Can I expunge a conviction in Illinois?

Illinois expungement is generally available only for non-conviction records - arrests without conviction, dismissed charges, acquittals, and completed supervision sentences. Most actual convictions cannot be expunged but may qualify for sealing, which restricts public access without destroying records. Certain cannabis convictions are eligible for automatic expungement under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. A few specific conviction types have been made expungeable through targeted legislation, but these are the exception rather than the rule.

What records can be sealed vs. expunged in Illinois?

Expungement under 20 ILCS 2630 applies to non-conviction records: arrests, dismissals, acquittals, and completed supervision. Sealing applies to certain conviction records - most misdemeanors after a 2-year wait, and many Class 3 and Class 4 felonies after a 3-year wait. Crimes that cannot be sealed include: crimes of violence, sex offenses, domestic battery, driving under the influence, stalking, and offenses against children. The Illinois State Police maintains the definitive list of sealable and expungeable offenses.

How do I remove my case from the Cook County court portal?

After expungement or sealing, contact the Criminal Division of the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court (cookcountyclerkofcourt.org) with a certified copy of your expungement or sealing order and request that the case be restricted from public access. The Clerk's office should update the portal, but the timeline varies. Third-party sites that previously scraped Cook County data must be addressed separately - the portal update does not automatically remove data those sites already cached.

Does Illinois sealing remove records from Google?

No. Illinois sealing restricts your record in the Illinois State Police database and, eventually, the court clerk's public portal - but it does not notify Google, CourtListener, Justia, or data broker sites. Each platform must be contacted separately with documented proof of your sealing or expungement order. After source pages have been removed or restricted, a Google Personal Information Removal Tool request can accelerate de-indexing of remaining search result URLs.

How long does Illinois expungement take?

Illinois expungement petitions are filed with the circuit court clerk in the county of arrest. After filing, the State's Attorney and law enforcement agencies have 60 days to object. If no objection is filed, the petition may be granted without a hearing. If an objection is filed, a hearing is scheduled. Total timeline: 3 to 5 months in most counties, though Cook County can take longer given filing volume. The court then serves the Illinois State Police and other agencies, who must comply within a statutory period - plan for 30 to 60 additional days for all agencies to process the order.

Can employers see expunged or sealed records in Illinois?

After an Illinois expungement, most employers conducting standard background checks cannot access the expunged record. After sealing, private employers are generally prohibited from seeing sealed records - but certain licensed professions (healthcare, education, law enforcement), state licensing boards, and federal employers may still access sealed records in specific circumstances. Under Illinois law, individuals may legally state they have no criminal conviction for sealed records in most employment contexts. Consult an Illinois attorney to confirm your specific disclosure obligations.

How much does Illinois expungement or sealing cost?

Illinois court filing fees for expungement or sealing petitions typically range from $60 to $120 depending on the county (Cook County has its own fee schedule). Attorney fees typically range from $800 to $2,500 for uncontested petitions, more for complex or multi-county cases. The Illinois State Police criminal history record request costs approximately $16. Fee waivers may be available for low-income petitioners. Online record removal is a separate service - look for results-based pricing where you only pay after confirmed removal.

Are Illinois court records public?

Yes. Illinois court records are presumptively public under the Illinois Supreme Court's access policies. The Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court portal (cookcountyclerkofcourt.org) provides free public access to case information across the state's largest jurisdiction. Records are restricted from public access only after a court grants an expungement or sealing order and the clerk updates their system. See illinoiscourts.gov for current access policies.

Does expungement remove my records from the internet?

No - expungement is a court order that seals your record from government databases, but it does not automatically notify or update third-party websites, background check companies, or legal databases like Justia, UniCourt, or Spokeo. You must pursue online removal separately after obtaining your expungement. This is a critical distinction most attorneys do not explain upfront.

Can employers see expunged records?

In most states, private employers cannot access expunged records through standard background checks. However, certain licensed professions (healthcare, law, education, finance) and federal government positions may still require disclosure. The rules vary significantly by state and by type of employer, so consult a local attorney to understand your specific obligations.

How long does expungement take?

The expungement process typically takes 3 to 12 months depending on your state, the court's caseload, and whether the prosecutor objects. Some states have expedited processes for certain offense types. After the court grants the order, you should allow an additional 30 to 90 days for government databases to update - and online third-party sites may never update without a separate removal request.

What is the cost of expungement?

Expungement costs range from $150 to $400 in court filing fees, plus attorney fees of $1,000 to $3,500 depending on complexity. Some states offer fee waivers for low-income applicants. After expungement, online record removal is a separate service that operates on a results-only basis - you only pay after the records are confirmed removed.

Can I expunge a conviction in Illinois? +

Illinois expungement is generally available only for non-conviction records - arrests without conviction, dismissed charges, acquittals, and completed supervision sentences. Most actual convictions cannot be expunged but may qualify for sealing, which restricts public access without destroying records. Certain cannabis convictions are eligible for automatic expungement under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. A few specific conviction types have been made expungeable through targeted legislation, but these are the exception rather than the rule.

What records can be sealed vs. expunged in Illinois? +

Expungement under 20 ILCS 2630 applies to non-conviction records: arrests, dismissals, acquittals, and completed supervision. Sealing applies to certain conviction records - most misdemeanors after a 2-year wait, and many Class 3 and Class 4 felonies after a 3-year wait. Crimes that cannot be sealed include: crimes of violence, sex offenses, domestic battery, driving under the influence, stalking, and offenses against children. The Illinois State Police maintains the definitive list of sealable and expungeable offenses.

How do I remove my case from the Cook County court portal? +

After expungement or sealing, contact the Criminal Division of the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court (cookcountyclerkofcourt.org) with a certified copy of your expungement or sealing order and request that the case be restricted from public access. The Clerk's office should update the portal, but the timeline varies. Third-party sites that previously scraped Cook County data must be addressed separately - the portal update does not automatically remove data those sites already cached.

Does Illinois sealing remove records from Google? +

No. Illinois sealing restricts your record in the Illinois State Police database and, eventually, the court clerk's public portal - but it does not notify Google, CourtListener, Justia, or data broker sites. Each platform must be contacted separately with documented proof of your sealing or expungement order. After source pages have been removed or restricted, a Google Personal Information Removal Tool request can accelerate de-indexing of remaining search result URLs.

How long does Illinois expungement take? +

Illinois expungement petitions are filed with the circuit court clerk in the county of arrest. After filing, the State's Attorney and law enforcement agencies have 60 days to object. If no objection is filed, the petition may be granted without a hearing. If an objection is filed, a hearing is scheduled. Total timeline: 3 to 5 months in most counties, though Cook County can take longer given filing volume. The court then serves the Illinois State Police and other agencies, who must comply within a statutory period - plan for 30 to 60 additional days for all agencies to process the order.

Can employers see expunged or sealed records in Illinois? +

After an Illinois expungement, most employers conducting standard background checks cannot access the expunged record. After sealing, private employers are generally prohibited from seeing sealed records - but certain licensed professions (healthcare, education, law enforcement), state licensing boards, and federal employers may still access sealed records in specific circumstances. Under Illinois law, individuals may legally state they have no criminal conviction for sealed records in most employment contexts. Consult an Illinois attorney to confirm your specific disclosure obligations.

How much does Illinois expungement or sealing cost? +

Illinois court filing fees for expungement or sealing petitions typically range from $60 to $120 depending on the county (Cook County has its own fee schedule). Attorney fees typically range from $800 to $2,500 for uncontested petitions, more for complex or multi-county cases. The Illinois State Police criminal history record request costs approximately $16. Fee waivers may be available for low-income petitioners. Online record removal is a separate service - look for results-based pricing where you only pay after confirmed removal.

Are Illinois court records public? +

Yes. Illinois court records are presumptively public under the Illinois Supreme Court's access policies. The Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court portal (cookcountyclerkofcourt.org) provides free public access to case information across the state's largest jurisdiction. Records are restricted from public access only after a court grants an expungement or sealing order and the clerk updates their system. See illinoiscourts.gov for current access policies.

Illinois State Guide · 2026

Illinois Expungement, Sealing & Court Record Removal

Illinois offers a relatively accessible framework for expunging and sealing criminal records compared to many other states - particularly through the Illinois Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630), which has been expanded several times through Smart Justice legislation. Expungement in Illinois applies primarily to non-conviction records (arrests, dismissals, acquittals, and completed supervision sentences), while sealing covers a broader range including certain conviction records after waiting periods. But as in every other state, obtaining legal relief in Illinois is only the beginning. The Cook County Clerk of Court portal, county-level public case searches, CourtListener, Justia, and data broker sites all hold independently indexed copies of your records that are entirely unaffected by expungement or sealing orders unless you take direct action on each platform.

By Anthony Will Est. 2013 Published May 27, 2026 Published May 27, 2026 Read time: 17 min

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Illinois Expungement, Sealing & Court Record Removal

Can your Illinois court record be removed from Google?Find out — free.

Can your Illinois court record be removed from Google?
Find out — free.