Expungement in Newport News & Hampton Roads, VA
Clearing Your Record
Expungements are legal actions used to clear all police and court records
regarding a specific criminal case. Before you pursue the expungement
of your record in Virginia, you will want to learn about the process and
how it must be navigated. At Larry King Law, our
Newport News criminal defense lawyer can help you determine whether your case qualifies. The following is important
information regarding expungements:
Qualifications for Expungement
Based on Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2, expungement is only available
for individuals who are found innocent of their charges or if the charges
are somehow dismissed. If you are granted a pardon for the crime for which
you have been unjustly convicted, you can file a petition for expungement.
Expungement Process
You will need to petition for expungement if you qualify. One form of
expungement is to obtain a Certificate of Actual Innocence. This is a
certificate that does more than just seal the prior record. It also provides
proof that a record should have never existed in the first place. The
petition for expungement, along with a set of fingerprints, must be filed
with the circuit court in the city or county of which the charge was dismissed.
A copy of the petition will also need to be filed with the commonwealth
attorney's office in that city or county.
Legal Guidance from Our Newport News Criminal Lawyer
Depending on the type of offense and the time since the final disposition,
juvenile records in Virginia are expunged when the individual reaches
the age of either 19 or 29. If you need to have your record expunged,
our firm can help you through the process.
We offer
free case evaluations to discuss the best routes and the probability of successful results for
potential clients. If you have any questions or would like further information
on the process, do not hesitate to
contact us at once. You can obtain representation from our experienced and professional lawyer!