Expungements in NC – Attorney Patrick Apple

Once your criminal case is resolved, there will be public court record of it which is searchable by employers, educational institutions, licensing boards, and any other entity interested in knowing more about you.  Even if your case resulted in a dismissal, the charge will still show up on a background check unless you have petitioned the court to have it removed.  In North Carolina, it is possible to get your record cleaned by petitioning the court for an expungement. But the act of getting your record cleaned is a bit more complicated than just petitioning the court.

An expungement is when a judge orders a record sealed so the public cannot see it. The purpose of the expungement is to seal a record as if the charge or conviction had never occurred. While the SBI, and prosecutors, can see it, the public cannot.  Under North Carolina expungement law, after being granted an expungement you can even state that you have never been charged with that crime!

The expungement process includes:

·         Resolve your criminal charge

·         Meet all eligibility requirements under the various expungement laws

·         Petition the appropriate court for a hearing in front of a District or Superior Court Judge in the appropriate jurisdiction

·         Complete the hearing and obtain a judge’s signature

·         Criminal background search with the Clerk of Court to ensure the expungement was properly entered

Unfortunately, expungement law is extremely complicated and not all charges or convictions can expunged. There are also specialized timelines and other eligibility requirements that must be met in order to qualify to petition for an expungement. The experienced criminal defense attorneys will creatively approach a multitude of potential issues to help you try to obtain eligibility for an expungement.

Expungements help protect your future by clearing up your past. Our criminal defense attorneys have decades of experience handling expungement cases. Discussing your case with our experienced attorneys is an important first step for your future. Call today to schedule your personal case review.