How it works in Illinois
These steps cover the court-petition process — the path that applies if you don't qualify for the automatic process.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
Official agencies
Court forms
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