How to file for Illinois expungement or sealing petition without a lawyer
Last updated: May 2026
Illinois expungement or sealing petition is governed by 20 ILCS 2630/5.2 (expungement and sealing of adult criminal records) and 410 ILCS 705 (Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act for cannabis-specific automatic expungement). This page walks you through the petition, the forms you'll need, the realistic timeline, and the most common pitfalls — written for petitioners who want to handle the filing themselves.
Not legal advice
ExpungeReady is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The information on this page is general educational content about state expungement and record-sealing procedures. Document-preparation services we link to are not a substitute for legal representation. Eligibility rules vary by state, county, and individual circumstances — small mistakes on a petition can cause the court to deny your request.
If your case involves felony convictions, multiple offenses, immigration consequences, professional licensing, federal records, or any uncertainty about eligibility, consult a licensed attorney in your state before filing.
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DIY DIFFICULTY
2/5
Easy
FILING FEE
Circuit Court filing fee typically $120 plus an Illinois State Police processing fee of $60. Filing-fee waivers are available for petitioners under 400% of the federal poverty line
Is DIY realistic in Illinois?
Illinois is one of the easier states to file pro se. Illinois Legal Aid Online (illinoislegalaid.org) publishes free, fillable, court-approved forms and step-by-step instructions. Cook County operates a dedicated Expungement Help Desk inside the Daley Center, and many other counties offer monthly clinics. Cannabis offenses are subject to automatic expungement under 410 ILCS 705 with no filing required.
Where the petition is filed
Filed in the Circuit Court of the county where the arrest occurred or the case was prosecuted
Realistic timeline: 4–6 months from filing to order, often faster in Cook County
Required forms
- Request to Expunge & Impound and/or Seal Criminal Records (statewide standardized form)
- Notice of Filing
- Proposed Order
- Application for Waiver of Court Fees (if seeking a fee waiver)
You can complete the forms yourself using the templates published by the Illinois courts, or use a legal-forms service that pre-fills them based on your case details (faster, fewer mistakes, but does not provide legal advice).
Documents to gather first
- Certified statement of disposition from the circuit clerk for each case (one per case)
- Illinois State Police criminal-history printout
- Cover sheet identifying every case to be expunged or sealed
- Filing fee plus ISP fee, or fee-waiver application
Pull your own Illinois criminal-history record before you file. The petition has to match the official record exactly; case numbers, arresting agency, and disposition language must all line up. See our Illinois background-check guide for the official self-check process.
Common reasons Illinois petitions get denied
- Listing a case that is not yet eligible — Illinois has waiting periods that vary by offense (immediate for non-convictions; 2–3 years for most sealable misdemeanors)
- Missing one case on the petition — each unlisted case stays on the record
- Failing to serve the State's Attorney, arresting agency, and Illinois State Police
- Confusing expungement (record destroyed) with sealing (record hidden but preserved) — eligibility rules differ
When you should hire a Illinois attorney
Multiple cases across counties, prosecutor objection, felony sealing of more serious offenses (e.g., aggravated battery, certain weapons charges where eligibility is narrow), or immigration-status concerns.
See Illinois expungement attorneys →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer to expunge a record in Illinois?
For a single non-conviction or a clearly sealable misdemeanor in one county, most people can file successfully without a lawyer using the Illinois Legal Aid Online forms. The Cook County Expungement Help Desk (Daley Center) and many county-level legal-aid clinics provide free in-person review of your petition before filing. Multi-case filings, felony sealing, or any case with prosecutor objection benefit from attorney representation.
How long does a Illinois expungement take?
A Illinois expungement or sealing petition petition typically takes 4–6 months from filing to order, often faster in Cook County from filing to final order. After the order is granted, allow another 30–60 days for state and private databases to remove the entry.
How much does it cost to file an expungement in Illinois?
The Illinois expungement or sealing petition filing fee is Circuit Court filing fee typically $120 plus an Illinois State Police processing fee of $60. Filing-fee waivers are available for petitioners under 400% of the federal poverty line. Document-preparation services cost an additional $40–$200; full attorney representation typically runs $800–$3,500.
How do I know if I qualify?
Eligibility depends on the specific offense, the disposition, the waiting period, and your overall criminal history — facts only a licensed attorney in your state can evaluate. Our consultation prep worksheet organizes the same information an attorney will ask about at a consultation.