SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: ILLINOIS IDENTITY THEFT EXPUNGEMENT

Your name is Jack Smith, but you’re not THAT Jack Smith, the one who stole your identity and misused a credit card or embezzled from a bank account or got a DUI using a license with your information. Perhaps you were even arrested for those crimes, but were able to prove it wasn’t you. Still, the other guy’s crimes keep showing up on your background check.

What can you do?

Under Illinois law, you can file a Petition for Expedited Judicial Determination of Factual Innocence to clean up your record based on identity theft. You must attach all supporting documentation that demonstrates that someone misused your identity in committing any crimes, and you will likely have to appear at a hearing to answer questions. Once the Petition is granted, the records linking the crime to your identity will be cleared.

While you can file the Petition yourself, an experienced criminal law attorney can help you present the most relevant evidence in its best possible light. If the court is not convinced that you were a victim of identity theft, the judge could deny your petition.

If you have questions about this or another related criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com.

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)