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When you’re denied employment, financing, or even a place to live because you have a criminal record, you know how tough it can be—but you may be eligible to have your criminal record expunged
For many people, it makes sense to work with a Chicago expungement attorney who can perform a background check and file the appropriate expungement paperwork with the court. (Expungement law can be a little complicated, especially when there are special circumstances, such as when the person with a criminal record is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.)
The first step is determining your eligibility for expungement. Generally, if you have had a conviction, your record can’t be expunged. However, there are some exceptions—and even if you don’t qualify for expungement, you could qualify for criminal record sealing.
(Learn the differences between expungement and sealing here.)
If you’re eligible for either expungement or sealing, your attorney will file the appropriate petitions with the court. That’s true whether you’re in Chicago, Skokie, Rolling Meadows, or another nearby city. There’s a filing fee involved with submitting your petition, which your lawyer will discuss with you prior to filing.
The state’s attorney will have a chance to object to your expungement, but he or she may not choose to do so. If the state’s attorney objects to your expungement, you may be entitled to a hearing. Your lawyer can defend you and speak on your behalf at that hearing.
If the judge approves your expungement, he or she will grant an order saying you’re cleared. The order then needs to be sent to the Illinois State Police and the agency that arrested you. They’ll destroy your records; if your files are sealed, they’ll make them confidential except to a handful of agencies.
If you need to talk to a lawyer about clearing your criminal record, call us right away at 847-920-4540 for a free expungement case review. We’ll give you the legal advice you need to get the fresh start you deserve.
Were you found guilty of a misdemeanor and placed on conditional discharge or sentenced to probation or jail time?
Oftentimes, these cases cannot be expunged, but you may qualify for sealing under certain conditions. Call Attorney Matt Fakhoury to determine your options.
If you’re thinking about joining the military, criminal record expungement might be your main priority – most branches of the U.S. Armed Forces won’t accept people who have significant criminal records. And while there are some crimes you can never expunge, you may be able to clear your record so you can start your military career with a clean slate. Here’s what you need to know.
Military Criminal Record Expungement:If you’re like many people, you’ve thought about having your record expunged or sealed – but you just don’t know where to start. The good news: If you want to clear your criminal record anywhere in Illinois, we can help you.
Introducing DIY Expungement in IllinoisYou don’t have to hire an attorney to clear your criminal record in Chicago, Cook County or any other county in Illinois. You can
If you’re like most people in Chicago, Skokie or Rolling Meadows who have a criminal record – even if it’s just an old arrest that never led to any charges – you want to know if you’re eligible for expungement. Expungement clears your criminal record completely; your records are either destroyed or returned to you, so there’s nothing there for anyone to see.
So how do you know if you’re
