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Clear your Illinois record DIY

You can clear your Illinois record. Illinois law lets you petition to expunge arrest records and seal certain conviction records under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2. The process uses a petition filed with the court that handled the case, and certain matters require a court hearing. Illinois enacted HB1836 (Public Act 104) extending automatic sealing to millions of records starting in January 2029; until that automatic process takes effect, the petition path described below remains the operative route.

Expeal Ranking

Illinois's Expeal ranking is 10 out of 15, or a B-. This is the average of five metric scores across four case types.

Metric Misdemeanor — Arrest Misdemeanor — Conviction Felony — Arrest Felony — Conviction
Clean Slate 2 2 2 2
Expeal 2 2 2 2
Tasks 2 2 2 2
Wait 3 1 3 1
Cost 2 2 2 2
Total 11 9 11 9

The metrics are defined as follows:

  • Clean Slate: 3 if implemented; 2 if proposed or in the process of being implemented; 1 if being discussed; 0 if nothing.
  • Expeal: 3 if records are erased or destroyed; 2 if records are hidden but still exist; 1 if records are given a notation or some other form of reduction; 0 if nothing or if the process requires a pardon or similar prerequisite.
  • Tasks: 3 if application alone or automatic; 2 if straightforward court or administrative engagement is required; 1 if administrative engagement is required before straightforward court; 0 if convincing the court is required.
  • Wait: 3 if immediate to 1 year; 2 if 1 to 3 years; 1 if 3 to 5 years; 0 if more than 5 years or an intermediate step is required before the clock starts.
  • Cost: 3 if under $50; 2 if $50.01 to $250; 1 if $250.01 to $500; 0 if more than $500.

Governing statutes

Fees

Fee Amount Source
Filing fee $152.00 Reference
Fingerprint fee $50.00 Reference
Certified copy fee $16.00 Reference
Record request fee $15.00 Reference

Step-by-step process

Below are the five phases that take you through the Expeal process in Illinois if you don't qualify for the automatic process.

If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.

Phase 1: Verifying you Qualify

  1. Step 1: Get Fingerprinted. Visit your local police or sheriff's station and have your fingerprints taken. Illinois requires a LiveScan fingerprint record for the criminal-history record request — confirm with the provider that the LiveScan format is supported before submitting.

    Cost: $50.00

  2. Step 2: Request your Record. Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Illinois State Police, Bureau of Identification.

    Cost: $15.00

  3. Step 3: Review your Record. Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.

Phase 2: Collecting your Documents

  1. Step 4: Request Certified Documents. Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements. Illinois certified-copy fees are set by each agency, so the amount you pay depends on which clerk or department issues the copy — the figure cited here is the Chicago Police schedule as a baseline.

    Cost: $16.00

  2. Step 5: Verify the Final Documents. Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.

Phase 3: Completing the Petition

  1. Step 6: Prepare your Petition. Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. Note the timing restrictions under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2: certain convictions require two years to pass from sentence completion before sealing is available, and others require five years.

  2. Step 7: Finalize your Petition. Take the completed petition from Step 6, the documents collected in Step 4, and the background check from Step 2, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.

Phase 4: Final Steps

  1. Step 8: File your Expeal Request. File the petition with the court that handled the case. Illinois circuit-clerk filing fees vary by county, so the amount you pay depends on where your case was originally heard — the figure cited here is the Lake County Circuit Clerk schedule as a baseline.

    Cost: $152.00

  2. Step 9: Work with the Court. After the court confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a hearing date (often required when the State's Attorney or another party objects to the petition under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2) or a request for additional information. Respond promptly to anything the court asks for.

Phase 5: Confirming Your Record is Cleared

  1. Step 10: Receive the Court's Order. Once the court rules on your petition, it issues a written order either granting or denying the expungement or sealing. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out which records are covered and which agencies must act on it. Keep a certified copy for your own files.

  2. Step 11: Verify the Record Update. Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, the Illinois State Police updates the criminal-history record covered by the order, and each agency named in the order — the arresting agency, the prosecuting authority, and any other listed recipient — updates its own records to match. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the court's order is your authoritative reference. Confirm with the original arresting agency that its records reflect the order as well.

Official government links

The following pages are important to be familiar with as you work through the expungement process:

Forms

The following links lead to official forms required for the expungement process:

Common questions

Is this legal advice?

No. Expeal provides plain-language educational content and tools with direct citations to your state's statutes — not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

Why is this free?

The state-by-state guides — statutes, fees, steps, sources — are free for everyone. Expeal's revenue model is the optional DIY+ guided product available in select states, which funds the public-benefit educational content.