Can I Expunge My Arrest Records Before Christmas?

The end of the year is already near, making it hard to stay focused on important legal matters. With so many joyous occasions and celebrations on the schedule, your arrest record sealing goals could wind up taking a back seat. If you are wondering whether it’s too late to complete your criminal record expungement petition, continue reading to learn what you need to know before Christmas is here.

Fast Criminal Record Expungement Indiana
Fast Criminal Record Expungement Indiana

Criminal Record Expungement During the Holidays

The process of criminal record expungement can be long. From start to finish, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months; possibly even a year or more. So, if you have already begun the process of criminal record expungement, you have a chance at being granted approval before the year is up.

However, if it has only been a few weeks since you’ve submitted your petition, you will likely have to wait until next year. Since the holidays are ahead, courtrooms and legal offices will be operating on holiday hours, which are restricted. There is also a staff shortage, which has limited such schedules further.

If you have not yet begun your criminal record expungement or sealing petition, there is little to no chance that the process will be completed before Christmas. You can, however, hire a criminal defense attorney who provides expungement assistance and get the process in motion in a matter of days. Once the holidays are over, court and legal office schedules will be active once against.

Contact an Expungement Lawyer

Your best opportunity at optimizing your expungement petition before the years end is to consult with a licensed Indianapolis criminal defense law firm that specializes in criminal record expungement and sealing services. They have the current news and updated information you are looking for, plus can help push your petition forward going into the new year.

Are you looking for a trusted criminal attorney to help you with your Indiana arrest record needs? Contact our Indianapolis Indiana criminal record expungement lawyers to learn how to begin your petition, today. Our lawyer fees start as low as $850, and we never charge for initial consultations.

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Criminal Record Expungement Attorney Indiana
Indiana Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

How Many Offenses Can I Expunge on My Criminal Record?

Since you can only file for criminal record expungement once in your lifetime, it is vital to make the most of it, and to do it correctly. Even the smallest misspelled word or clerical error can get your application for expungement denied, forever. Fortunately, a criminal lawyer can prevent that from happening to you. Are you worried about choosing among the various arrests and convictions on your record? You probably don’t have to.

Most states allow petitioners to expunge more than one record. How many?  Continue reading to find out, and to learn how to get started on your criminal record expungement petition today.

Indiana Criminal Record Expungement Lawyers
Indiana Criminal Record Expungement Services 317-636-7514

Expungement Laws Vary Among States

Every state has their own separate set of laws surrounding the requirements and limitations of criminal record expungement. Your eligibility, even your potential, for sealing or expunging criminal records depends on the state your criminal records originate. It is important to understand the basics surrounding the laws of record expungement in your particular state and county first, and then discuss your eligibility and petition options with a licensed criminal defense attorney.

Indiana Criminal Record Expungement

Indiana has two laws that govern the process of concealing or erasing criminal records. One may petition for either expungement or restricted access, depending on their eligibility. And the prerequisites for eligibility differ between the two options.

If a person was never actually arrested or charged with a crime, or they were never arrested but charged with a crime, but the charges were later dropped due to mistaken identity, actual innocence, or lack of probable cause to believe they committed a crime, they may be eligible to have their record entirely erased from their criminal history, which falls under expungement.

On the other hand, if a person were arrested, but the charges were later dropped, or they were later acquitted of all charges, they could qualify to have their records sealed from the public, which is different from expungement since the record still remains. Its access is simply restricted from the general public, including employers, landlords, banks, and more.

What You Should Know About Expunging More Than One Record

If you do live in a state that allows record sealing, and you qualify for criminal record expungement, you may be able to expunge more than one record, so long as the petition is filed in every county, for every record, within a 12 month time span. Although separate petitions, this would qualify as one single petition. This rule varies among counties and states. So, be sure to hire a licensed criminal defense attorney who is well-versed in your state’s expungement laws. They can help you navigate and file your petition accurately.

Are you an Indiana resident who is ready to clear up your criminal record? Contact our esteemed lawyers for affordable criminal record expungement services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Are fees start as low as $850, and we never charge for initial consultations.

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Criminal Record Expungement Attorney Indiana
Indiana Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

Documents That May Be Required With Your Petition for Expungement

In Indiana, you can petition to have your past criminal and arrest records concealed from the general public. In order for a person to be granted criminal record expungement, they must meet a strict and tedious set of standards, which vary from state to state. They must also retain assistance from a licensed attorney who is well-versed in the Indiana expungement laws because the petition process is quite complex. Furthermore, an individual can only file for expungement once in their lifetime; a single spelling error can have their petition denied with no chance of reapplying.

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement Attorney 317-636-7514

The Criminal Record Expungement Process

The criminal record expungement process is a long and complicated one, but it all starts with a filed petition. When filing a petition for expungement, you will need to consult with your attorney to determine which documents you will need to complete the application and subsequent paperwork. The required documents that must be submitted along with an expungement petition will vary from state to state.

However, the most common documents needed include a Certificate of Eligibility from your state’s probation department, acceptance of service, consent and waiver of hearing, prosecutor and victim statements, victim checklist, petitioner’s reply, and findings of fact and conclusions of law. Your Indianapolis expungement lawyer can help you locate and organize these documents as needed in order to successfully turn in your petition.

What Happens to These Documents?

While filing a petition for expungement, you will have to work with your state’s probation department, who will then create a report for the courts to use for assessing your eligibility. This report will showcase your personal record since your legal incident, and reveal whether or not you have experienced additional trouble with the law. During this same time, it is possible for a prosecutor to challenge the petition and file an objection with the courts prior to your hearing.

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.

Beware of Indiana Expungement Forms

Indiana expungement applications are full of down falls, which makes them very complex and difficult to fill out. This causes thousands of petitions to be denied every month.

Criminal Record Expungement Indiana

Criminal Record Expungement Lawyer 317-636-7414


When expungement forms are not filled out and filed exactly in compliance with Indiana code, they are denied. Even a mistake as minor as a spelling error can cause a petition for expungement to be rejected by the state. For this reason, numerous applicants are having trouble with the filing process, and learning the hard way that you can only file for expungement once in your lifetime. One simple filing error can eliminate that opportunity for anyone, regardless of crime or conviction. Continue reading to learn how to ensure your expungement application is filled out and filed properly.

Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney

If you want to be like all the other individuals who have successfully filed for and granted expungement, you will need to hire a licensed criminal defense attorney who is well-versed and experienced with the Indiana expungement laws and regulations. Their services are affordable for everyone, so you can hire a lawyer in this field to help you fill out and file your expungement application. Not only can they help you fill out and file your petition for expungement, they can help you collect all the necessary documents and evidence you’ll need to be granted expungement. This includes restitution documentation, paid fines, court records, and more. They can also ensure that your application process is in accordance with all the filing rules and requirements, including meeting deadlines.

When a person wishes to expunge court and arrest records in more than one county, the filing process becomes even more convoluted and complex. This situation would most certainly require the assistance of a licensed and experience criminal defense lawyer. Don’t lose your chance at expunging your past criminal records because you want to save some money and file yourself. The risk is not worth the possibility of clearing or sealing your criminal record.

An Indianapolis Expungement Lawyer You Can Trust

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

Call 317-636-7514 for professional and affordable criminal record expungement services in Indianapolis. Don’t think you can afford to expunge criminal records in Indiana? Think again! Our expungement legal services start as low as $850! Schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your criminal records, and determine your eligibility. Call 317-636-7514 to finally expunge criminal records in Indiana, today!

Am I Eligible For Criminal Record Expungement?

Every state observes the laws of criminal record expungement differently. So depending on where your arrest or charges took place, the eligibility requirements may vary. In Indiana, legislation supports the notion that anyone who has an arrest on their record that never resulted in criminal charges deserves an opportunity to clear their arrest from the system. This is called expunging a criminal record, and is legal under various stipulations in Indiana.

For starters, a person must qualify for criminal record expungement, and the eligibility requirements are strict and complex. Continue reading to learn the eligibility requirements for criminal record expungement in Indiana, and who to call to get started as soon as today!

Eligibility Requirements in Indiana

There are several requirements that must be met before a person can expunge an arrest from their record. But overall, in order for a person to qualify for criminal record expungement one of two scenarios must be true:

1. Their arrest must never have led to criminal charges;

OR

2. Their charges were later dropped because: a) no crime was committed, b) mistaken identity, or c) no probable cause.

Here is an example:

Becky is a 16 year old high-school student who went to the mall to return a scarf she had bought the week before. She carried the scarf into the store in a shopping bag that was from another store. She didn’t go straight to the return counter because she saw some sales racks she wanted to look through first. The lady working the register approached her, and then found the scarf in her bag. Since Becky forgot her receipt, the lady assumed she had shoplifted the scarf, so she called the police. Becky was arrested on the spot and taken into custody. Later, the evidence showed she was in fact, not shoplifting, but simply forgot to bring her proof-of-purchase. In this scenario, Becky could have her shoplifting arrest expunged since charges were never filed against her. That way, the arrest will never show up on a background check.

In Indiana, criminal convictions cannot be expunged. Talk to a criminal record expungement attorney to see if you qualify.

File for Criminal Record Expungement

Call 317-636-7514 to file for criminal record expungement in Indiana. We are a seasoned criminal defense law firm that is well-versed in the laws and process surrounding Indiana criminal record expungement. We offer free initial consultations to determine your eligibility, so there is no out-of-pocket obligation to find out if you qualify! Call 317-636-7514 to get started, 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.