Take The First Step Toward A Fresh Start
A criminal history — even charges that were eventually dismissed — follows you everywhere and can have a negative impact on your life. Background checks for housing, credit, jobs and relationships will all bring up those past incidents with the law. Your history of charges can even affect how you are treated if you are pulled over for a traffic stop.
Fortunately, you may be able to clear your record through expungement or reduce the impact of your history on your life through an order of nondisclosure. I am attorney Matthew Maddox of Maddox Law, and I genuinely believe that the past should stay in the past. I want you to have the ability to move forward without the shadow of an old mistake hanging over your head.
The Difference Between Expungement And Orders Of Nondisclosure
An expungement (or “expunction”) completely erases an offense from your criminal record. No one, not even a police officer, will be able to see that you were ever charged. The incident will never appear on any background check. It will be as if the whole event never happened.
Expungement is typically available for situations where:
- You were the victim of a false arrest.
- You were charged but eventually acquitted.
- You were found guilty but later pardoned.
- You were found guilty but later proven innocent.
- You were arrested for a misdemeanor but never formally charged, and the time in which prosecutors have to charge you has elapsed.
Even if you are not eligible for an expungement, you may still be able to obtain an order of nondisclosure. If the judge in your case deferred adjudication until after you completed an order of probation, you may be eligible for an order of nondisclosure once you have successfully completed your probation and a necessary period of time has passed without further incidents.
An order of nondisclosure prevents courts and police officers from disclosing the history of that particular offense. It also legally frees you from having to disclose that information on job applications.
Are You Ready To Get Started?
If you're tired of an old criminal charge following you around and needlessly complicating your life, take action to change the situation. Whether you are seeking help for yourself or you are a parent trying to help a college student who has made a mistake, I can review the case and explain your options.
You can regain your confidence and move forward without the constant anxiety that comes with a criminal record. Let a lawyer with decades of experience fill out the right forms and make the proper applications. My office is located in McKinney, Texas, but I assist clients throughout Collin County and the surrounding area. Call 972-546-2496 or contact me online today.