Do you need a lawyer to get your criminal record expunged?

You may not need an expungement lawyer to get a criminal conviction expunged or sealed. The matter involves mostly paperwork. You will need to file an application with the court to have your criminal record expunged and pay a small fee somewhere around $100.

When do you need an expungement lawyer for a juvenile?

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 much does it cost to get an expungement lawyer?

If you’re criminal conviction occurred when you were a juvenile then the cost of an expungement lawyer will be less expensive than if your criminal conviction occurred when you were an adult or if it involved a serious felony. Expungement lawyers will often charge a flat fee of $300 to $750 dollars to help you with your expungement proceedings.

What makes a person eligible for an expungement?

In general, relatively low-level criminal offenses qualify, as do first-time offenders; and an absence of subsequent criminal activity is frequently a requirement. Many states also allow expungement of arrests and court proceedings in which the defendant prevailed.

How much does it cost to expunge a criminal record?

For most, to expunge a single record, the costs can range anywhere from $500 to $1,300 in legal fees but can easily be as much as $5,000+ in the case of multiple records and for those who live in a high cost of living area. This would not include the court fees, which we get into next.

What is expungement law?

In the common law legal system, an expungement proceeding is a type of lawsuit in which a first time offender of a prior criminal conviction seeks that the records of that earlier process be sealed, making the records unavailable through the state or Federal repositories. If successful, the records are said to be “expunged”.

Who can view my record after it has been expunged?

Generally speaking, the only types of employers who can access expunged records are law enforcement agencies, corrections departments, and employers in the judicial branch such as criminal courts of law. For example, if you were applying to become a police officer or correctional officer,…

How do you clear your criminal record?

Get a Certificate of Rehabilitation. In some states, you can get a Certificate of Rehabilitation to clear up your criminal record. This is a court order declaring that you have been rehabilitated. A certificate of rehabilitation restores certain rights forfeited because of a criminal conviction.