Expungement or Record Sealing: Which Do I Qualify For?

If you are taking the steps to clean up your public criminal record, you already know that the very first step is learning whether or not you qualify. In addition to determining if you are eligible, you must also determine what you are eligible for. That is because there are two primary kinds of criminal record clean up. A person can either have criminal records expunged, or they can have them sealed. The difference between the two are significant to your process, so be sure you understand the requisites for both.

Continue reading to learn more about criminal record expungement and sealing, including how to get started on your petition.

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

Record Sealing

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 the police, federal government, FBI, immigration, and all other public officials. However, when criminal records are sealed, they are no longer visible on public background check databases or accessible by employers, landlords, and other general public.

Criminal Record Expungement

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.

Determine Your Eligibility TODAY

Even though you can understand the difference between criminal record expungement and sealing, you cannot know which one you qualify for, for sure; not until you meet with a licensed Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer who is well-versed in the Indiana criminal record expungement and sealing laws and procedures.

The process of petitioning for criminal record expungement is intensive and challenging. It requires professional legal assistance, no matter how confident you are that you can do it on your own. Individuals can only petition for expungement and record sealing once in their life, and a small error, like a misspelled name or missed deadline, can revoke your chances forever.

Expunge Indiana Criminal Records

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Call 317-636-7514 to expunge criminal records in Indiana. We offer criminal record expungement services starting as low as $850! As a seasoned criminal defense law firm, we are well-versed in the new Indiana expungement laws, and know exactly how to file and obtain a legal expungement, successfully. Call our office at 317-636-7514 and schedule a free initial consultation to determine your eligibility, today.

Here’s a Fun Acronym to Help Clear Your Arrest Records!

A new law regarding criminal record expungement has recently been passed in Indiana. This means certain people now qualify to have their criminal records eliminated from public records. It is Indiana’s first comprehensive criminal record expungement law. This is a significant opportunity that will open numerous doors for anyone previously arrested, charged, or convicted of misdemeanor and felony infractions. Peace of mind, employment opportunities, housing options, loans, and a clean record are just a few examples of how the new expungement law can help people with criminal records. Below is a fun acronym that will help you learn, understand, and get started in the criminal record expungement process in your town!

Seal Your Criminal Records 317-636-7514

Seal Your Criminal Records 317-636-7514

EXPUNGEMENT

E – Eligibility. You must learn your eligibility for criminal record expungement. Unfortunately, not everyone qualifies.

X – Xerox. After you expunge criminal records, it’s time to get your job application Xeroxed and ready because you will have more employment opportunities available to you!

P – Public Record. Your criminal history will be sealed or hidden from the public. People, employers, and banks will not have access to your past arrest records.

U – Undue Hardship. You will not have to face the undue hardship that comes with having a criminal record. Sealing or expunging your criminal history will make life easier.

N – New Indiana Law. The criminal record expungement law is relatively new still. It might not last forever. So be sure to take advantage of it while you still can!

G – Government. Governmental entities will be the only ones who can access your expunged or sealed criminal records. The rest of the general public will not have access at all.

E – Embarrassment. By sealing or expunging your criminal records, you no longer have to hold on to the shame of having a criminal past. It makes first dates much easier too!

M – Misdemeanors. Misdemeanor and felony arrest records can be sealed or expunged so long as they meet the prerequisites for eligibility.

E – Earn. You will earn the right to several privileges you did not have before. Student loans, mortgages, employment opportunities, promotions, housing, and more are just a few to name.

N – Negation. Once your criminal records are officially expunged or sealed, you can legally deny them on job applications and more. It is not lying!

T – Teens. Teenagers and minors have record expungement options too. Just be sure to talk with a seasoned Indianapolis criminal record expungement lawyer to learn everything you need to know.

Indianapolis Expungement Lawyer

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Call David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law, at 317-636-7514 to learn your eligibility for Indiana criminal record expungement and restricted access. Our criminal defense law firm offers free initial consultations to do just that! That means no out-of-pocket charges to see if you qualify! And rates start as low as $850 of those who do! Call 317-636-7514 to schedule your consultation for criminal record expungement, today.

FAQs About Indiana Criminal Record Expungement

Criminal record expungement is an understandably complex topic. Many people are just as confused as you are; so use these frequently asked questions and answers to help!

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514


Do you have a past criminal record in Indiana from years ago? Have you had questions about the new criminal record expungement laws and regulations? Fortunately, there are trustworthy sources of accurate information regarding your expungement concerns. The best route to take is speaking with a licensed criminal lawyer that specializes in criminal expungement services. It is important to choose an attorney that is well-versed in the new Indianapolis criminal expungement laws, since some are not. Continue reading to get some quick answers to some frequently asked questions about expunging criminal and arrest records in Indiana.

If I Don’t Know What’s On My Criminal Report, How Can I Find Out?

The best way to get a copy of your criminal history 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.

What Do I Do If I Have Multiple Cases?

You will need to file a petition for expungement for each case in their separate counties. An experienced expungement lawyer will know how to efficiently and effectively do this for you. You can expunge multiple convictions at once, if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Am I Eligible?

There are several limitations and prerequisites you must meet in order to be an eligible candidate for expungement. For example, to be eligible to expunge arrest records, the arrest couldn’t have led to charges being filed against you, or the charges were later dropped as a result of mistaken identity. Basically, the court must find that there was either no crime committed, or not enough probable cause for the arrest. This is just one facet of the many stipulations involved with the expungement process.

How Does the Process Work?

Contact a trusted criminal defense attorney that specializes in expungement services, and they will navigate the entire process for you, in a safe and secure manner. You start by filing a petition, and several other forms and documents, and may even have to attend certain hearings.

Can I Be Denied?

Yes. The most common reasons to be denied include inaccuracies in court files, inaccuracies in applications, having additional pending charges, and not meeting the required waiting period. Talk to your lawyer about preventing these mistakes from happening. You only get one chance to file for expungement, so just one simple mistake can take that opportunity away forever.

Are the Benefits of an Expunged Record Worth the Effort?

If your arrest records are expunged, your fingerprints, mugshot, and all other documentation regarding the arrest and subsequent charges will be withheld from public access, including employers, loan officers, landlords, and more. Only law enforcement and government agencies will still retain these records. You can feel confident renting a home, applying for a loan, or going for that promotion, without fear of your criminal record holding you back.

Criminal Record Expungement in Indianapolis

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Call Attorney David E. Lewis at 317-636-7514 to learn your eligibility for criminal record expungement in Indiana. We are eager to help you get the fresh start in life that you deserve! Our services start as low as $850, so you can afford to clean up your record just as much as the next guy. Call 317-636-7514 to schedule a consultation, today.

Can I Get Probation Expunged From My Criminal Record?

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Criminal record expungement is a tool used to give past offenders a second chance. The requirements and procedures vary among jurisdictions, but virtually all states have enacted laws that permit people to clean up their criminal record given that they qualify. The only catch is that the eligibility requirements are usually very restrictive, and diverge state to state.

If a person does qualify for criminal record expungement, and subsequently approved, they will no longer be obligated to disclose their criminal past to anyone, including potential employers, landlords, banks, and more. What it does not mean is that the record is gone. There is another form of expungement called record sealing, and it delivers much of the same benefits. The only difference is what happens to the criminal records.

A person may qualify for record sealing but not expungement, and vice versa. Regardless of which process you qualify for, you can rest assure that your charges, conviction, and any other court-ordered penalties, will be hidden from the general public. This includes probation, especially if your only penalty was probation.

Record Sealing

When a person has a criminal record sealed, the record is hidden from the general public access. This means that landlords, bankers, employers, and the general public cannot access your criminal records. The only parties who will have access to your sealed records is law enforcement agencies and certain governmental organizations. In Indiana, you may qualify for record sealing if your conviction was vacated, your charges dismissed, or you were found not guilty. Of course, there are several other requirements to qualify. These are just some primary points to start with. Talk to a criminal record expungement lawyer for information about your eligibility.

Record Expungement

When a person has a criminal record expunged, it is essentially eliminated from their criminal record. There is no possibility of anyone, including law enforcement, to ever see the record again. The qualification requirements are incredibly strict, but it gives those who were innocent of a crime a second chance to clean up their record and make it as it rightfully should be. In Indiana, a person may qualify for expungement if they were never actually charged with a crime, or the charges were later dropped as a result of specific reasons (i.e. mistaken identity, actual innocence, etc.).

All states require a waiting period before a person can qualify for either option. These range between a few years and up to 15 years. Talk to a criminal defense lawyer to learn your eligibility for record expungement or sealing.

Indianapolis Criminal Expungement Lawyer

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Call Attorney David E. Lewis at 317-636-7514 to learn your eligibility for criminal record expungement in Indiana. He is well-versed in the new Indiana criminal record expungement laws, and eager to help you get the fresh start in life that you deserve! Our services start as low as $850, so you can afford to clean up your record just as much as the next guy. Call 317-636-7514 to schedule a consultation, today.