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.

Limits to Criminal Record Expungement in Indiana

Criminal Record Expungement Indiana

Criminal Record Expungement Lawyer 317-636-7414

A criminal record can hold a person back from a lot of freedoms and opportunities. A large majority of employers run a criminal background check on applicants; and if it comes back unsatisfactory, they reserve the right to deny employment or promotion. Aside from a restricted career and paygrade, a poor criminal record can also affect a person’s right to vote, hold office, own or possess a firearm, and more. Fortunately for Hoosiers, the state passed a new law in 2011 that gave people the right to restrict public access to their
criminal records if they meet the requirements.

The law, commonly referred to as “Indiana’s Second Chance Law”, was expanded upon again in the following years. Depending on their qualifications, they past offenders can either seal or expunge their criminal records in Indiana. But as mentioned, there are certain requirements individuals must meet in order to be granted expungement or sealing. Continue reading to learn what limitations to expect when petitioning for criminal record expungement in Indiana.

Expunging Criminal Records

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

After you have been granted expungement, you can legally say “No” when someone asks you if you have a criminal record. Although getting there takes hard work, diligence, and patience, ultimately, it takes meeting the requirements. These requirements are what limits people’s eligibility for criminal record expungement. Talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney for help determining your eligibility and filing the petition. Below, you will find a breakdown of the standard limitations to
expect under the criminal record expungement law.

Expungement – Indiana Code § 35-38-5-1

For those who do not have an actual conviction on their criminal record, they have the greatest chance at being granted criminal record expungement in Indiana. If your charges were dropped because 1) mistaken identity, 2) actual innocence, and 3) no probable cause that you committed the crime in question, you have a good chance at being granted expungement.

Of course, there are time stipulations as well. It must be a certain number of years since the initial arrest. And this is just the start, there are several other factors that influence eligibility as well, such as pending criminal charges and more. A criminal defense lawyer will guide you through the requirements so you can learn all the limitations that may apply to you and your criminal record.

Restricted Access – Indiana Code § 35-38-5-5.5

For those who were arrested but charges were never brought against them or later dropped (for instance, a college public intoxication arrest where cops just put someone in the “drunk tank” to sober up and then release them without charges after), they would not meet the requirements for criminal record expungement. But they could be eligible for “restricted access.” This applies to those who were 1) arrested but never charged, 2) arrested, charged, but then acquitted of all charges, or 3) convicted but conviction was later vacated.

Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

Call Attorney David E. Lewis at 317-636-7514 to file for criminal record expungement in Indiana. He is an experienced criminal defense attorney that is well-versed in all Indiana expungement and sealing laws. You can only file one time in your life, and one mistake or missed deadline can take your only chance away forever. Avoid that risk by having David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law, file your petition for you. His services start as low as $850! Call 317-636-7514 to schedule a free initial consultation and learn the best strategy for your criminal record, today.

What is the Expungement Process for a Criminal Charge?

Whether just an arrest or an actual conviction, a criminal charge can have adverse, on-going effects for minors and adults alike. These difficult, downward consequences can diminish a person’s quality of life in many ways, both personally and professionally. A delinquent criminal record can make it almost impossible to get approved for rental housing, home and business loans, and promotions or job opportunities.

Even if a person is hard-working, trustworthy, and ambitious, they can be held back from their true potential, personally and professionally, with a criminal record. Fortunately, many states have adopted new laws surrounding criminal record expungement, which allows certain individuals to seal or destroy their arrest and criminal records. This gives them back the opportunity to have a home, job, and reputation they can be proud of. Continue reading to learn the process for expunging a criminal charge, and how to get started as soon as today.

Expunging a Criminal Charge

There are three phases to the criminal charge expungement process: 1) Hiring a lawyer, 2) Filing a petition, and 3) Judicial review. The initial, and most important, step is to hire a criminal defense lawyer who specializes in expungement services. You need the assistance of a licensed attorney because the procedures and requirements for filing a motion for expungement are highly complex. Just one mistake, whether a misspelled name or missing document, can cost a person their only chance to apply for criminal record expungement. This is because the law only allows a person to file once in their lifetime, no matter what the circumstances. A qualified criminal defense lawyer can navigate this process for you to ensure everything is done correctly.

The second phase to the criminal expungement process is to file a petition in the county, or counties, where your convictions and arrests took place. If you have multiple arrests or convictions, they can be filed as one petition so long as they are completed within a one year window. This phase should be handled by your legal representative, during which they will file the necessary petitions and provide the necessary documentation in each county of your arrests and convictions, all in due time. During this phase, you will be required to pay a court filing fee for a petition for expungement, which generally costs between $140 and $170 in most Indiana courts. It is possible for this fee to be waived in some cases. If you are petitioning to expunge an arrest that never led to a conviction, there is no filing fee.

The third phase of the criminal expungement process is the judicial review stage. This is when the courts will either grant or deny a person’s petition for expungement. If denied, either from court discretion or procedural errors, you must wait three years before filing again, and cannot file for the same criminal convictions as before. If granted expungement, all previously-lost civil rights and privileges are restored. A person can legally state that they were never convicted of such crime on job applications, mortgage loans, tenant applications, and more.

Criminal Expungement Services

Call 317-636-7514 for criminal record expungement services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We are well-versed in Indiana’s Second Chance Law, and can help you seal or expunge criminal records in all Indiana counties. Our services are economically-priced, and start as low as $850! Call 317-636-7514 to schedule a no-risk consultation for criminal record expungement in Indianapolis, IN today.

Where is Criminal Record Expungement Legal in the United States?

There are new laws being passed every single day. Some are approved under state law and others under federal law. Although many ordinances are passed and approved without most people being aware, some are too significant to ignore. One such law is criminal record expungement. This law is becoming more and more popular among various states within the nation. This law has the ability to changes lives, improve the economy, and much more. Continue reading to learn more about criminal record expungement, and which states allow it in the continental United States.

Expunging Criminal Records

If a person has record of past arrests or criminal charges, they can run into several road blocks in life. Felons, or adults with arrest records, can have difficulty getting a good job, renting a home, applying for loans, and much more. This new law can help people in these situations. Criminal record expungement laws allow past convicts, felons, and people with arrest records, to have these records restricted from public view. This means standard background checks for leasing agreements, job applications, and more will not show records of arrests or charges.

The only stipulation is that a person must first qualify for criminal record expungement, as well as, outsource professional services to facilitate the application process. Not everyone is approved to have their criminal records expunged. One must qualify in terms of time, number of arrests, and the charges they have. Certain charges cannot be expungement; including murder, assault with deadly weapon, sex crimes, perjury, human trafficking, and more. It must be at least once year since the date of conviction for arrest records to be expunged; while misdemeanors require 5 years, and felonies up to 12 years. States that now allow criminal record expunging include:

• Indiana
• California
• Arizona
• Florida
• Illinois
• Missouri
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Texas
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Oregon
• Washington

States that now allow criminal record expungement have not made this a permanent law. It is only probationary and may not last for long. It is highly recommended to consult a lawyer about applying for criminal record expungement before it is too late and the opportunity is gone. You may only apply for criminal expungement once in a lifetime, and one mistake can stop s person from qualifying; which is why you need a lawyer. They know how to implement the legal process of applying for record restrictions and can do so without making any mistakes or errors.

Indiana Criminal Record Expungement

Call 317-636-7514 for information about Indiana criminal record expungement today. We are highly knowledgeable in criminal record expungement law and can answer all your questions about restricting arrest records and more. Rates start as low as $850 so anyone can afford to expunge criminal records in Indiana! Call 317-636-7514 and ask for details about criminal record expungement services in Indianapolis and how to get started as soon as today.