Redwood City Expungement Attorney
Clearing Your Criminal Record
Is a past mistake limiting your current opportunities? A criminal conviction can have a broad range of detrimental effects on your future, including limiting employment and educational opportunities and losing your right to vote. At the Law Offices of M. Gabriela Guraiib, our Redwood City expungement lawyer helps clients overcome old mistakes and move forward with their lives.
If you are interested in exploring the possibility of expungement, call our Redwood City expungment attorney at 650-227-9132 for a consultation.
Types of Expungements in California
There are two types of expungements available for people with a prior arrest or criminal conviction. In most situations, the process involves clearing an individual’s criminal record. In this form of expungement, the record entry status is changed from “convicted” to “dismissed and set aside.” As a result, you can legally say that you were never convicted of that crime in most scenarios.
The other type of expungement involves sealing court files and state records, such as the arrest report or conviction information. When a record is sealed, no member of the public can access it. It is removed from the public record and destroyed entirely after a set period. You’re eligible to have your records sealed if you were arrested but not convicted of a crime.
A clear criminal record is essential for maintaining professional licenses in many fields and securing employment. Having your record expunged or sealed can help you pursue a better career and reduce the bias you face in daily life.
The California Expungement Process
To have your record expunged, you need to petition the court to dismiss charges or convictions. Being charged with a crime can damage your reputation, even if you are never convicted. The information will come up when a potential employer runs a criminal background check. When you petition for expungement, both criminal charges and convictions can be cleared from your record.
The expungement process requires:
- Providing a copy of your charges and convictions
- Filing a petition to have felonies reduced to misdemeanors
- Filing a petition for expungement
- Submitting a petition for each charge that you want to be expunged
- Attending a court hearing
The expungement process can be time-consuming because it requires careful attention to detail and an in-depth understanding of the petition process. Working with a qualified expungement attorney can help you ensure that your petition is filed correctly the first time and improve your chances of having your expungement request granted by the court.
Begin the Expungement Process with Help from Redwood City Expert Attorneys
It is important to understand that not all criminal convictions can be expunged. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the process. Our expungement attorney in Redwood City can evaluate your record to determine if expungement is possible and guide you through the legal process.
Looking to seal your criminal record? Contact our law firm today at 650-227-9132 to learn how we can help you move forward with your life.
