Guide
Illinois Expungement Research Resources
Illinois circuit courts expunge or seal records under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, and you petition the court of your sentencing county on statewide forms. The official Illinois sources are listed below.
- Illinois Courts, Expungement and Sealing FormsStatewide standardized forms for circuit court petitions
- Office of the State Appellate Defender, Expungement and SealingOverview and worksheets to see if you qualify
- Illinois State Police, Bureau of Identification FAQsHow the state police handle expungement and sealing
- 20 ILCS 2630/5.2Criminal Identification Act section on expungement and sealing
This directory is for informational and research use only. Expungement eligibility, waiting periods, filing fees, notice rules, and the effect on background checks can differ significantly depending on the state, offense level, case outcome, and later law changes.
Guide
Sealing a divorce or civil file in Illinois
Illinois has no statute or Supreme Court rule that closes divorce files. What the Supreme Court has done is limit the screen: the Remote Access Policy, in its revision effective July 1, 2026, allows the general public to view documents remotely only in arbitration, eminent domain, law, law magistrate, municipal corporation and tax case types, and makes dissolution and family case documents available remotely only to the parties and Illinois licensed attorneys, while stating that access to court records at the courthouse is governed by court order, rule or law and is not changed by the policy. The policy groups expunged, impounded, confidential, sealed and otherwise secured records as restricted.
Sealing or impounding a document or a file is by motion and court order in the circuit court. Local rules add automatic protection for the money documents in some circuits: the 17th Judicial Circuit's Rule 14.02, amended September 4, 2018, provides that financial affidavits and any supporting documentation shall be accepted by the Office of the Circuit Clerk and be filed as impounded documents, while Cook County's Rule 13.3.1(d) keeps the affidavit out of the file altogether unless the court orders it filed. The policy is at illinoiscourts.gov and the 17th Circuit rule at 17thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov.
Guide
Research Notes
- Start with the court and the originating agency. Expungement or sealing requests are often handled through the court that heard the case, sometimes with supporting records from police, prosecutors, or corrections agencies.
- Terminology differs by state. Some jurisdictions use terms such as sealing, set-aside, vacatur, dismissal relief, or nondisclosure instead of expungement.
- Verify current law. Eligibility rules can change through legislation or court decisions, so always confirm the current process before relying on older instructions or third-party summaries.
- Understand downstream effects. Even after record relief, treatment of court, police, private-background check, and federal records may differ depending on the system involved.
By state