall include the petition for a workplace protection restraining order, supporting affidavits, if any, and any emergency workplace protection restraining order that has been issued.

(b) The summons shall be served by the sheriff or other law enforcement officer at the earliest time possible and shall take precedence over other summonses except those of a similar emergency nature. A special process server may be appointed at any time, and the appointment of a special process server shall not affect the responsibilities and authority of the sheriff or other official process servers.

(c) Service of summons on a member of the respondent's household or by publication is adequate if: (1) the petitioner has made all reasonable efforts to accomplish actual service of process personally upon the respondent, but the respondent cannot be found to effect the service; and (2) the petitioner files an affidavit or presents sworn testimony describing those efforts.

(d) A plenary workplace protection restraining order may be entered by default for the remedy sought in the petition if the respondent has been served in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section or given notice and if the respondent then fails to appear as directed or fails to appear on any subsequent appearance or hearing date agreed to by the parties or set by the court.

(e) An employee who has been a victim of domestic violence by the respondent is not required to and the court may not order the employee to testify, participate in, or appear in this process for any purpose.

(Source: P.A. 98-766, eff. 7-16-14.)