Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record in Illinois?

• Acquittals.
• Dismissals.
• Court supervision (if satisfactorily completed)
• Qualified probation (i.e. 710-1410 probation, TASC probation, and second chance probation) are eligible for expungement.

How do I apply for the Clean Slate program in Illinois?

To apply for the Clean Slate Program, people must complete an application and provide proof that they could not make their child support payments during the "assistance period" because the applicant: (1) was unemployed; (2) incarcerated; or (3) had a serious illness which prevented them from paying child support.

What is considered a clean criminal record?

Lawyers will advise you that clean criminal records are ones in which no convictions are present. Some of the items that will appear on criminal records include: Convictions and arrests. Dismissals.

How do I expunge my criminal record in Illinois for free?

A fee waiver allows you to file for free, or at a reduced cost. You must send a copy of your Motion and Notice of Motion forms to the State's Attorney, Arresting Agencies, Chief Legal Officer of the Unit of Local Government, and Illinois State Police. Learn more about filing a motion.

What is not expungeable Illinois?

Arrest, charges or sentences that cannot be expunged (erased): Any arrests, charges, or sentences outside Illinois. Any federal criminal cases, even if they happened in Illinois. Any sentences you have not yet completed, including parole, probation, or court supervision.

How many times can you expunge your record?

There are no limits to how many times you can file a petition for a Section 1 expungement, and they may be filed even if the individual has previously filed for expungement of convictions.

How much does a pardon cost in Illinois?

Illinois Pardon Cost

The processing of applying for a pardon in Illinois can be a costly one. It's not atypical for some attorneys in Illinois to charge upwards of $5,000 for clemency services.

How long does expungement take in Chicago?

The State's Attorney Office (SAO) has 60 days to review your petition. During this review, they will determine whether they will file an objection OR non-objection to your petition for expungement/sealing. During this time you will NOT receive a court date.

How much does it cost to get your record expunged in Illinois?

Effective October 1, 2024, Requests to Expunge and/or Seal are filed as MX (Miscellaneous Criminal) cases. The filing fee for expungement/sealing is $215.00, which covers the cost of filing the petition, copy fees, mailing and postage fees for required notices, and fees to the Illinois State Police.

How long does a misdemeanor stay on your record in Illinois?

While this may be true for a driving record (accidents and moving violations eventually fall off of a person's record when enough time has passed), this is untrue for a criminal record. In Illinois, criminal convictions will stay on your record forever.

Will my expunged record show up on a background check in Illinois?

If you have your criminal record expunged in the state of Illinois, nobody will ever see it. In fact, it's like you never had a criminal record at all. There are some catches to that, though; sometimes it's only possible to expunge part of a criminal record.

Can local police see expunged records?

Courts, law enforcement, prosecutors, and other criminal justice agencies can access expunged records for future criminal investigations and charging and sentencing decisions.

Does Illinois have automatic expungement?

It is important to know that there is no automatic expungement of adult arrest or criminal court records in Illinois. Even if you were only arrested and never charged or your case was later dismissed or you were found not guilty, those records all exist until you actively seek to expunge them.

Does your criminal record clear after 7 years?

Some people have the misconception that their criminal record will “clear” after a period of 7 years. This is a misnomer. Although your criminal record does not automatically clear after 7 years, you can take steps to have your case expunged or your record sealed.

How do you know if you have a clean background check?

If you want to know whether you passed your check, you can either reach out to the employer who requested it or reach out to the background check company itself. Ultimately, you can fight for yourself, especially if you fail your background record check.

How do you answer "Do you have a clear criminal record?"?

Be Honest: Transparency is key. If the job application or interview process requires disclosure of criminal history, provide accurate information about your past convictions. Avoid minimizing or omitting details, as this could jeopardize your credibility and trustworthiness.

How to expunge your record in Illinois for free?

What is the clean slate law in Illinois?

Clean Slate Illinois is working to make record clearance automatic: when a person becomes eligible for relief, their record gets cleared. That means no lengthy process, no paying an attorney, no court appearance.

How do I apply for my PERC card in Illinois?

How do I get an Illinois PERC card? Obtain one (1) Illinois State Police (ISP) Fee Applicant Card for processing. Applicants may contact the Department at 1-800-560-6420 or send an email request on your profession page of the Department website at www.idfpr.illinois.gov.

How many records can you get expunged?

As a general rule, you can have two convictions expunged (one felony and one misdemeanor or two misdemeanors). Minor misdemeanors don't count when counting your convictions (charges that didn't carry any jail time). There are some limited situations where you can have more than two convictions expunged.

What is the number for expungement in Illinois?

Fact Sheet is only available through the Illinois Director of Expungement Unit. You may call the toll-free hotline phone number (866) 787-1776.