Can you clear your Illinois Criminal Records?

First get the information listed below, then contact us to find out!

Illinois law provides an opportunity to clear Illinois criminal records and Illinois criminal arrest records by expungement ( petition to expunge ) generally in cases of supervision¹ dismissal or findings of not guilty, or alternatively, sealing ( petition to seal ) where misdemeanor convictions² and a very few felonies are concerned. Sealing may also be an option where expungement is inappropriate in a case involving supervision.

Please read the following carefully to initially determine your eligibility to expunge or seal. If you believe you qualify, contact us for a more thorough evaluation.

If you were placed on court supervision for an Illinois criminal misdemeanor violation (other than DUI), and have no other misdemeanor or felony convictions, you are likely eligible to expunge;

Most Illinois criminal sentences require a two year wait after termination of supervision expunge a supervision from Illinois criminal records;

Some Illinois criminal charges like retail theft require a five year wait after supervision for expungement from Illinois criminal records;

If you were charged with a crime, but the case was dismissed (nolle prosequi or "SOL"), or you were found not guilty, you may be eligible to expunge the records of your arrest much sooner, and sometimes almost immediately, if you have no other convictions on your record;

DUI conviction or supervision orders cannot be expunged, even after successful completion - only a dismissal or finding of not guilty can be expunged when the charge was DUI;

Most felony convictions are ineligible to be expunged from a criminal record unless the probation was under section 410 or 710 first offender probation for certain drug cases in which case you must wait 5 years after termination of the sentence before seeking expungement of the criminal record;

Certain misdemeanor convictions can now be sealed by a process similar to expungement, which closes the record from public viewing unless the Court specifically orders the record opened, or upon arrest for the same or similar offense or a felony. Some convictions like Assault, Battery or Domestic Battery are ineligible;

Certain Felony Drug Possession convictions for smaller amounts and Felony Prostitution convictions are eligible for sealing under certain circumstances;

Unlike expungement, a prior conviction does not necessarily preclude sealing a more recent conviction or supervision.

The Illinois lawyers of Fagan, Fagan & Davis have helped thousands successfully expunge cases from their Illinois criminal record, and may be able to help you. The best way to find out is to contact us for a free consultation.

IMPORTANT: When you contact us regarding expungement or sealing we recommend you have the following information available for any and all arrests, not just the charges you wish to seal or expunge:

a) The case number, county and courthouse or branch court number;

b) The charges you were found guilty of as well as the original charges (if found not guilty or case dismissed, say so);

c) The sentence (supervision, conditional discharge, probation, etc);

d) The date the sentence was terminated;

e) The name of the arresting police department.

f) Any and all other criminal arrests, including those that resulted in conviction, supervision or dismissal.

Please understand that we are located in Cook County, and generally handle petitions to seal or expunge in Cook, Lake and DuPage counties. Practice in other counties may incur additional expense. If you wish to have us research the above information for you, additional expense should be expected.

Contact the Illinois law firm of

FAGAN, FAGAN & DAVIS

a partnership of professional corporations

Attorneys at Law

960 Rand Road, Suite 210

Des Plaines, IL 60016

ph. 847-635-8200

fax 847-635-7257

Contact@MyAttorneysOnline.com

While we certainly try to answer all emails, we highly recommend that you call and speak with our in-office staff who are trained to take detailed information they know will help our attorneys analyze your case. All information you share regarding pending cases is confidential and not shared with any outside party. We do not share client or prospective client contact information with anyone for any reason unless it is for the express purpose of representation in your case.

If you need assistance with Expungement in other states, you can start by visiting the following attorneys who have indicated that they can assist with expungement:

California Expungement Lawyer | Florida Expungement Lawyer | Washington Expungement Lawyer |

If you are an expungement lawyer in a state outside Illinois and wish to be listed here please contact us.

Definitions:

1. Supervision is not a conviction under Illinois. Though a finding of guilty was entered, no judgment of conviction is entered on the finding. To determine whether you were placed on supervision, examine your court sentence documents or contact the clerk of court where you were sentenced.

2. Convictions are judgments entered upon findings of guilty by the court, unlike supervision orders, which are not convictions by operation of law.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this and all pages of our website are intended only to assist in obtaining information about the law firm of Fagan, Fagan & Davis (FFD) and services offered by FFD, and do not constitute an offer of legal representation or agreement to represent, and said information should not be considered legal advice. FFD is a partnership of professional corporations and does not warrant the information contained on any page of this site, as the law constantly changes. FFD does not vouch for the content or trustworthiness of any link provided herein, and does not endorse as trustworthy, reliable or competent any site or information obtained therefrom. Links provided on our website are provided as a courtesy, and not in return for any monetary compensation. Legal advice should be obtained from a qualified attorney after the nature of the legal problem is fully discussed.