We know that just because you are convicted of a crime does not mean it has to ruin the rest of your life by remaining on your permanent record. While there are many laws that govern who can and cannot have their convictions expunged, and which types of charges are eligible for removal from your record, we provide a no-nonsense approach to delivering results. We know that your livelihood may depend on terminating your probation or re-establishing a clean record, and we can help deliver solutions that focus on that becoming a reality.
Expungement is not available in every situation. In order to qualify for this step, the court will first look at whether or not there is evidence of rehabilitation and the completion of your probation period. At that point, we will help you take the steps of withdrawing your guilty plea or no contest plea and seeking a dismissal of your criminal conviction. If you are still under the restrictions of your probationary period, we can ask that the court dismiss your probation early. Upon approval of this request, we can move forward with seeking a dismissal of your case.
It is important to know that not everyone is eligible to have their convictions expunged. Expungement is only available to non-incarceration cases and the defendants therein. Our California Legislation allows a person to become eligible for expungement if they were convicted of a misdemeanor or felony offense, and they fully completed either their probation requirements successfully.
In addition, they cannot be currently:
You are not eligible for expungement if you were:
The expungement process involves our accomplished Los Angeles expungement and probation termination attorneys formally requesting that the judge dismiss and vacate your case. We will re-open your old criminal case. Afterward, we will ask the judge to withdraw your old plea of guilty or no contest, and enter a new plea of not guilty.
Once your case is eligible for expungement, there is typically no additional waiting period to file an expungement petition. The overall timeline to complete the expungement process will vary from case to case and court to court. We will file your expungement petition with the proper California court within days of your retaining our legal services. The judge will then hold a hearing, typically within 45 days after the filing process is completed. We will stay on top of your request from the time we file it, so there are never any questions about where you stand, what the next steps are, or when you can begin benefitting from your conviction being expunged from your record.
Clearing your record has numerous personal, professional, and social benefits. As soon as your conviction is expunged, you can legally and truthfully state, to whoever asks, that you have never been convicted of the crime that has been erased from your record. This means employers will no longer be able to see your criminal conviction during a background check, and if you are asked outright to answer if you have been convicted of that crime, you can say “No.”
If you have a conviction on your criminal record, it can cast a shadow over your job search, educational opportunities and other areas of your life. We believe that your criminal record should not dictate the direction of the rest of your life, which is why we help our clients with matters pertaining to expungement and motions to terminate probation.
California law provides some people the opportunity to clear their record of a conviction and move forward with their lives. Whether it is expunging a conviction from your record, seeking to end your probationary period early or another option for relief after conviction, we can help.
If expungement or the early termination of your probationary period is an option for you, you have no time to lose. We offer free initial case evaluations for new clients, so you can learn more about this possibility without cost or obligation. Complete the contact form below to make your appointment today.
If you have been convicted of a crime, we will help you understand the options you may have to help clean up your criminal record. A conviction of any type of crime will remain on your criminal record until you have it removed. There is no time frame where it will simply disappear on its own. This could become troublesome when looking for a new job, seeking to enroll in school, or even applying for rental leases or mortgage loans. We will diligently explore all of the options that are available to you for post-conviction relief, so you can start anew.
We will continue our pursuit of protecting your rights and best interests by vacating, eliminating or reducing your conviction to remedy the side-effects of living with a criminal record. California legislation outlines the post-conviction relief laws that allow our attorneys to file a motion in court that seeks to vacate, modify, or reduce a conviction in order to improve your criminal record.
It is important to understand that everyone’s criminal conviction is unique and that no two post-conviction relief options are alike. That’s why we provide customized representation that fully outlines your options, so we can take a straightforward approach to deliver solutions.
You may be eligible for post-conviction relief if:
We will begin the process by gathering the relevant court records from your previous conviction. After we interview you and review the circumstances of your case to ensure you are eligible for post-conviction relief, we will determine the likelihood of a successful outcome. We will then prepare your motion, file, and litigate the claim in court. Once the case is completed, and we are successful in fighting the conviction, we will obtain the court-ordered certification stating the outcome of a reduced or modified charge, or that your conviction has been vacated completely.
California’s Penal Code offers a few different options that could allow you to seek post-conviction relief. If you are able to clean up your criminal record by one of these options, both state and federal databases will reflect the changes to your criminal record. Some of the options that could be available to you include the following:
These options allow people subjected to a wrongful arrest to clear their record of this mark, as well as allow others to clean up their record and enjoy better opportunities. We can evaluate your case and identify the specific options that may be available to you. We will help you pursue post-conviction relief and protect your future interests.
We understand the significant impact that a conviction can have on your life. Whether it is personally, professionally, or socially, the challenges a criminal record creates can keep you from getting ahead in life. Do not let a legal mistake hold you back by appearing on your permanent record for the rest of your life. Allow our post-conviction relief lawyers in Los Angeles to provide a fresh start, so you can move forward with positivity.
We provide experienced legal support from the earliest stage of your case to post-conviction needs. We provide affordable and effective defense counsel for individuals dealing with complications related to a variety of legal charges.
You may feel overwhelmed by your situation, but a conviction does not mean it is the end of the road for you. We can explain your post-conviction options in simple terms, so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed with your case. Contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation.
7 W. Figueroa St., Ste. 300, 93101 - Santa Barbara Office
2629 Townsgate Rd., Ste. 235, 91361 - Westlake Village Office
1000 Town Center Dr., Ste. 300, 93036 - Oxnard Office
2173 Salk Ave., Ste. 250, Carlsbad, CA 92008 - Carlsbad Office
Satellite offices in these counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino.
We serve the communities of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles and San Diego Counties as well as the greater state of California including, but not limited to the cities of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Oceanside, Oxnard, Westlake Village, Carlsbad, Santa Maria, Escondido, Encinitas, Camarillo, Goleta, San Marcos, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Vista, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Carpinteria, Solano Beach, Ojai and Santa Ynez. We are a general practice focusing on estate planning and probate, family law and business law. These areas of law include, but are not limited to, trusts, wills, trust administration, probate and trust litigation, divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, spousal support, prenuptial agreements, business formation, governance and litigation. This website is for informational purposes only. Using this site or communicating with Seige Law PC through this site does not form an attorney/client relationship. This site is legal advertising.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.