Everyone makes mistakes, but some mistakes can have bigger consequences than others. If you’ve done something in your past that has resulted in a felony charge, it can have serious repercussions on your life.
People with this kind of charge on their personal record find it harder to find work, get approved for housing, and take advantage of various opportunities. For this reason and more, you may be curious about how to get a felony expunged.
Expunging a felony from your record can help get your life back on track. Read on and we’ll walk you through the basics of getting a felony expunged.
Expungement Eligibility
The first thing that you need to understand about felony expungement is that it is not an option that will be available to everyone.
Only certain individuals will be able to explore expungement options, based on existing requirement eligibilities. These requirements will vary slightly state by state, so you’ll need to look into the laws in the state in which you were charged.
In most states, more serious charges like murder, sexual assault, and so forth will not be able to be wiped from the record. The felony charge in question will also need to be the first and only felony charge the individual has on their record.
In some situations, a certain number of years must have gone by since the charge to get a felony expunged.
If you’re unsure about your personal eligibility, it’s best to talk to an expert, like those at Prentiss Law, to learn more about the laws in your area.
Getting a Felony Expunged
What does the expungement process typically look like? The process itself will also vary somewhat from state to state.
Generally speaking, the process begins with an individual filing a petition with the court that originally heard the felony case. This court will first do the work to confirm that you are eligible for expungement.
If they have opposition to the request, they will file them and a hearing will be held for a judge to hear from both sides. At the end of the day, it is the decision of the judge whether your expungement request will be fulfilled or not.
An attorney can help you to build a solid case to argue for expungement. An experienced lawyer will have handled cases just like yours many times in the past and will know exactly what evidence might be needed to prove that you are worthy of this process.
If you can prove that you’ve really rectified your behavior since the incident in question, you’ll have a better chance of getting approved.
How To Get a Felony Expunged
If you’re looking to start your life over with a clean slate, you might be curious about how to get a felony expunged. The above information can help you to understand all you need to know about this process.
Need more legal help or felony tips? Keep scrolling through our blog for more.