How to Get Rid of a Felony Record
Ridding your record of a felony is not the easy or quickest task; however, it definitely is possible. Usually, it may take up to a few months for the courts to hear your plea. The process is seemingly never ending; however, the work and wait are well worth the expunged felony charge.
- Contact an attorney or the courts to find out the laws in your states, and if there is a possibility of expunging your particular offense from your record. Remember, not all felony charges have a possibility of removal from your criminal history.
- Speak to the prosecuting attorney, for the county where the arrest of your felony occurred. Ask the lawyer to send you the necessary paperwork to remove a conviction from your history. The prosecutor may direct you to someone else who can better assist you. Sometimes the circuit court or another legal establishment has the proper papers for the procedure.
- Fill out the required paperwork and mail it back to the appropriate person. The address where you send these forms will be with the information you received. Sometimes additional information is mandatory for you to file for the courts to expunge your charges. Additional information may include fingerprints and a processing fee. Read the papers carefully because some states deem it necessary for you to stand before a notary to sign the paperwork.
- Wait for the prosecuting attorney to make a decision regarding if your proposal should be accepted or denied. Someone contacts you and lets you know the final ruling. If your notion is accepted, you need to have a court date for a judge to hear your case.
- Appear before the judge and explain your case. Inform the judge of any problems such as employment struggles that arose due to your felony charge. Be sure to include any information dealing with your current status that reflects you in a positive light. For example, state how you have upheld every aspect of the law since your conviction.
- Wait until the judge rules for or against you.
- File an appeal if the ruling was not in your favor.