Winston-Salem Expungement Attorneys

Clean Your Criminal Record in NC

What is Expungement

Expungement or expunction is to “erase or remove completely.” In law, expungement is the process by which criminal charges or convictions are destroyed or sealed from state or federal records. Having your charges expunged makes it so that the court treats your criminal charges as if they never happened.

Expungements in North Carolina

People with criminal records face challenges when it comes to things like finding employment, obtaining financial aid and finding a good place to live. Contrary to popular belief, criminal charges do not automatically fall off your record after a few years, so in many cases, expungement can be beneficial.

Not all infractions are eligible for expungement. Courts can only expunge or seal criminal records involving violations of North Carolina state law. Crimes committed in other states cannot be expunged through North Carolina courts.

Do You Qualify for an Expungement in North Carolina?

In general, you may be eligible for an expungement in North Carolina if any of the following are true:

• You have charges that were dismissed or not guilty charges
• You have any misdemeanor convictions or class H or I felony convictions in which the offense happened when you were 16 or 17 years old
• You have one nonviolent misdemeanor conviction and at least five years have passed since the end of your sentence or probation
• You have more than one nonviolent misdemeanor conviction and at least seven years have passed since the end or your sentence or probation
• You have one nonviolent felony conviction and at least 10 years have passed since the end of your sentence or probation
• You have two or three nonviolent felony convictions and at least 20 years have passed since the end of your sentence or probation
• You have no other misdemeanor or felony convictions except for traffic violations during the applicable waiting period

Getting Legal Help in Winston-Salem

Expunging your criminal history can be complicated, and laws can change at any time. To find out if your record qualifies for expungement in North Carolina, you should contact a qualified criminal law attorney. An experienced expungement attorney can evaluate whether your circumstances qualify you for a record sealing. Call the experienced attorneys at Morrow Porter Vermitsky & Taylor, PLLC at 336.760.1400 today for an initial consultation or case evaluation.