Charge 04 / Records
Clearing a criminal record
A charge can follow you for years after the case ends, even a dismissed one. Expungement removes it from public records, so it stops surfacing on background checks for jobs, apartments and loans.
Dismissed charges, charges that ended in diversion, and some convictions can be cleared. What qualifies, and how long you wait, depends on where the case was and what it was for. The rules have widened in many places in recent years, so a record that didn't qualify before may qualify now.
We pull your full record first, from every court, because people often have an old charge they've forgotten. Then we tell you what can be cleared, what can't yet, and when it can.
Most expungements are paperwork and a short hearing, if there's a hearing at all. We file the petition, serve the prosecutor, and send you the signed order when it's granted.
Start to finish
From record to cleared, in four steps
- 01
Step 1: Pull the record
Every court, every charge, including the ones you forgot.
- 02
Step 2: Check eligibility
Charge by charge, with the waiting period for each.
- 03
Step 3: File the petition
With the fees and any certificates the court asks for.
- 04
Step 4: Send the order
To you, and to the agencies that keep copies, so the charge comes off everywhere.
Questions
Clearing an old charge
Will an expunged charge show up on a background check?
Ordinary checks shouldn't show it once it's cleared and the agencies update their files. Some government and licensing checks can still see it.
Do I have to tell employers about an expunged charge?
In most situations, no. There are exceptions, such as some professional licenses, and we'll tell you which apply to you.
My case was dismissed. Isn't it already gone?
No. A dismissal ends the case, but the arrest and the charge stay public until they're expunged.
Find out what can come off your record.
Call us, and we'll pull your record before the first meeting so you get a real answer.