Riverside Expungement Lawyer

Riverside DUI Expungement Attorney

If you have been convicted of drinking and driving, a Riverside DUI defense lawyer from The Law Offices of Thomas Wallin may be able to assist you in clearing your criminal record through the process of an expungement. To assist you in making a decision as to whether or not to pursue an expungement of your criminal record, we have provided the following guide to assist you:

What is it? An expungement is also referred to as sealing a criminal record, and is a legal process that can relieve an individual of the burden of a criminal history. The process begins when a formal request is made of the court where the conviction took place to dismiss or set aside the DUI conviction. The expungement process applies to most misdemeanor and minor felony convictions. Serious felonies require alternative procedures to set aside the conviction aside.

Note: Not all criminal convictions are eligible for expungement. Expungement does not relieve the priorability of a crime.

What is the purpose of an expungement? A criminal record can have a negative effect on your educational and career opportunities, and an expungement offers you the chance to make a fresh start. If your request for expungement is granted, you will be able to state on private job applications and other forms that you have never been convicted.

How long does the expungement process take? Expungements for most misdemeanors will take anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks from the date the application is filed with the Court. This estimate does not include any time necessary to research court records for additional information needed to file the application. The more information you supply, the faster the application can be filed.

While Felonies cannot be expunged, a motion can be run to reduce the case to a misdemeanor and then apply for an expungement. Felony reductions to misdemeanors generally take 6 to 12 weeks from the date the application is filed. Felonies which cannot be expunged can sometimes be reduced to a misdemeanor and will take the same time. Again, this does not include any necessary research time.

Depending upon information received and the location of the court, the estimated time to seal a juvenile record is 2 to 6 weeks from the filing of the application.

How much will an expungement cost? The cost of expunging your criminal record depends on the specifics of your conviction, as well as the amount of time necessary to research your case:

Misdemeanors - $895.00 each (costs and fees included)**
Felonies - $1,875.00 each (costs and fees included)**
Reduce Felony to Misdemeanor - $850.00 each(costs and fees included)**
Research Case History - $275.00 per case search and $75.00 per hour to obtain additional documents reflecting conviction or arrests
Additional Legal Services Fee - Quoted on a case by case basis

**Does not include case history search.

Am I eligible for expungement?

Expunging your criminal history can positively affect many areas of your life, giving you a fresh start. An attorney from the firm will review the circumstances of your conviction and your current situation to determine whether you are eligible for sealing your criminal record. Fill out the free case evaluation today to begin the process.

Contact a Riverside expungement attorney from the firm today for an initial consultation and to learn whether you may be eligible for sealing your criminal record.