Court Records and Expungement Processes Attorney in Atlanta, GA

If you have an arrest on your record, it can make your life much harder. You will potentially have a difficult time getting gainful employment, having a loan approved and receiving a higher education. While some crimes cannot be taken off of your record, others can be expunged or sealed from your potential employers, banks and schools.

Many crimes are committed in the heat of the moment, and they are later viewed as one-time mistakes made with an impaired judgment. Don’t let these mistakes haunt you for the rest of your life.

The best way to get an arrest expunged or have the court records of the arrest sealed from public view is to have an experienced criminal defense attorney help you. This can be a very confusing and difficult process, so it will be in your best interest to pursue expert legal advice.

The Importance of Expungement and Court Record Process Sealings in Atlanta

No one wants to have a criminal record. Any sort of blemish on your record, even if it is from many years ago, can negatively impact your quality of life. Make sure you don’t let one mistake you made during your youth affect you for the rest of your life.

Even if you aren’t convicted of the crime, having the arrest on your record can still be problematic. Therefore, you should seek an expungement as soon as possible.

What Arrests Qualify for Court Record Process Sealings in Atlanta?

There are three types of arrests that can qualify for expungement in Atlanta. First, a case that is closed without a conviction can have the potential to be sealed from public view. Of course, this case has to be an isolated incident, meaning that you cannot be involved in a pattern of criminal behavior and try to get one case out of many expunged.

Also, you cannot get expunged for one part of a case if you pleaded guilty to another charge in the same case.

If you were charged with certain misdemeanor crimes in Atlanta before the age of 21, you may be able to have that record sealed from your public record. For you to qualify for this youthful offender exemption, you must have completed your sentence associated with your charge. Also, you must have a clean record for 5 years prior to the time you request your record to be sealed.

Finally, if you are charged with a felony, but convicted of an unrelated misdemeanor, you may be able to have the felony expunged from your record. The court will determine if the expungement will be granted based on the amount of inconvenience your record is causing you.

The Expungement Process in Atlanta

If you were arrested in Atlanta before July 1, 2013, you must fill out this form to qualify for expungement. You will have to get in contact with the agency that processed your arrest, and you might have to pay a fee.

The form has three sections; you complete the first section, the arresting agency completes the second section and the prosecutor completes the third section. Next, the prosecutor submits this form to the Georgia Crime Information Center and, if you qualify, your arrest will be restricted.

If you were arrested in Atlanta after July 1, 2013, the expungement process is much simpler. The prosecutor can simply approve your expungement request and put it on file during your court hearing.

Contact Our Experienced Atlanta Expungement and Court Record Process Sealing Attorneys Today

Court records and processes can be difficult to navigate, and typically require legal guidance to properly address each situation. At Andersen, Tate & Carr, we have years of experience assisting our clients with appeals, arrest restriction, expungement, bench warrants, warrant applications, motions to set or reduce bonds, petitions for writ of habeas corpus and plea withdrawals. Our experience in navigating the court system often results in clean criminal records and driver histories.

For assistance with expungement and court records process sealings, contact our attorneys for a free consultation today. Our criminal defense lawyers, Pat McDonough and Trinity Hundredmark, work hard to give their clients peace of mind. They will explain your case to you and help you make decisions about how to proceed.