Expungement Lawyer in Houston Can Help Get Your Criminal Record Cleared

After being convicted of a crime, one of the biggest fears that most individuals have regarding criminal conviction is that it will remain on their permanent record and affect the rest of their lives. With help from an experienced Houston expungement attorney, however, many of these convictions can be cleared from the person’s criminal record. This means the individual can relax, knowing that potential new employers and other organizations that conduct criminal background checks will not be swayed by the negative stigma that goes along with a criminal history.

It is imperative to hire a Houston expungement attorney who has years of experience in this field, as there are a variety of complex laws that dictate the types of criminal charges that are eligible for expungement and who can have these convictions cleared from their record. If you want to get your criminal records cleared, reach out to an experienced expungement lawyer in Houston today.

What is Expungement?

To expunge something means to remove or erase it completely. The legal term refers to the court process that clears a criminal conviction or seals it from the public record. This is commonly seen in juvenile court cases but also applies to adults who wish to establish a clean slate. If you’re able to get an expungement, it means the court will treat the existence of a criminal conviction as if it had never happened. This effectively removes prior convictions from the public record and from an individual’s personal record.

To get a conviction expunged from your record, you’ll have to get it ordered from a judge. The expungement process can be long and complicated, but with the help of a skilled expungement lawyer, your record can be cleared and you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Who is Eligible for Expungement?

While many individuals who have been convicted of a crime are eventually eligible for expungement, not every individual is in Texas. It is important to note that having one’s record expunged is only an option for defendants in cases that don’t involve prison. An individual is eligible for expungement if they were convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense and proceeded to fully complete all of the requirements of their probation successfully. There are also circumstances in which a person may not be eligible for an expungement, such as serious sex offenses, anyone who was incarcerated, anyone currently on probation, and anyone currently charged for a crime and awaiting trial.  If your scenario doesn’t fall into one of those categories, you might want to speak to an Houston expungement attorney who can analyze your case and tell you if you might be eligible for expunction.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Expungement Lawyer in Houston?

Just as with attorney fees for any services, the costs to hire an expungement lawyer are based on the specific case, the number of crimes on the record, and their severity. Hiring an expungement lawyer may cost as little as a couple hundred dollars or it could be thousands. A few things that may factor into your overall cost, on top of the set fees, are filing fees, how long the case lasts and how complicated it is to expunge, and whether or not the record will be sealed or completely cleared. Regardless, having a lawyer work to clear your record will likely be worth it in the long run as having that mark on your record could have a big negative effect on your future.

Should I Hire a Houston Expungement Attorney?

Although hiring an expungement lawyer is not required for an expungement, anyone seeking to clear their record will likely want a seasoned Houston expungement lawyer in their corner. Many individuals who seek to expunge their own cases end up having the request for expungement denied, as the process is much more complex than it may seem. Hiring a skilled lawyer is a vital step in winning the expungement. Contact the Law Office of Michael H. Pham at (713) 236-7791 to start working on getting your record cleared and get that weight off your shoulder.