Illinois Form DAH H 86 Hearing Request Guide – If your Illinois driving privileges have been suspended due to a court finding of visitation abuse, Form DAH H 86 from the Illinois Secretary of State is the official document you need to request an administrative hearing. This guide explains what the form is, when to use it, how to complete and submit it, and key limitations under Illinois law. It is designed for drivers in the United States, particularly Illinois residents facing this specific suspension.
You can download the official Form DAH H 86 directly from the Illinois Secretary of State website here: Download Form DAH H 86 (PDF).
What Is Illinois Form DAH H 86?
Form DAH H 86 is titled “Hearing Request to Contest Court-Ordered Visitation Abuse Driving Privileges Suspension.” It is issued by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Department of Administrative Hearings. The form allows a driver to petition for an administrative hearing under Section 7-706 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/7-706) to challenge a suspension resulting from a court order related to visitation abuse.
Under Illinois law, a circuit court may order the suspension of a person’s driving privileges if the individual has been adjudicated as having engaged in visitation abuse and found in contempt for failing to abide by a visitation (parenting time) order. The court then notifies the Secretary of State, which enters the suspension. Form DAH H 86 is the vehicle to request a limited administrative review of that suspension.
The form is available as a fillable PDF on the official Illinois Secretary of State publications page for Administrative Hearings forms.
When Is Form DAH H 86 Used?
Use Form DAH H 86 only when the Secretary of State has suspended your driving privileges based on an authenticated court document stating that:
- You violated a visitation order,
- You were found to have engaged in visitation abuse, and
- You were found in contempt of court for failure to abide by the visitation order.
This process is separate from child-support-related suspensions (which use different forms such as DAH H 79 or DAH H 80). The legal authority for the suspension appears in 625 ILCS 5/7-702(d) and related provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code, along with parenting-time enforcement rules under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/607.5).
Important: The administrative hearing available through Form DAH H 86 has a very limited scope. You cannot use this hearing to re-argue the underlying visitation dispute or whether you actually violated the court order. Those issues must be addressed in the circuit court that entered the original order.
Legal Basis and Scope of the Hearing
Section 7-706 of the Illinois Vehicle Code provides that a driver may contest the license sanction by requesting an administrative hearing under Section 2-118. The scope of the hearing is strictly limited to these issues:
- Whether the driver is the person with obligations under the visitation order;
- Whether the authenticated court document indicates that the person violated a visitation order, was found to have engaged in visitation abuse, and was found in contempt for failure to abide by the order; or
- Whether a superseding authenticated court document has been entered stating that the court has determined there has been sufficient compliance and that full driving privileges should be reinstated.
If a written request for the hearing is received before the effective date of the suspension, the suspension is stayed until a decision is entered. If the suspension is upheld, it becomes effective 10 days after the hearing decision. If the Secretary of State rescinds the suspension, no suspension is entered.
The form itself clearly states: “YOU CANNOT CONTEST THE VISITATION TERMS OR WHETHER YOU HAVE VIOLATED THE COURT ORDER OF VISITATION AND WERE FOUND TO HAVE ENGAGED IN VISITATION ABUSE AND ARE IN CONTEMPT OF THE COURT AT THIS HEARING.” To challenge the underlying findings, contact the circuit court that issued the order.
How to Complete Form DAH H 86?
The form requires the following information:
- Petitioner’s full name (please print)
- Illinois driver’s license number
- Street address, city, state, and ZIP code
- Telephone number
You must check one or more of the following reasons for the request:
- I am not the person with obligations under a visitation order from the court.
- The authenticated document of a visitation order from the court does not indicate that I have violated a visitation order and have been found to have engaged in visitation abuse.
- I have been found in contempt of court for failure to abide by a visitation order (or the document does not so indicate).
- A superseding authenticated document of any court order concerning visitation has been entered and has informed the Secretary of State’s office that the court has determined there has been sufficient compliance with the court’s visitation order and that full driving privileges should be reinstated.
For any reason checked, you must supply supporting facts on the reverse side of the form (or additional pages) and attach a copy of the relevant court order or authenticated document. Incomplete petitions are returned and will not be scheduled.
Sign and date the form under the penalties provided by Section 1-109 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, certifying that the statements are true and correct.
Filing Fee and Submission Requirements
Any request for a formal hearing must be accompanied by a non-refundable $50 filing fee. Submit the fee by check or money order payable to the Secretary of State. Cash is not accepted. If the request arrives without the fee, it will be returned and no hearing will be scheduled. The fee is non-refundable once a hearing is scheduled, in accordance with Section 2-118 of the Illinois Vehicle Code and 92 Illinois Administrative Code 1001.70.
Mail the completed form, supporting documents, and fee to the location where you prefer the hearing to be held. Preferred locations listed on the form include:
- Chicago: Office of the Secretary of State, Dept. of Administrative Hearings, 17 N. State St., Ste. 1200, Chicago, IL 60602; Phone: 312-793-3722
- Joliet: Office of the Secretary of State, Dept. of Administrative Hearings, 54 N. Ottawa St., Joliet, IL 60432; Phone: 815-740-7171
- Springfield: Office of the Secretary of State, Dept. of Administrative Hearings, Rm. 212 Howlett Bldg., Springfield, IL 62756; Phone: 217-782-7065
- Mt. Vernon: Office of the Secretary of State, Dept. of Administrative Hearings, 218 S. 12th St., Mt. Vernon, IL 62864; Phone: 618-242-8986
Indicate your preference for an a.m. or p.m. hearing time (subject to availability). Faxes and email requests are not accepted for formal hearing requests of this type.
After the Secretary of State receives a complete request and fee, a Notice of Hearing will be mailed (or emailed if an address is provided). You must appear with proof of identity (photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, or FOID card).
What Happens After You File?
Once scheduled, the formal hearing is conducted by a hearing officer appointed by the Secretary of State. The officer may administer oaths, rule on motions, examine witnesses, and determine the admissibility of evidence. The decision (or recommendation leading to a final decision) is typically issued within the time frames set by administrative rules.
If the suspension is upheld, it takes effect 10 days after the decision. If rescinded, the suspension is removed from your driving record. Decisions are subject to the Administrative Review Law if you wish to seek further court review.
For general information on formal hearings, visit the official Illinois Secretary of State page: Formal and Informal Hearings.
Additional Resources and Contact Information
Official forms and publications are listed on the Illinois Secretary of State Administrative Hearings Publications and Forms page: Administrative Hearings Forms.
General contact for the Department of Administrative Hearings:
- Email: [email protected]
- Springfield: 217-782-7065
- Chicago: 312-793-3722
For questions about the underlying court order or to seek reinstatement based on compliance, contact the circuit court clerk in the county that issued the visitation order. The court must send an authenticated document to the Secretary of State confirming sufficient compliance before full privileges can be restored through that route.
Drivers should also obtain a current driving record abstract (court-purpose abstract) from the Secretary of State to confirm the exact status of their privileges. Information on obtaining abstracts and related reinstatement steps is available on the official Illinois Secretary of State website at ilsos.gov.
Key Takeaways for Illinois Drivers
Form DAH H 86 provides a narrow administrative remedy to contest a visitation-abuse-related driving suspension. Success depends on demonstrating one of the limited statutory grounds, supported by documentation. The form does not allow re-litigation of the family-court findings. Always attach the required court documents, pay the $50 fee, and mail the packet to the preferred hearing location. For the most current version of the form and related instructions, rely exclusively on official Illinois Secretary of State sources.