Expunctions and Nondisclosure Orders
Even if you have been acquitted of a crime or had your charges dismissed, you still have to clear your name. In Texas, you can get an expunction, where your records are destroyed, or a non-disclosure order, where your records are sealed. There are different conditions for each option. Scott C. Smith can help you expunge or seal your records so you can start with a clean slate.
Not only do we want to defend you, we want to clear your name. Even after you win your case or prosecutors drop the charges against you, the general public can still see your arrest history. That means that even if the court has decided you are innocent, future employers, landlords, or other members of the public could hold past charges against you. In Texas, there are two ways to clear your name – expunctions and nondisclosure orders (also referred to as sealing orders).
Expunctions in Texas provide for the complete destruction of arrest records.
You can usually only expunge your records if charges against you were dismissed or you were acquitted at trial. Although there are occasional exceptions, the state of Texas won’t expunge your records if you have been placed on probation, sentenced to a term of confinement, or fined.
Even if you can’t get your records expunged, you may be able to have them sealed through a nondisclosure order.
To be eligible for a nondisclosure order, you have to have successfully completed a term of deferred adjudication probation in Texas. Although sealed records still exist, only law enforcement and some government employees can see them. People with sealed records also don’t have to disclose the arrest on job applications.
No matter how you get there, you deserve to start a new job or move into a new home with a clean slate. Expunging or sealing records can be a complicated process to tackle alone, but our office is here to help. Contact the Law Office of Scott C. Smith today for a fresh start.