How can i get my record expunged for free in illinois?

If you cannot afford the Circuit Clerk Filing Fee or the Illinois State Police Processing Fee, you can ask the court to waive them. You can find a fee waiver form, which can be used to waive fees in expungement and sealing cases, at: illinoiscourts.gov/forms/approved.

1. How much does it cost? Getting your record expunged or sealed will cost you A filing fee at the courthouse plus $60 for the Illinois State Police. Some local law enforcement agencies may also charge a processing fee.

CERTIFICATES OF SEALING

• Sex offenses.
• Crimes of violence.
• Domestic Violence cases, including: Aggravated Assault. Violation of an Order of Protection. Domestic Battery. Aggravated Battery. Aggravated Domestic Battery.
• Gun cases.
• Driving Under the Influence cases.

You do not have to have a lawyer to seal or expunge your record, but you may decide to hire one to help with the process. RESOURCES ON EXPUNGEMENT AND SEALING RECORDS: Illinois Attorney General’s Office website at: http://www.illinois.gov/osad/Expungement/Pages/default.aspx.

For misdemeanor or felony convictions that do not qualify for sealing, the only way to clear your record is to Receive a pardon from the governor. The pardon must specifically authorize the expungement of your record. You can learn more about pardons by visiting the State of Illinois Prisoner Review Board website.

After the petition is filed, the state’s attorney, the state police, and all other notified parties have 60 days to object. If the judge grants the petition, an order is entered, and all state agencies are given 60 days to expunge or seal the record. The total process typically takes About six months.

This Period varies according to the sentence imposed by the Court and ranges from A minimum of three years for non-custodial sentences to a maximum of ten years for custodial sentences.

A sealed record is hidden from being seen by the general public, but it may still be seen by some groups such as Law enforcement. If you have arrests, charges, or convictions that happened in more than one county, one set of paperwork is required per county.

If your criminal record is eligible for expungement, You might not need to hire an attorney to complete the process. Some states make it easy to apply for expungement, and many court websites offer expungement information and forms you can download for free.

Provided there are no objections and the petition is processed within a reasonable amount of time, Three to four months Is a solid estimate. Our attorneys can assist you in successfully completing the expungement process. Contact us online or call 630-793-0597 to set up a free consultation.

The process is started by Submitting a Petition for Clemency with the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. This petition must include all of the information about your case and provide the reasons why you should be granted a pardon by the Governor.

But do expunged records show up on background checks? Expunged charges are erased from the record entirely, and sealed records still exist but are inaccessible to the public. Generally, sealed and expunged records will not appear on a background check.

If you were convicted of a misdemeanor or felony , you can seal 3 years after the end of your last sentence. This also applies if you successfully completed special, qualified probation (like 710-1410 or TASC). Certain convictions may not be sealed until you are no longer required to register.

If you received court supervision for a misdemeanor offense other than domestic battery or criminal sexual abuse, You are eligible for expungement 2 years after the successful completion of your sentence.

If the person was 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense (i.e. legally considered to be an adult), then the conviction will be expunged from their record 11 years after the conviction date (not the offense date).

When a criminal case is sealed, records can still be seen by:

• You, the defendant (with i.d.)
• Someone you authorize to ask for your records (with i.d.)
• Your employer if you apply for a job where you carry a gun.
• Your parole officer, if you are arrested while on parole or probation.

Expungements/Sealings are Filed in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Room 136. File in person in Room 136. A fee is needed for filing. Indigency requests can be made at the time of filing and will be heard by a judge.
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1. Apply for a Free Attorney.
2. Criminal In-Court Attorney Referral.
3. Electronic Filing (E-Filing)

Expungement (also called “expunction”) is a court-ordered process in which the legal record of an arrest or a criminal conviction is “forgotten.” Another way to see it is erasing a record in the eyes of the law or setting aside a criminal conviction.