Expungements—Now is the Time to Remove Those Old Charges off Your Record

Sometimes we make a mistake and find ourselves in an unpleasant legal situation. If you have been arrested for something or convicted of either a misdemeanor or felony charge this could have serious and long-lasting effects on your job possibilities. At the McLaren Law Firm, we want to help you clean up your record. 

There are several avenues available to help us get charges off your record. The first is what is called an 894/893 Plea. What this means is that if you pled to a charge and the court accepted your plea under either 894 or 893 of the Code of Criminal Procedure you are eligible to expunge your record if you have finished your probation term and paid all your fines and fees.

Second, if you did not plea under 894/893 but more than 2 years have passed on most misdemeanors, 5 years on DWI and more than 10 years on felonies without any other criminal convictions you will be eligible to file for an expungement. 

Finally, if you have received what is known as a first offender pardon for certain crimes under a new law signed into effect by John Bel Edwards we can file immediately.

All three of these options require a filing fee of $550.00 dollars, a police background check, and letters from the District Attorney’s Office showing that you have no pending felonies. 

For those of you who have been arrested but not convicted of a crime you are automatically eligible to have the arrest expunged off your record once the statute of limitations for the crime has lapsed or if the District Attorney agrees to allow you file earlier. The good news with this situation is that you do not need to pay a filing fee; assuming that your charge is eligible for expungement and that no other outlying issues exist such as other convictions or pending charges.

Call me today to discuss your options as it relates to expunging your record. The sooner we file to clear up this record the sooner you can get take back control of your life. Remember…When No One’s Carin’ Call McLaren! 504-300-8338