FAQs About Sealing and Expunging Criminal Records

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

Now that many past offenders have had great success with Indiana’s Second Chance Law, you too should strongly consider taking advantage of this opportunity before it is gone forever. If you have a criminal record that you wish could be restricted from public access, then now is the time to look into your eligibility and requirements.

Your best course of action is to discuss your criminal record concerns and goals with a licensed Indianapolis criminal defense attorney who is well-versed in the new expungement laws. You can schedule a free initial consultation to get all the answers you need.

In the meantime, continue reading to review some of the most frequently asked questions about record sealing and expunging in Indiana.

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

What is the Difference Between Expunging Criminal Records and Sealing Criminal Records?

A person can only expunge arrest records that never ended in a conviction. This means arrests that were later dropped, acquitted, or dismissed can be completely expunged from physical and online databases. Although government officials and police can still access these records, just as they can sealed records, the general public cannot ever see them and a person can legally claim to never have been arrested.

If a person was arrested and found guilty, or pleaded guilty, to a charge, then they can only apply to seal their criminal records. This means these records will not be physically destroyed and will still be accessible by police, federal government, the FBI, immigration officers, and other public officials. But when criminal records and arrests are sealed, they are no longer visible on public background check databases or accessible by employers, landlords, and other general public.

Am I Qualified for Criminal Record Expungement?

Not everyone qualified for criminal record expungement. There are several perquisites to be eligible, all of which vary depending on the state, type of charges, amount of time that that has passed, current legal probation stints or pending charges, and much more. Generally, the types of petitioners who can apply includes individuals who were falsely charged, found not guilty, acquitted, had charges dismissed, or not guilty of the charges.

Can Adults Expunge Juvenile Records?

Yes; if you are 18 years or older, but have criminal convictions, arrests, or charges from when you were a minor, you may be able to have these records expunged in Indiana! When you have past arrests, misdemeanors, and low-grade felonies blocked from public access, you can feel more confident about interviewing for that dream job, or applying for a loan, and much more.

How Much Does it Cost to Expunge or Seal Criminal Records?

The cost of criminal expungement in Indiana differs. It all depends on the severity of the conviction, the number of convictions, the location of the convictions, the age of the convictions, and court costs. Fortunately, there are law firms that do not charge a fee for your first consultation. This means you have nothing to lose and only knowledge to gain regarding your eligibility for criminal expungement, if you find the right Indianapolis criminal defense law firm that specializes in expungement services.

How Do I Expunge My Criminal Record in Indiana?

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Call our Indianapolis criminal defense law firm at 317-636-7514 if you would like to petition for restricted access or expunge an arrest from your criminal record in Indiana. We are happy to provide free initial consultations to discuss your case without any out-of-pocket obligations. And our rates start as low as $850! Whether you are looking to seal or expunge a criminal record, we are the criminal lawyers to trust for a hassle-free petitioning process. Take advantage of this opportunity in Indiana, and get your criminal record expunged this year!

How to Find Affordable Criminal Expungement Services in Indiana

If you have heard rumors about the possibility of cleaning up your permanent record, you have heard right. A new law in Indiana that is in currently in affect, often referred to as “Indiana’s Second Chance Law”, allows certain convictions, charges, and arrests to be expunged or restricted from a person’s criminal record. Arrest records, misdemeanors, citations, and even some D Felonies, may all be expunged so long as the petitioner qualifies. Not only must you qualify, you must take action while this new law is still active! Many powerful leaders in Indiana are not supporters of this law, so it may not last much longer.

Learn how to get started on your try at criminal record expungement and record sealing.

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

How to Find Dependable Expungement Assistance

Before taking your first step in the criminal expungement application process, it is helpful to obtain a copy of your criminal records. The best way to do this is to contact the local sheriff or clerk’s office in the county of your offense. They should be able to provide a records you need. If you have offenses in more than one county, it would be most efficient to have your expungement lawyer recover these documents for you. They have resources that make locating multiple crime records, easier.

Hire a Reputable Criminal Lawyer

Your first step in filing a petition for criminal record expungement is finding a reputable Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer who is well-versed in the Indiana Second Chance laws. The expungement petitioning process is highly complex, complicated, and strict; just one simple spelling error can eliminate your opportunity at expunging your criminal records, forever. You can only apply once in your entire life. Furthermore, you may not qualify for expungement, but still qualify for record sealing and more. They can tell you this information and more, which is why you must discuss your eligibility first, before spending any time or money filing a petition.

How to Qualify for Expungement

There are several stipulations and prerequisites that prohibit certain people from expunging their criminal records. In order to understand your qualification, contact one of their licensed and certified lawyers for expungement eligibility information in your county. Their attorneys are highly skilled and practiced litigators that offer all first consultations for free; so long as the client is qualified for expungement.

The Cost of an Expungement Petition

The total cost of expunging or sealing your arrest records will depend on a variety of factors, primarily your lawyer’s rate, plus the type of record you wish to expunge. For instance, if you do not have a conviction on your criminal record, and you were only arrested but never criminally-charged, you won’t have to pay anything to file. The filing fee for someone expunging an arrest is free. Now on the other hand, if you are seeking to expunge a conviction, then your filing fee is NOT free.

Current Indiana Expungement Filing Fee for Conviction: $161.00
Current Indiana Expungement Filing Fee for Non-Conviction: $0

You could face additional court fees as well, depending on the severity of your criminal charges and the complexity of your criminal history. Such fees could include administration fees, document storage fees, philanthropic donation fees, insurance fees, automated record keeping fees, and more.

Where to Get Started With Your Expungement

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Call 317-636-7514 if you have a criminal record in Indiana. Our law firm is well-versed in the Indiana criminal record expungement laws, and charges as low as $850 for our services. Whether you are looking to seal or expunge a criminal record, we are the criminal lawyers to trust for a hassle-free petitioning process. Call 317-636-7514 to learn more, today.