Expungement Lawyer in Philadelphia
Being charged with a crime has consequences that extend far beyond your initial encounter with police. When arrests and convictions are listed on your criminal record, it can impact your ability to function normally within society. It may impact your ability to secure employment, find housing, and engage in numerous other activities that citizens without a criminal record are able to enjoy. However, a criminal record isn't always set in stone. There are circumstances in which you may be able to pursue expungement in Philadelphia, clearing your criminal record and allowing you to start your life with a fresh slate. But how exactly do you go about making this a reality? One resource that will prove invaluable in your quest to eliminate your criminal record is an expungement lawyer. An expungement attorney in Philadelphia like Mark Hauser is equipped with an extensive understanding of the unique expungement laws in Philadelphia as well as the eligibility requirements needed to pursue expungement. If you're ready for a fresh start, consider the support of an expungement attorney in Philadelphia like Mark Hauser.
What Does an Expungement Lawyer Do?
Unlike securing a traffic court lawyer in Philadelphia, the expungement process might seem much simpler to deal with and, therefore, not necessitate hiring an expungement attorney. However, an expungement attorney does so much more than just get your criminal record expunged. An expungement attorney is responsible for:
Determining Eligibility: Not everyone who is interested in expungement in Philadelphia is eligible for it. This is why securing an expungement attorney is an important part of the process. They understand the nuances of Philadelphia law and will be able to help you determine if you qualify for criminal record expungement. This can save you a great deal of time and money compared to if you were to try to go about the process yourself, only to learn that you aren't able to have your record expunged.
Managing All the Paperwork: The expungement process, like any other legal process, is mired with paperwork. Trying to navigate each step is not only time-consuming but can also result in costly mistakes if you don't have a complete understanding of what you're doing. An experienced expungement attorney like Mark Hauser will manage the paperwork for you so that you can rest assured knowing that your expungement case is moving forward as anticipated.
Improving the Petition Process: Expungement is not an automated process. You need to petition the court to expunge your record, which will take some convincing. An expungement attorney in Philadelphia will provide you with guidance on how to petition the court, hopefully to great effect. This advisory is what makes an expungement lawyer an invaluable asset when trying to have your criminal record cleared.
Eligibility for Expungement
As stated above, you can't simply secure an expungement attorney in Philadelphia and have your criminal record cleared. Unlike a theft defense attorney in Philadelphia who is capable of defending you no matter what, an expungement lawyer can only operate effectively if you're eligible for expungement. Every state has unique eligibility requirements that one must meet to qualify for expungement. So, what requirements do you need to meet if you're interested in expunging your criminal record in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
The main eligibility requirement for expungement is that your charges did not result in a conviction. If you meet this requirement, your criminal record is eligible to be expunged. Examples where this might apply include charges that were withdrawn, charges that were dismissed, charges that were nolle prossed, or a case where you were found not guilty. People who also completed a special program like the Small Amount of Marijuana Program, Section 17, or ARD qualify for expungement.
Another situation in which you may be eligible for expungement is in the case of summary-level convictions, where you have been free of arrest or prosecution for five years post-conviction.
The above requirements make it easy to understand if you qualify for criminal record expungement and if you should pursue the services of an expungement lawyer in Philadelphia to proceed with your case.
The Expungement Process Explained
The expungement process, while confusing initially, is relatively straightforward. When you enlist the help of an expungement attorney in Philadelphia, you will:
File a petition with the court where you were charged. This is the most extensive part of the expungement process, as there are numerous forms that must be completed and submitted in order to proceed successfully. Your expungement lawyer will take care of this on your behalf.
The state attorney will review your petition and, if approved, send it to the court.
A hearing will take place in order to determine if expungement is appropriate.
If it is, the court will then send out an order for all agencies that have your criminal record data to erase it and successfully expunge your criminal record.
All agencies will expunge the data after the order has been received.
The expungement process is easy to understand and may take less than a year to complete. If you're looking for a new start in life, reaching out to an expungement lawyer like Mark Hauser can be an effective way to navigate this process so that you can eliminate your criminal record and start life anew.
How Expungement Can Impact Your Future
Those who are negatively impacted by charges brought against them that never saw any clear resolution understand how deeply these charges can affect their ability to lead a normal life. When you have criminal charges, finding employment becomes substantially harder as many employers may assess your criminal record and determine that you're not a viable candidate for the role. When searching for housing, you may be limited to housing types that you find less appealing yet are only able to access due to the fact that other housing units may not accept individuals with a criminal record. The reality is that a criminal record impacts your life in so many ways, which isn't quite fair if the charges brought against you do not stick for whatever reason.
Seeking out the support of an expungement attorney in Philadelphia can give you the freedom you desire by expunging this criminal record and ensuring that these old charges do not further impact your ability to lead your life to the fullest extent. If you feel unfairly persecuted by others because of unfair charges, Mark Hauser is here to fight for your expungement and provide you with the support and guidance you need throughout the entire process.
Expungement Laws in Philadelphia
Expungement laws in Philadelphia boil down to the elements covered above. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements for expungement that apply to those in Philadelphia and elsewhere throughout Pennsylvania, if you take care to file all of the requested forms that need to be included in your expungement petition, and if you make sure to send those to the court where you were charged, you should have few issues as you navigate the expungement process. Of course, working with an expungement lawyer will greatly reduce the chance that you may make any mistakes that could set you back, misunderstanding laws or otherwise.
The expungement process is a liberating process that gives you the ability to erase your criminal record and improve your quality of life. If you know that you qualify but aren't sure what to do next, you can reach out to Mark Hauser to get legal representation and advisory that will support your expungement endeavors. Contact Mark Hauser today to learn more and begin the expungement petition process to erase your criminal record.