Our Houston expungement attorney at Universal Law Group, PLLC can clear your record if the court found you not guilty at trial or dismissed your charges. As skilled defense attorneys, we fight to protect your reputation and best interests.
Often, people assume that a dismissal or not guilty verdict automatically clears their record. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Even when a grand jury doesn’t bring charges against you, an arrest appears on your record.
Additionally, deferred adjudication for a crime or Class C ticket makes you eligible for expungement. You are NOT eligible if you:
- Plead guilty
- Plead no contest
- Are found guilty
However, if you receive deferred adjudication, you may be eligible for an Order of Non-Disclosure. Our expungement lawyers can help you understand your options when you schedule a consultation.
What Is Expungement?
Expungement is the removal or erasure of your criminal record. During this process, the court destroys the defendant’s criminal record. If you qualify, it removes your criminal and public records.
Essentially, the court sets aside your criminal conviction. Then, you have a clean record during background checks. However, certain parties, including law enforcement, can still see the conviction.
Criminal record expungement prevents the public from accessing your criminal record. In Texas, we refer to expungement as expunction. After a successful expungement, landlords, property managers, employers, schools, and other entities cannot see a history of criminal convictions.
Additionally, you do not have to disclose a criminal history if the court expunges or seals your record.
Record Sealing
Record sealing is similar to an expunction in Texas. However, it is more widely available. In legal terms, a record sealing is an Order of Non-Disclosure.
Sealing your record does not erase a conviction but hides it from the public, including private investigators and employers. The conviction remains visible within the criminal justice system. For instance, if you face another arrest, the sealed conviction counts as a prior offense.
Neither sealing nor expunction erases your criminal history. The only way to achieve this is through a pardon. There will always be certain parties that have access to your history.
If you want to learn more about this process, contact our Houston expungement attorney at 832-767-0339.
Am I Eligible for Expunction or Record Sealing in Texas?
Every state has requirements for sealing or expunging your record. Contacting an expunction lawyer in Houston, TX, is the easiest way to see whether you are eligible.
Here are a few examples of potentially eligible cases:
- A judge or jury finds you not guilty
- The grand jury finds inadequate grounds for prosecution
- Prosecutors never issued a criminal charge after an arrest
- The court dismissed your case due to an expired statute of limitations
- The court acquits or pardons you
- You pled guilty to a Class C misdemeanor crime related to alcohol
- A judge or jury overturns your conviction
- Another person misrepresented themself as you at the time of arrest
- You completed the deferred adjudication process
Universal Law Group, PLLC can help you understand your options for clearing or sealing your record. We offer personalized representation with a skilled Houston expungement attorney because every situation is unique. If you meet the requirements, we can help you expunge your record.
Contact a Houston Expungement Attorney at Universal Law Group
If you have a criminal history to clear, call our Houston expungement attorney at 832-767-0339. Led by attorney Brian Nguyen, our defense team benefits from experience as a former prosecutor. We commit ourselves to you and your future when you become our client.
Our first priority is always the best possible outcome of your case, whether that is expunction or record sealing. Contact our firm today to learn more.