Cumming Expungement Lawyer

Helping Clients Get a Fresh Start

If a prior arrest has made it hard for you to find a job or get accepted to college, you should look into getting your record expunged. More commonly known as record restriction now, expungement can seal eligible parts of your criminal record so that potential employers and school staff cannot see them. This should give you a clean slate as you try to move on with your life after criminal charges have been filed against you.

As you might imagine, not every crime can be expunged from your record, and this action doesn’t completely erase the charges. It just restricts the public from viewing them. To learn more, you should come to the office of Carl Chapman P.C. to talk to an expungement lawyer in Cumming.

Schedule a free strategy session with our Cumming criminal defense lawyer for help expunging your criminal record today.

How Does Expungement Work in Georgia?

The expungement process is slightly different in each state, so it’s important to know how it works in Georgia. One thing to know is that in the last decade, the expungement process in this state has changed. While it used to remove eligible charges from your record, now it restricts who can see them, which is why it’s more commonly called records restriction.

More specifically, law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, can still see your criminal history even after expungement. However, the expunged charges will not show up on public criminal records when college admissions teams, employers, or landlords try to view them.

This should make it easier for you to find employment, housing, and advanced education opportunities. If you think your life would improve if your records were restricted, talk to an expungement lawyer in Cumming to see if you’re eligible.

Who Is Eligible for Expungement?

Not everyone can get all their charges expunged. Typically, only some types of incidents can be expunged, and only after you meet certain criteria. For example, you can usually get an arrest expunged if you were found not guilty or the case was dismissed. You might also qualify for expungement if you completed probation, community service, or a diversion program.

If you were convicted of a misdemeanor before age 21, you should consider expungement, as well. You should be eligible as long as you completed your sentence and have not been charged with a crime in the last five years.

Even if you were over 21 when you were convicted of a crime, you may be eligible for expungement of up to two charges as long as you’ve gone at least four years with no additional charges. Granted, some crimes are not eligible. Examples of crimes that you cannot restrict from your record include DUI, sexual battery, child molestation, and family violence. An expungement lawyer in Cumming can tell you if you have a chance of getting your record restricted.

What Is the Expungement Process in This State?

Once you talk to a lawyer to find out if you’re eligible for expungement, the process can begin. Your expungement lawyer will access your criminal record and discuss which charges can be restricted from public view. While some felonies are eligible for record restrictions, you might need to get a pardon for them before you continue the process.

Next, your lawyer will petition the court by sending in the proper paperwork, at which point the judge will hold a hearing to determine if your charges can be expunged. If the answer is yes, your lawyer will officially seal your record to hide those charges from the public. If you don’t qualify for expungement at this time, your lawyer can appeal the decision within 30 days.

Do You Need an Expungements Lawyer in Cumming?

Expungement may be a great option if you have some charges that have made it hard for you to move on with life after an arrest. Of course, you must meet specific requirements first, and only certain charges qualify for this process.

This is why it’s important to talk to a Criminal Defense in Cummings to learn whether any of your charges can be restricted from your record. If you’re interested in exploring this legal option, call our law firm at 470-206-2169 to set up an initial meeting so we can review your criminal history before moving forward with the expungement process.