Can Landlords See Criminal Records in Illinois?

July 17, 2015
Criminal Records | Housing | Landlords

If you’re looking for a place to live in or around Chicago and you have a rap sheet, you might want to think about having your criminal record expunged or sealed

That’s because landlords are allowed to pull up your criminal background when they’re considering potential renters – and they’re legally allowed to tell you that you can’t rent from them. If you’re applying for Chicago public housing through the Read More

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How Can Employers Use Your Criminal History Against You?

July 3, 2015
Background Checks | Criminal Records | Employment

We’ve all heard of potential employers scouring through social media profiles to find out more about the people they may hire, but what about criminal records? Just how much can a potential employer learn about you – and what can they use against you?

How Can Employers Use Your Criminal History Against You in Illinois?

About 65 million Americans have criminal records, and statistics show that about 92 percent of Read More

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What to Ask Your Chicago Expungement Lawyer

June 19, 2015
Expungement

If you’re like most people who are interested in getting a Chicago criminal record expunged, you might find that it’s easiest to work with an attorney who already knows the ropes and who’s done it successfully for other people.

But where do you even begin?

What to Ask Your Chicago Expungement Lawyer

You can always ask your attorney anything – he’ll be more than happy to use his in-depth knowledge Read More

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What Criminal Records Cannot Be Expunged in Chicago?

June 5, 2015
Convictions | Criminal Records | Expungement

The unfortunate truth is that some crimes cannot be expunged in Chicago or the rest of Illinois.

In order to qualify for expungement in Illinois, your record must meet certain criteria. With that said, there are some crimes that make you ineligible for expungement.

What Criminal Records Cannot Be Expunged in Chicago?

If you have charges pending right now, you can’t have anything expunged. You’ll have to wait until the Read More

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Cook County Expungements: What to Expect

May 22, 2015
Expungement

If you’re like many people with a few blemishes on your criminal record, you could be a good candidate for expungement. Cook County and the state of Illinois have specific procedures in place to help people get a fresh start – but in order to take advantage of what the county and the state have to offer, you first must determine whether you’re eligible for expungement. Most people use our Read More

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When Do You Need a Background Check Lawyer in Chicago?

May 8, 2015
Background Checks

Lots of people conduct background checks; potential employers, landlords and others want to know who you are and what you bring to the table.

Unfortunately, what they find can send them running in the other direction.

Do you know exactly what’s on your criminal record?

When Do You Need a Background Check Lawyer in Chicago?

If you suspect that there might be a few blemishes – or if you know Read More

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Am I Eligible for Expungement in Chicago and Cook County?

April 24, 2015
Uncategorized

If you live in Cook County, you could be eligible to expunge your criminal record and get a fresh start. Imagine: no potential employers finding out that you have a criminal record, landlords refusing to rent to you because you’ve been arrested before…

It’s possible.

But how do you know if you qualify for expungement in Chicago or the rest of Cook County?

Do You Qualify for Expungement in Chicago/Cook Read More
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How to Get Your Criminal Records in Skokie, Schaumburg or Rolling Meadows

April 10, 2015
Records Sealing

If you want to have some or all of your criminal record expunged in Cook County, Illinois, your attorney will need copies of every record that authorities have on file. While your lawyer can conduct a background check for you, you can also get your own records and bring them to your appointment.

Types of Cook County Criminal Records

There are three main types of criminal records:

1. Local arrest Read More

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New Governor, New Pardons: Gov. Bruce Rauner Issues First Two Pardons

April 7, 2015
Pardons

Governor Bruce Rauner (R) issued his first two pardons in the state of Illinois in early April, and there’s still a considerable backlog for him to work his way through. His office rejected 57 out of the 59 clemency requests, and he’s still facing thousands left behind by former Governor Pat Quinn. (Quinn reviewed nearly 5,000 petitions, granting about 1,800 of them and denying the rest.) Read more… Read More

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Cook County Expungement FAQ

March 27, 2015
Expungement

If you’re living in Cook County, the expungement rules are the same as they are in DuPage, Lake and Will Counties; in fact, they’re the same all over Illinois.

But what are those rules? Could you be eligible for expungement, and if you are, how do you go about getting it done?

This quick expungement FAQ should point you in the right direction.

What convictions can be expunged from a Read More

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