Clear Your Record With Expungement And Record Sealing In Seattle And Throughout Washington

A criminal record can cast a shadow on your life long after your sentence has been served. It can affect your educational opportunities, job prospects, housing and other opportunities. Washington law gives people the right to seek expungement and record sealing in limited circumstances. It’s worth exploring if you think you might qualify.

The team at Cascade Lawyers can provide guidance on this complex area of law. Expungement lawyer Jeremy Goodman leads the team with insight gained through over 10 years of experience in the criminal law field. He prioritizes listening to clients’ stories, understanding the nuances of their criminal history, and crafting detailed strategies to clear their records and restore their reputations. Whether you need help with expungement or sealing your criminal record, Jeremy and his team are prepared to guide you every step of the way.

The Legal Parameters For Expungement And Record Sealing In Washington

In Washington, clearing your criminal record primarily involves two processes: expungement and record sealing. Here’s what you need to know about each:

• Expungement: This process refers to the deletion or removal of nonconviction records from your criminal history (sometimes called “expunction” in other states). Nonconviction records include cases where charges were never filed, charges were dismissed or you secured a not-guilty verdict at trial. However, it’s crucial to note that records resulting from a conviction cannot be expunged in Washington. Additionally, expungement only applies to criminal history records maintained by state law enforcement agencies, which are different from court records. You will need to pursue record sealing to address the public court records stemming from your arrest.
• Record sealing: Sealing makes court records inaccessible to the public. This process can protect your privacy and shield the record from most background checks. Even if you don’t qualify for expungement of criminal records, you may still qualify for record sealing if you meet certain criteria.

The process for expunging and sealing criminal records involves multiple steps. An expungement lawyer can guide you through all of them, ensuring that nothing gets missed or overlooked.

Vacating Convictions in Seattle

If you’ve been convicted of a crime in Washington, you’ve fulfilled your sentence and adequate time has passed, you might be eligible to have your conviction vacated. This means it can be removed from your record under specific conditions. Only some offenses are eligible for criminal conviction removal.

To qualify, you must have fulfilled all requirements of your sentence, including any financial obligations, and it must be at least three years since you completed these terms. Additionally, you must have no pending criminal charges or new convictions, and you must not be currently subject to any protection orders. Note that this option is not available for violent offenses, certain DUI-related offenses, or crimes involving sexual exploitation or domestic violence.

How Cascade Lawyers Can Help

Sifting through the legal requirements and processes for criminal record expungement, record sealing and record removal can be challenging. When you work with an expungement lawyer at Cascade Lawyers, you will benefit from professional guidance each step of the way. Jeremy Goodman and his team will carefully analyze your criminal history to determine whether you qualify for record-clearing through expungement, record sealing or vacation of a conviction. They will take a meticulous approach toward gathering information and sorting through every detail to streamline the process as much as possible.

Take The First Step Toward Clearing Your Record

If you’re struggling under the weight of a criminal record that’s holding you back in life, you owe it to yourself to explore every potential avenue for criminal record clearing. Call Cascade Lawyers at 206-970-3030 for a free consultation to discuss your options. The firm takes expungement cases statewide, including King County, Snohomish County, Pierce County, Kitsap County and Thurston County.