Unfortunately, my son got caught up with the wrong group of kids over the last summer. It was not until the police officers brought him home that I learned of what he and his new group of friends were up to. I knew at that moment that I was going to need a lawyer to help me help him through the situation. My lawyer was so helpful in many ways. By the time we worked our way through the legal process, my son was able to walk away without any charges that could threaten his future. Visit my site to learn what can be done for a troubled teen to get him or her back on the right track.
Do you have criminal charges on your record that you are so tired of seeing and hearing about? Are you tired of the charges affecting your life? Do you wish you could answer "no" on applications that ask you if you have criminal charges? You might be able to get rid of these charges through the criminal record expungement process. If you are interested in this, here are the steps you must take to use this legal process.
Speak with a Criminal Lawyer
The first thing you might want to do is to speak with a criminal record expungement attorney. Criminal lawyers help people fight criminal charges, but this is not the only thing they do. They also help people with criminal record expungement. When you discuss your situation with an attorney, they can help you decide several things. First, they can determine if you might qualify for expungement. Secondly, they can determine if you should pursue it. Your attorney will need to review the charges before offering you advice or suggestions.
Decide if You Should Pursue Expungement
The attorney will decide if you should pursue expungement by examining several things. First, does your state allow expungement? If so, do the charges fall into the category of allowed charges? Your attorney will also review the timeframe. You might have to wait a specific length of time before requesting it. If your attorney feels confident that the court will approve your case, they will suggest pursuing expungement.
File a Petition for Expungement
If you decide to pursue expungement, your attorney will prepare the paperwork. The attorney must prepare a petition to file with the court. The petition asks the court for a criminal record expungement. You cannot proceed with your case without filing the necessary documents. Once you file these documents, the court will schedule a hearing for the matter. You may need to meet with your attorney once or twice to prepare for the hearing, and your attorney will instruct you about what to say and do.
Attend the Court Proceedings
When the hearing date arrives, you must attend the proceeding. You will not be alone, though. Your attorney will go with you. Your attorney will handle all the speech during the hearing, except when the judge asks you questions directly. You should say as little as possible and stick to the script your lawyer gives you. The judge might ask questions about your life, and the court might need some time to review all the facts before issuing you an answer. You will likely need to attend only one court hearing, but there is a chance that you might have to attend two.
Wait for the Court to Rule
Once you complete the court proceedings, you might have to wait for your answer. In many cases, judges offer an answer on the spot, but this is not always the case. If the court responds by granting you an expungement of your criminal records, you will no longer have to admit that you have felonies or misdemeanors on your record. The charges will no longer be visible on public records, and it will be as though you never committed them. You should avoid committing crimes in the future after having this done, though.
Using criminal record expungement is a great option if you qualify for it. If you can get your case approved through a court, they will seal your records away as though they never existed. You will no longer have to admit that you have criminal charges on your record, which is highly beneficial when applying for jobs, apartments, and other things.
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