EXPUNCTIONS ATTORNEY IN TEXAS

CLEAR YOUR CRIMINAL RECORD IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY

Having a criminal conviction on your record can negatively affect many aspects of your life throughout your future. Your criminal record is a public record accessible on a background check and can have an adverse impact on career and job opportunities, credit applications, housing applications and professional licenses. Furthermore, even if you have not been convicted of a crime but only arrested or charged, these records are also accessible to potential employers, landlords and others who may seek the information.

One option for clearing your criminal record in Texas is through an expunction. If you are located in Williamson County and would like to find out if you are eligible for this option, I recommend that you contact me, a Georgetown criminal defense attorney who handles a wide range of cases (see about a Georgetown lawyer for traffic tickets), as soon as possible. I offer a free consultation in which you can discuss your situation with me directly to get the legal advice you need.

HOW AN EXPUNCTION WORKS

Under Texas law, an expunction may be permitted in certain circumstances. It involves removing information concerning an arrest from a criminal record. Once the information is expunged from the record, you have the right to deny that the arrest ever took place; any information concerning it is deleted from your record permanently.

In general, you may be eligible for an expunction if you were arrested but never charged; charges were dismissed; or you were acquitted, pardoned, or were the victim of identity theft. Expunctions are sought through a petition to the court. A hearing is then scheduled by the court to determine whether an expunction order may be granted. Those who are not eligible for an expunction may be eligible for an order of non-disclosure. To get specific information about how an expunction might relate to your criminal record, I urge you to consult with me about the particular details of your case.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR CRIMINAL RECORD EXPUNGEMENT

This process usually begins with filing a petition or motion with the court. Then, at a subsequent hearing, the court will decide whether or not your record should be expunged. This is where a criminal defense attorney will help you, and at the hearing various evidence and testimonies will be heard to determine the outcome of your case.

Texas can be especially strict when it comes to the criteria required to get your record expunged. There are very specific circumstances that can lend themself to an expunction. For instance, you may be eligible to have your record expunged if you:

These are some of the circumstances in which you could likely get your record expunged. There will of course be other criteria and evidence that will be considered by the court, and you could possibly be denied an expunction if you don’t meet this criteria prior to the hearing. If you do qualify and meet these requirements, however, you may be approved and your record will be expunged in court. This means that you will be able to deny ever having been arrested once it is cleared from your record.

It’s reasonable that you would like a potentially damaging record to be wiped clean as quickly as possible. However, once you’ve begun the expunction process, you’ll need to wait anywhere between 60-90 days for your record to start to clear up for the purpose of background checks. Records can be sealed fairly quickly, but they can take much longer to be fully destroyed, and many private institutions update their records infrequently. Because of this, it’s best to get the process going as quickly as possible after the arrest happens. Having something damaging on your record can hinder employment, housing, applying for loans, and more. Once you have an experienced lawyer working on your case, however, you can get the expunction process going and work your way towards a clean record once again.

If you believe your specific circumstances may mean you’re eligible to have your criminal record expunged, it’s absolutely worth looking into contacting a Georgetown criminal defense attorney and having them review your case. You’ll want an experienced, knowledgeable attorney on your side who knows the specific Texas requirements and process. When your rights are at risk and you have the possibility of a crime permanently on your record, it’s crucial to examine the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Once you’ve begun the process of expunging your record, you and your lawyer can work on securing a second chance and restoring justice. Once an arrest is wiped from your record, you can go back to your normal life and worry less about bureaucratic and judgemental consequences.