Hanover Expungement Lawyer

A criminal charge is only the beginning of problems for many. After the stress of getting your charge dismissed or serving the penalty for a conviction, your record may still haunt you. A criminal record will appear in a background check for employment and housing applications, even if you have been acquitted.

Consider hiring a Hanover expungement lawyer to help you move on with your life. Expunging your criminal record means the entire record is permanently removed, including all court and police documents. Additionally, the court and the prosecutor’s office will no longer be able to access the documents either. In many circumstances, you may be able to get your record expunged or sealed, allowing you to get on with your life.

Expungement Requirements

Criminal records are publicly available, meaning anyone can look up a person’s arrests and convictions. Even if a defendant was acquitted or the case was dismissed, they must still petition the court to correct your record. It is important to note that expungement is not the same as having a record sealed.

Under Virginia law, if a person is acquitted or the criminal charge is dropped, they may file a petition with the court requiring the police and court records relating to that court be expunged. The court would then hold a hearing to determine if the police and court records are unjust and eligible for expungement. If the petitioner does not have a criminal record and the arrest was for a misdemeanor violation, then the records must be expunged unless the prosecutor’s office can show good cause for why the record should remain. This is a complex process and many people find it necessary to work with a local expungement lawyer.

Criminal Sealing Requirements

Unlike expunging a record which removes a case from your record, sealing a record means that the charge appears in your record but cannot be viewed by the public. However, these records could be unsealed by court order for a variety of reasons. Consequently, sealing court and police records is not as permanent a measure as expunging the record entirely.

In general, a person must show that their right to a fair trial is jeopardized by the record remaining available to the public. This is has a relatively high burden of proof as it requires an ongoing case in addition to the prior criminal charge that appears in the record. Sealing a record can also only be done by petitioning the court and winning the case.

Hire a Hanover Expungement Lawyer Today

A criminal record, even when you weren’t convicted, could negatively impact your life for years to come. However, by expunging that record, you will longer have to worry about background checks for employment or to obtain a loan. A Hanover expungement lawyer could guide you through the process, from filing your petition to appearing on your behalf before the court.

You do not necessarily need to carry the burden of your past mistakes with you for the rest of your life. To start working on moving forward and learn about your eligibility for expungement, call today and schedule an initial case consultation.