Mt. Vernon Expungement & Record Sealing Lawyers
Clear Your Criminal Record and Get Your Future Back
- Free Expungement Evaluations
- Affordable Fixed-Flat Fees
- Local Mt. Vernon Attorneys, Minutes From the Courthouse
Call Today for a Free Expungement Evaluation (618) 316-7322
Mt. Vernon Expungement & Record Sealing Attorneys
Olson & Reeves is a Mt. Vernon law firm with its main office on Broadway in downtown Mt. Vernon, a few minutes from the Jefferson County Courthouse. We help people across Jefferson County clear old arrests and convictions from their records so a mistake from the past stops costing them work, housing, and peace of mind.
A criminal record follows you. An old arrest that never led to a conviction, a case that was dismissed, or a single conviction from years ago can still show up on a background check and cost you a job, an apartment, a professional license, or your right to own a firearm. Most people do not realize how much stays on their record after a case ends. Illinois law gives you several ways to clear it, and we handle every step for a fixed-flat fee.
If you have been searching for a Mt. Vernon expungement attorney or a record sealing lawyer in Jefferson County, call us for a free expungement evaluation. We will review your full record, tell you plainly what can be cleared and what cannot, and quote a fixed fee before you commit to anything.
Expungement vs. Sealing: What Is the Difference?
Expungement physically destroys or returns your record so no public agency or private background check can see it. Sealing hides the record from public view but keeps it available to law enforcement and certain licensing bodies. Expungement is the cleaner result, but it is available in fewer situations than sealing.
When a court orders an expungement under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, the arresting agency, the Illinois State Police, and the circuit clerk are ordered to destroy or return the records, and your name comes off the public court index. When a record is sealed, the file still exists but is shielded from public view. For most working-age adults, sealing is enough to remove a record as a barrier to a job or a lease.
| Expungement | Sealing | |
|---|---|---|
| Effect on the Record | Destroyed or returned | Hidden from public view |
| Visible to the Public? | No | No |
| Visible to Law Enforcement? | No (limited exceptions) | Yes |
| Available for Convictions? | Rarely (vacated, pardoned, cannabis) | Many misdemeanors and most Class 3 and 4 felonies |
Who Qualifies to Clear a Record in Illinois?
Expungement is generally available when your case did not end in a conviction. That covers arrests where no charges were filed, dismissed cases, acquittals, completed court supervision, completed qualified probation, and vacated or reversed convictions. Certain cannabis convictions qualify under separate authority. Each category carries its own waiting period.
When a conviction is on the record, sealing is usually the right path instead. Many misdemeanor convictions and most Class 3 and Class 4 felony convictions can be sealed after the waiting period runs. We review every entry on your Illinois State Police criminal history and identify which cases can be expunged, which can be sealed, and which cannot be touched. For the full breakdown of every disposition and waiting period, see our Southern Illinois expungement and record sealing hub.
The Illinois Clean Slate Act: What Changed in June 2026
Governor Pritzker signed the Illinois Clean Slate Act (Public Act 104-0459) on January 16, 2026. The first round of changes took effect June 1, 2026 and is now law. A future automated sealing system will eventually seal many records without a petition, but that system is not expected to begin until 2029.
As of June 1, 2026, the sealing waiting period dropped to two years for court supervision, qualified probation, misdemeanor convictions, and municipal ordinance violations. Felony convictions still carry a three-year wait. The law also removed the drug-test requirement for sealing or expunging eligible drug records, dropped the notice requirement to municipal legal officers in many cases, and ended the rule that a later felony conviction blocked sealing an earlier one.
The automated part of the law is the part people misunderstand. The Illinois State Police still has to build the system, a state task force begins meeting in fall 2026, and automatic sealing is not expected to start until 2029, then roll out in stages through the mid-2030s for older records. Waiting on automation can cost you years. If a record is blocking you today, the petition process is still the fastest way to clear it, and we file those petitions now under current law.
Where You File an Expungement in Jefferson County
Expungement and sealing petitions are filed in the county where the arrest happened. For a Jefferson County arrest, that means the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Mt. Vernon, in the Second Judicial Circuit.
If you were arrested by the Mt. Vernon Police Department or the Jefferson County Sheriff, your case records sit with the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk, and that is where the petition goes. The court serves the State’s Attorney, the Illinois State Police, and the arresting agency, and each has 60 days to object. Most clean non-conviction petitions clear that window with no objection. Our office is on Broadway, a short drive from the courthouse, so we file, follow up with the clerk, and appear at any hearing in the courthouse we work in regularly.
If you have records in more than one county, a separate petition is required in each one. We sort that out during the free evaluation so nothing gets missed.
How Much Does an Expungement Cost in Mt. Vernon?
Illinois expungement filing fees vary by county and generally run from about $60 to $235, including the Illinois State Police processing fee. Juvenile expungements have no filing fee. Fee waivers are available for petitioners who meet low-income guidelines. Attorney fees are separate and depend on how many cases are on your record.
At Olson & Reeves, we charge a fixed-flat fee for expungement and sealing work, so you know the full cost before we start, and we offer interest-free payment plans. Court filing fees are paid to the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk. If you cannot afford the filing fee, the court can waive it, and we file that application as part of your petition packet when it fits your situation.
Why Choose Olson & Reeves
This is our home court. Our Mt. Vernon office sits minutes from the Jefferson County Courthouse, and we file expungement and sealing petitions in the Second Judicial Circuit regularly. We know the local clerk’s filing procedures and the steps that move a petition through smoothly. We are also active courtroom litigators, so if a petition draws an objection or a contested hearing, we are not learning the work for the first time.
What sets the firm apart on this practice area:
- Fixed-flat fees. You know the total cost before we begin.
- Free expungement evaluations. A real attorney reviews your record before you commit.
- Direct work with the firm. You deal with the attorney handling your petition, not a referral mill.
- Local court experience. Petitions filed regularly at the Jefferson County Courthouse and across Southern Illinois.
Clearing a conviction often reopens the door to your firearm rights. When a record affected your FOID card, we handle FOID card and gun rights restoration as a related matter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Expungement in Mt. Vernon
Where do I file an expungement petition in Jefferson County?
You file at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Mt. Vernon, with the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk, in the Second Judicial Circuit. The petition is filed in the county where the arrest happened. If your record involves arrests in more than one county, a separate petition has to be filed in each county.
Once the petition is filed and served, the State’s Attorney, the Illinois State Police, and the arresting agency each have 60 days to object. Our office is a short drive from the courthouse, so we handle the filing, follow up with the clerk, and appear at any hearing.
How long does an expungement take in Mt. Vernon?
Most Illinois expungement and sealing petitions take about four to six months from filing to final order. The State’s Attorney, Illinois State Police, and arresting agency each have 60 days from service to object. If no one objects, the judge usually signs the order soon after that window closes.
The exact timeline depends on the Jefferson County court docket and whether any agency objects. A contested petition that needs a hearing takes longer. After the order is signed, the agencies have 60 days to clear the records on their end.
How much does it cost to expunge a record in Jefferson County?
Court filing fees in Illinois generally range from about $60 to $235, including the Illinois State Police fee, and are paid to the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk. Juvenile expungements have no filing fee. If you cannot afford the fee, the court can waive it. Our attorney fee is a separate fixed-flat amount based on your record.
We quote the full fixed fee during the free expungement evaluation and offer interest-free payment plans, so there are no surprises once we start.
Can a felony be cleared from my record in Illinois?
Most felony convictions cannot be expunged, but many can be sealed. Class 3 and Class 4 felony convictions are generally sealable after a three-year wait from the end of your sentence, and some Class 2 felonies qualify too. Expungement of a felony is limited to vacated, pardoned, or certain cannabis cases.
We review every felony entry on your record to decide whether expungement, sealing, or a motion to vacate is the right path. Sealing keeps the conviction out of public background checks even though law enforcement retains access.
What cannot be expunged or sealed in Illinois?
DUI convictions and supervision, reckless driving if you were 25 or older, domestic battery convictions, sex offenses that require registration, violations of orders of protection, and animal cruelty offenses cannot be expunged or sealed in Illinois. Most violent felonies and Class X felonies are also off the table. Minor traffic offenses cannot be expunged.
If your record includes one ineligible offense alongside other cases, that does not automatically block relief on the rest. Each case is evaluated on its own.
How does the Clean Slate Act affect me right now?
As of June 1, 2026, the sealing wait dropped to two years for supervision, qualified probation, misdemeanor convictions, and ordinance violations, with felonies still at three years. The drug-test requirement for sealing eligible drug records is gone. Automatic sealing is a separate future system not expected to begin until 2029.
The automated part of the law gets the headlines, but it will not seal records for years and will not cover everything. If a record is holding you back now, filing a petition under current law is still the fastest and most complete way to clear it.
Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record?
You are not required to hire a lawyer. The Illinois courts publish free statewide expungement and sealing forms. But a lawyer reduces the risk of a denied or delayed petition, especially when your record has multiple cases, qualified probation, or offenses that fall into contested categories.
Most denials we see in self-filed cases come from missing dispositions, miscategorized offenses, or waiting periods that had not yet run. We handle that review on the front end so the petition is filed correctly the first time.
Will a cleared record show up on a background check?
No. After your record is expunged or sealed, it should not appear on private background checks used for jobs, housing, or licensing. Under Illinois law, employers cannot ask about expunged or sealed arrests or convictions, and you can lawfully answer that you were not arrested for that offense in most situations.
Some private database companies are slow to update. If an old record resurfaces, a certified copy of your court order is your proof and can be sent to the reporting company to demand a correction.
Talk to a Mt. Vernon Expungement Lawyer Today
A criminal record does not have to be permanent. If your past is keeping you from a job, an apartment, a license, or your firearm rights, our Mt. Vernon expungement attorneys are ready to help. Call (618) 316-7322 or use the form below to request a free expungement evaluation. We will review your record, tell you what is eligible and what is not, and quote a fixed fee before you commit to anything.
Olson & Reeves — Mt. Vernon Office
Olson & Reeves, Attorneys at Law
1015 Broadway
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
Phone: (618) 316-7322
Our office is on Broadway in downtown Mt. Vernon, minutes from the Jefferson County Courthouse and a short drive from I-57 and I-64. Get driving directions.