Buffalo Grove Expungement Attorney

Criminal Expungements Lawyer Serving Lake County, IL

The negative consequences of an arrest and prosecution can last far beyond the conclusion of your case. Even if you are never charged, an arrest can have a serious negative impact on your life, including interfering with employment, housing, and education opportunities. Anyone can do a background check on you and discover your criminal record. At The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C., we help individuals avoid these negative consequences by expunging their criminal record. Our Buffalo Grove, IL expungement lawyer can assist you with your record.

Expungement Laws in Illinois

Expungement effectively wipes your criminal record clean. An expungement order requires that law enforcement records and court records pertaining to the arrest in question should be removed. Once your record is expunged, you no longer have to worry that it will appear on any background check.

Expungement laws vary from state to state. In Illinois, you may only have your criminal record expunged if:

• You are arrested but never charged
• The charges against you are dropped or dismissed
• You are found "not guilty" of a crime
• You are sentenced to court supervision for a misdemeanor and successfully complete the terms of your court supervision
• Your conviction is overturned on appeal
• You are pardoned
• You were convicted of a minor qualifying cannabis offense

Depending on the charge, there may be a two- or five-year waiting period before the record can be expunged, and an arrest during that period can make you ineligible. Felony charges and DUI convictions cannot be expunged. Attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt is familiar with all expungement laws in Illinois. Our Lake County IL expungement lawyer can help you determine if you are eligible for expungement and guide you through the process. If you are not eligible for expungement, we may still be able to help you seal your criminal record to prevent it from appearing on consumer background checks.

How Can You Start the Expungement Process in Lake County?

Starting the expungement process begins with obtaining a copy of your criminal history from the Illinois State Police to confirm which cases may be eligible. Not every arrest or conviction qualifies, so this step helps identify exactly which records can be targeted.

Once eligibility is confirmed, a petition must be filed with the circuit court, along with copies sent to the state's attorney, the arresting agency, and the Illinois State Police. These parties have an opportunity to object to the petition. If no objection is filed within the required time, the petition can move forward without a hearing. If an objection is filed, a judge will schedule a hearing to decide whether expungement should be granted.

The process can take several months from filing to a final decision, depending on the county's caseload and whether objections are raised along the way.

What Crimes Can Be Sealed From Your Record in Illinois?

Many types of arrests and convictions can be sealed under Illinois law, though certain serious offenses remain ineligible. Sealing is often available for misdemeanor convictions, many felony convictions, and arrests that did not result in a conviction.

Offenses that generally cannot be sealed include most sex crimes, DUI convictions, and certain domestic violence offenses. Eligibility can also depend on how much time has passed since the case concluded and whether the person has remained free of new convictions.

Our attorney can review your record and explain which arrests or convictions may qualify for sealing under current Illinois law.

Contact a Buffalo Grove, IL Expungement Attorney

A criminal record can leave a long-lasting blemish on your reputation, but it does not always have to last forever. If you are interested in expunging your criminal record, contact our Buffalo Grove, Illinois expungement lawyer or call us at 847-239-4703 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.