Clearing your name in the State of Texas - Expungements

 

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime, even if you haven’t been convicted, you could have a “criminal history,” which can be damaging to your personal and business reputation. The costs to you both emotional and monetary could be difficult to measure. The good news is that there are ways to clear up your record in the State of Texas, by hiring a lawyer who is experienced in expungement proceedings.

 

An a expungement proceeding is a type of lawsuit in which the subject of a prior criminal investigation seeks to seal or destroy the records from that earlier process in order to restore that person’s name. In a successful expungement proceeding, these records are said to be “expunged.” Texas has its own definition of expungement proceedings and how extensively these types of actions can make your records disappear from general review, so it’s important to find a lawyer who is well versed in the expunction laws in the State of Texas.

 

Lawyers with experience in this area are very successful in winning these types of cases (clearing the good names and records of people) when the individual or subject of the expungement proceeding had their original charges dismissed or were found not guilty. Sometimes, clients in these expungement hearings were just in the wrong place at the wrong time and were acquitted of their original charges. Despite this, they are still denied employment or other opportunities because of their prior legal record. This doesn’t have to happen to you, if you procure the services of a good expunction lawyer.

 

To qualify for expungement, a client must meet several requirements, which could include.

 

* Fulfilling a specific waiting period after the original case

 

* Having no subsequent incidents

 

* The number of prior incidents

 

* The seriousness or type of offense involved

 

* Fulfilling the terms of any outstanding sentence

 

* Not having any pending criminal investigation or proceedings

 

* That the incident was disposed without a conviction; and

 

* That the petitioner completes probation without any incidents.

 

A client with no subsequent criminal history, misdemeanor case dismissals or acquittals that are at least two-years-old can be expunged from your criminal record in the State of Texas. Felony charge expungement may involve a longer time requirement depending on how serious the original charge was. The entire expungement process can take several months so it’s important to obtain the advice of an expunction lawyer as soon as you decide that this is the course you wish to take in order to clear your good name and your record. It could be the best decision you’ve ever made and positively affect your personal and professional future.