A clean record is priceless. Erasing prior charges makes it easier to obtain employment and pursue educational opportunities. An expunction is the removal of information related to an arrest, charge, or conviction from a person’s permanent criminal record. In 2017, the North Carolina General Assembly expanded the ability of individuals to obtain expunctions.
Expunctions Matter
A Clean Criminal Record
Expunction is now available for criminal convictions, dismissals, and other case dispositions. North Carolina no longer limits the number of expunctions a person may obtain for dismissals and not guilty judgments. The state has also reduced the waiting period required to obtain an expunction for several offenses.
Real Experience
To clean up your criminal record, don’t settle for anything other than an experienced attorney. Harkey is a board-certified specialist in North Carolina Criminal Law. This distinction is held by less 3.9% of North Carolina attorneys. Contact our office for a free consultation.
An expunction is when a court orders the removal of information related to an arrest, charge, or conviction from a person’s permanent criminal record.
If your case was dismissed or if you were found not guilty, you are immediately eligible for an expunction. If you were convicted of a non-violent misdemeanor, you are eligible for an expunction after 5-years. For non-violent felony convictions, you are eligible for an expunction after 10-years.
If you are eligible for an expunction, you should have everything removed from your criminal records as soon as possible.
A licensed attorney makes a motion to the court on your behalf asking the court for the destruction of information related to your criminal record. The process involves your attorney, the district attorney, and the court.
There is no set time period for how long the process will take. However, expunctions can typically be obtained within several weeks of hiring an experienced attorney.
We recommend hiring a qualified attorney to handle your expunction matter. W. Scott Harkey is a board-certified specialist in North Carolina Criminal Law.
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Expunction & Expungement Attorney - Winston Salem, NC