Cook County Expungement & Sealing Attorneys

Filing in Cook County

Petitions to expunge or seal under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2 are filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Criminal Division (for felonies) or in the appropriate Municipal District (for misdemeanors). The court accepts the standardized statewide form. Filing fees, the ISP processing fee, and fee-waiver options are the same as in other Illinois counties.

The Expungement Help Desk

The Cook County Expungement Help Desk operates inside the Daley Center and provides free assistance with form completion, record review, and basic eligibility screening. It is not a substitute for an attorney for complex cases but is an excellent resource for straightforward single-case filings. Hours and current scheduling are posted on the Circuit Court of Cook County website.

When you should hire a Cook County attorney

Hire an attorney if your case involves: multiple cases across counties, felony sealing of more serious offenses, prosecutor objection, immigration-status concerns, or a record-correction issue (e.g., the Illinois State Police database still shows a case the court ordered expunged). ExpungeReady lists licensed Cook County attorneys for informational purposes only; we do not endorse any attorney and do not collect referral fees.

How to file expungement or sealing in Cook County

1. Determine expungement vs. sealing eligibility. Review your case disposition. Dismissals, acquittals, and no-charges typically qualify for expungement. Convictions may qualify for sealing if they meet the offense and waiting-period requirements under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2.
2. Request ISP criminal history. Obtain your Illinois State Police criminal-history printout at isp.illinois.gov/CriminalHistory to identify all cases and verify eligibility.
3. Visit Cook County Expungement Help Desk. For straightforward single-case filings, visit the Help Desk at the Daley Center (50 W Washington St, Chicago) for free form review and eligibility screening. Bring your ISP printout and court records.
4. Obtain certified court records. Request certified copies of the judgment, disposition, and sentence completion documents from the Cook County Circuit Court clerk.
5. File petition in Circuit Court. File the Petition to Expunge or Petition to Seal in the Criminal Division (felonies) or Municipal District (misdemeanors). Filing fee is typically $120.
6. Serve Cook County State's Attorney. The petition must be served on the Cook County State's Attorney, Illinois State Police, and the arresting agency (typically Chicago Police Department or a suburban department).
7. Pay ISP processing fee. Submit the $60 Illinois State Police processing fee. Fee waivers are available for petitioners under 400% of the federal poverty line.
8. Wait for State's Attorney review. The Cook County State's Attorney reviews the petition and can object if eligibility requirements are not met. Most eligible cases proceed without objection.
9. Attend hearing if required. If the State's Attorney objects or the court requires a hearing, your attorney (or you, if pro se) presents evidence that you meet all statutory requirements.
10. Receive expungement or sealing order. Once the judge signs the order, certified copies are sent to ISP, the arresting agency, and all record-holding entities. Records are expunged (destroyed) or sealed (hidden from public access).

Statutes cited

• Illinois Criminal Identification Act § 5.2 (Expungement and sealing) — 20 ILCS 2630/5.2
• Cook County Circuit Court - Expungement Help Desk — Resource

Frequently asked questions

Find an expungement attorney in Illinois

Browse verified attorneys in Illinois who handle cook county expungement cases. Every listing is built from Illinois State Bar public records.