An old charge still showing up on background checks? Virginia allows some records to be expunged or sealed. We check whether yours may qualify.
A criminal record can follow you long after a case ends. It can show up when you apply for a job, rent an apartment, or seek a professional license, even for a charge that was dismissed.
Virginia law allows some records to be cleared. Arjun Mehta leads this work. He reads your court records line by line, checks what the law allows for each one, and tells you plainly whether a petition makes sense. No one can promise a judge will grant it, but you will know where you stand.
Expungement and sealing both limit who can see a record, but they are not the same. In Virginia, expungement has mostly been for charges that did not end in a conviction, such as a dismissal, a dropped charge or a not guilty verdict.
Sealing is a newer option in Virginia. It can reach some convictions too, after a waiting period. Some records are meant to be sealed automatically, and others need a petition to the court. These rules have changed in recent years, so we check the current rules for your records.
A cleared record is hidden from most public searches and most employers. Some agencies, such as law enforcement, may still see it in limited cases.
We never promise eligibility or a result. A judge decides each petition, and the prosecutor can object. General information, not legal advice for your situation.
General information, not legal advice for your situation.
We can't promise a judge will clear your record. We can promise to check every record, explain what the law allows, and tell you honestly whether a petition makes sense.
A dismissal ends the case, but the arrest and court records usually stay unless you take another step. A dismissed charge is often the kind of record Virginia allows to be expunged. We can check yours.
No, and be careful with anyone who does. It depends on the charge, how it ended, the time that has passed and the rest of your record. A judge decides, and the prosecutor can object. We will tell you honestly whether it is worth filing.
It varies by court and by case. Many petitions take a few months from filing to a decision. If you have a deadline, like a job start date, tell us so we can plan around it.
The situation. A charge dismissed years earlier kept showing up on job background checks.
Our work. We pulled the court file, filed a petition in the right circuit court, and answered the prosecutor's questions.
Petition granted, record expunged
These are example outcomes written for this demo website. They are not real cases. Every case depends on its own facts, and a past result does not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.
Answered 24 hours a day
Your first review is free, and it includes a check of which records may qualify. Tell us what is on your record, and an attorney will call you back with an honest answer.