how do i choose an expungement lawyer

Always ask these questions:

• Call and ask to speak to a licensed attorney.
• Ask for the state bar number and verify it on the state bar’s web site. Make sure the name and phone number match where you are calling.
• Ask for a money back guarantee. Most attorneys who specialize in record clearing will give a money back guarantee for most services.
• Ask for a quote. Attorneys who specialize in record clearing should know the cost of the case. Make sure there are no hidden fees.
• Ask how many cases like yours have they handled and how many were successful.

Full Answer

How do I find a good expungement attorney?

The Lead Counsel logo next to a law office or expungement attorney listing can also help with your search. This logo indicates that an attorney has been verified to have experience in their field of practice, is in good standing with the state entity that governs attorney licenses, and has a clean disciplinary record.

How much does an expungement lawyer cost?

Expungement lawyers will often charge a flat fee of $300 to $750 dollars to help you with your expungement proceedings. If the case goes to appeal and the expungement lawyer is required to litigate on your behalf then he may charge an hourly fee for that time over and above the services incorporated in the flat fee.

Do I need an expungement lawyer for a juvenile record?

However, when your criminal violation as a juvenile was serious you may need an expungement lawyer to help in arguing for the expungement. Expungement lawyers will be necessary when the crime involves a felony. Some crimes are not able to be expunged at all.

How does expungement law work?

In these situations, expungement law can remove the record of your arrest, investigation of the crime, court record, or other type of criminal record so that it will not appear when your background is checked for a job application or when you enroll in school. Can Criminal Records Be Automatically Expunged?

How much does it cost to have your record expunged if you use an attorney in NJ?

Filing Fees: The New Jersey Superior Courts currently charge $75 to file for an expungement. Lawyer's Fees: Every expungement case is different. Some cases may only take a few hours of work, while others might require multiple court appearances.

How do you get your record expunged in Georgia?

The process to restrict your records depends on the date of your arrest and which agency or prosecuting attorney processed your case....File Request to Expunge a Criminal RecordGet Prepared. ... Gather What You'll Need. ... Apply to Restrict Your Criminal Record. ... Restrict Your Records. ... Next Steps.

How do you get your record expunged in Texas?

There are different ways to become eligible for expungement in Texas, but they usually require you to have your case dismissed or to be acquitted (found “Not Guilty”) by a jury. Expunctions can be granted soon after a case ends or even months or years later.

How do you get a misdemeanor expunged in Michigan?

Fill out an application and obtain a certified order of conviction from the court where you were convicted. You also need to get fingerprinted and purchase a $50 money order for Michigan State Police.

What felonies Cannot be expunged in Georgia?

What charges do not qualify?Sex crimes against children / by people with supervisory authority.Pimping and pandering.Crimes against minors.Sexual battery.Peeping tom crimes.Family violence battery convictions (unless the offender was under 21)Child molestation.Public indecency.More items...•

How long does expungement take in Georgia?

150 daysThe process can take up to 150 days and is as follows: Contact the arresting law enforcement agency for the requirements to restrict a record.

Can I file for expungement without a lawyer in Texas?

Most people can file and successfully process their own Texas expungement forms without the assistance of a lawyer. All you need is the proper forms and easy step-by-step instructions to complete your Texas expungement.

How much does expungement cost in Texas?

How Much Will It Cost to Expunge My Criminal Record in Texas? As a general rule, it costs more to expunge a felony than a misdemeanor. The expungement of a felony will customarily cost a minimum of $1,000, but may cost upwards of $2,500 or even more. Misdemeanors can usually be expunged for $1,000 or less.

What Cannot be expunged in Texas?

Crimes That Cannot Be Expunged in Texas Capital Murder. Indecency with a Child. Aggravated Kidnapping. Aggravated Sexual Assault.

What is the new expungement law in Michigan?

Answer: The new law expands eligibility to petition for an expungement in several ways, and creates a new process that will automatically seal certain non-violent conviction records if a person has remained conviction-free for a period of time (seven years for misdemeanors, 10 years for felonies).

What crimes Cannot be expunged in Michigan?

What kinds of convictions are not eligible to be expunged?All offenses punishable by life imprisonment.Assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct.Child sexually abusive material or activity offenses.Felony domestic violence if the person has a previous misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence.More items...•

How long does the expungement process take in Michigan?

The waiting period will be three years for misdemeanors, five years for serious misdemeanors or one felony, and seven years for multiple felonies.

What Is An Expungement Lawyer?

An expungement lawyer is a legal professional that specializes in expunging your criminal record. If you have been charged with a crime and the charges were dropped or the case was won, then expunging your records can help to clear any negative blemishes on your character and give you back control over who has access to them.

What Type of Criminal Charges Can Be Expunged?

An expungement lawyer could help you clear past criminal charges from your record, including:

Who Can Benefit From Hiring An Expungement Lawyer?

If you have been wrongly charged with a crime and the charges were dropped, expungement lawyers can help you to expunge your records. Expunging past criminal convictions helps those who were convicted move forward from their mistakes and start fresh after completing their sentence or being exonerated of all wrongdoing.

When Should You Contact An Expungement Lawyer?

If you have been cleared of all wrongdoing, expunging your records is the best way to clear any lingering blemishes on your record. If expungement is not possible due to extenuating circumstances (such as a prior felony conviction), then sealing criminal records could be beneficial for you in this situation.

Expunging Your Criminal Records

There may be some restrictions on expunging certain charges depending on state laws regarding expungements of felony convictions or misdemeanor charges.

What Are The Benefits Of Using An Expungement Lawyer?

Filing for expungement yourself may seem straightforward. However, there could be many different factors at play depending on the state laws where the conviction occurred and if this particular charge was charged as a felony or misdemeanor.

Limitations Of Expungement Lawyers

Expunging past convictions is possible for those who were convicted of misdemeanors in most states. However, expunging felony charges can be much more difficult depending on the state laws where the conviction occurred.

How to get a conviction expunged?

While each state may differ when it comes to the qualifications and requirements for expungement, eligibility for expungement will typically involve the following: 1 Application for expungement in writing with the court where the conviction happened; 2 The original sentence must be completed served and finished; and/or 3 The applicant is not facing any new or additional criminal charges.

What is expungement in criminal justice?

What is Expungement? Expungement is a process by which a person's criminal records are treated as if they no longer exist. Each state has different options and limits regarding expungement, but all states permit some form of expungement or record sealing for juvenile offenses.

What are the most likely crimes to be expunged?

Usually, less serious felonies like non-violent crimes (such as possession of drugs) are more likely to be eligible for expungement.

What is the burden of expunging a sentence?

The burden is generally on the person applying for expungement to show that their probation or other requirements have been completed.

What does it mean when a criminal record is expunged?

When a criminal record is expunged, it is treated as if the charges never exist, and they are no longer associated at all with that person's criminal history. It generally means that the charges have "disappeared" from the court system.

Can felonies be expunged?

Lastly, federal convictions for felonies generally cannot be expunged.

Can misdemeanors be expunged?

Misdemeanor crimes are typically defined as less serious crimes that are punishable by a sentence of less than a year in a county jail (not a prison facility), and/or some monetary fines. Generally speaking, most misdemeanors can be expunged from a person’s record.

How to get a criminal record expunged?

Each state has different rules about what must happen before the expunging of a criminal record can proceed. Generally, the requirements include things such as: 1 The minimum length of time since the event (such as an arrest for a crime) has passed. 2 A person has maintained a clean criminal record and has not had any other arrests or convictions since that time, except for minor traffic violations. 3 The criminal proceedings against the person were not filed or they were dismissed. 4 The accused person was acquitted at trial.

What can be expunged?

These items can be spread far and wide, and include things such as a court record, arrest record, criminal charge document, court order, or other type of criminal record; no matter where they were located, an expungement can address them and help you to keep those items from harming your future.

What is expungement law?

Expungement law in the various states can be different, and what is included in expungement does have certain limits , so hiring an attorney to handle an expungement is valuable . Properly done by a qualified attorney, an expungement may help a person start a new life and move forward without a criminal record following them around.

What is expungement in criminal history?

Expungement is a process where a person can have official records in their criminal history effectively cleared of certain events so the general public cannot find those events when they search for a criminal history record. Although the expunged record may be available to certain law enforcement agencies and other government entities, ...

What does the attorney logo mean?

This logo indicates that an attorney has been verified to have experience in their field of practice, is in good standing with the state entity that governs attorney licenses, and has a clean disciplinary record.

What are the requirements for a criminal record?

Generally, the requirements include things such as: The minimum length of time since the event (such as an arrest for a crime) has passed. A person has maintained a clean criminal record and has not had any other arrests or convictions since that time , except for minor traffic violations.

Can a felony conviction be expunged?

While records stemming from a misdemeanor conviction or arrest can often be sealed, a record of a felony offense, felony charge, or other type of more serious conviction record may not be eligible for expungement. The eligibility rules for felony expungement are different in each state, so a local attorney can help you understand whether ...