Did you know?

• Convictions stay on your record permanently, they cannot be expunged.
• Arrests stay on your record and can been seen by law enforcement agencies unless you have your record expunged.

What is an expunction?

An Expunction is a procedure in which a district judge orders all relevant agencies to destroy or obliterate all records pertaining to the arrest. You must meet certain requirements to be eligible for an expunction. The process may take up to six months to complete to ensure that each agency, including DPS and the FBI, properly expunges your records.

Why is having a clean record so important?

Even if your case was dismissed, the arrest is still on your record and can be seen by law enforcement agencies. This information can be used against you if you are arrested for something else in the future. Additionally, much of the information is public record. It is possible for someone to go to the clerk’s office and find the records of the arrest.

What if I have had more than one case dismissed?

You can have all of your cases expunged at one time (provided they are from the same county).

What are the benefits of expunction?

The benefits of Expunction include:
1. It allows you to legally deny that you were ever arrested.
2. All records of the arrest are deleted or destroyed.
3. No private or government agencies will be able to learn about the arrest.

Am I eligible for expunction?

You may be eligible if your case was dismissed or you successfully completed the requirements for a Deferred Prosecution or Pre-Trial Diversion. If you were placed on Deferred Adjudication, see non-disclosures below, to see if you are eligible to have your record sealed instead.

It is always best to consult an attorney to determine if you are eligible for an expunction. Many of the legal terms are easy to confuse. I am happy to help. Call me for an appointment 512-472-1113.

What is non-disclosure?

While an expunction erases and destroys all records of your arrest, an order of non-disclosure seals your record by preventing its release to the public. However, law enforcement agencies and many government agencies will still be able to see the record.

What are the benefits of non-disclosure?

The benefit of sealing your record is that private websites will be prevented from sharing your information with companies, etc.

Am I eligible for non-disclosure?

You may be eligible if you were placed on Deferred Adjudication and you successfully completed the supervision.