Fort Bend Expungement & Criminal Record Sealing Lawyer
Talk to Our Fort Bend County Expungement Attorneys
An arrest, even without a conviction, can leave a permanent mark on your wellbeing and reputation. When you are seeking employment, new housing, and loans, your application could be turned down solely due to a prior arrest. In Texas, people are given the opportunity to clean up their past and stabilize their futures through expungements or the sealing of their criminal records.
Although these two processes are quite similar in purpose, they are intricately different in execution. If you think that expungement or record sealing could benefit you, talk to Stornello Law Firm, P.C. Our criminal defense lawyers can review your case and criminal record during a free consultation to determine your eligibility.
A brighter tomorrow might be a phone call away – contact Stornello Law Firm, P.C. at (281) 761-7160.
What is Expungement?
The simplest way to think of expungement is to think of it as erasing a particular arrest from your record entirely. If an expungement, sometimes called an expunction, is successful, it will be as if it never existed in the first place. You can deny the arrest on applications and under oath, and the physical file itself that contained the arrest’s information should actually be destroyed.
Am I Eligible for Expungement?
Expungement only applies to arrests that never led to a permanent conviction, which means you had:
- Never been charged for a crime.
- Completed pre-trial diversions.
- Been released through a case dismissal.
- Received a no-bill verdict from a grand jury.
- Received a “not guilty” verdict or acquittal.
- Been pardoned after being convicted.
There are certain arrests that will not be eligible for expungement based on the crime that was in question. If you were arrested for a felony, such as grand theft or vehicular homicide, or a sex crime, such as child molestation or sexual battery, you may not be able to seek expunction, regardless of the ultimate outcome of that case.
What is Criminal Record Sealing?
Criminal record sealing is an alternative to expungement that does not erase arrests from your record entirely but rather seals your record to most people and parties. You may think of it as literally closing a file that only authorized personnel, such as law enforcement officers and certain private entities, can view; for everyone else, they will not be aware the record exists. In rare cases, your criminal record can be opened to anyone who obtains an official court order.
Sealing criminal records is available to anyone who was placed on deferred adjudication probation and successfully completed the probation. There is a waiting period depending on the type of offense.
Take the First Step with Our Professional
The sooner you can have your criminal record expunged or sealed, the better. You should not have to live in fear of judgment for something that should be left in your past, or for an apparent criminal violation you never committed. Come to our law office and talk to our Fort Bend County expungement attorney today and we can figure out which process works best for your case.
At Stornello Law Firm, P.C., we pride ourselves in treating each client as an individual in need, not just another case number. Wherever you are in Fort Bend County or the greater Houston area, call us.
Contact us today to learn how our Fort Bend expungement and record sealing lawyer can help.
CLIENT REVIEWS
Opinions From Those Who Matter Most
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"I recommend him to anyone in need of real law help."I recommend him to anyone in need of real law help.- B.S.
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"I couldn't be happier with the services Mr. Stornello provided."I would recommend Mr. Stornello to anyone looking for a lawyer with integrity who knows how to get it DONE!!- Eric M.
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"This is EXACTLY the kind of lawyer you need."I hope I don't ever need a criminal defense lawyer, but if I do, I'd go with Mr. Stornello in a heartbeat.- Brienn
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"Thank you to Mr. Stornello, you are a credit to the legal community."Mr. Stornello was kind enough to share legal insight and experience to assist me, a fellow attorney.- Caroline O.
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"If you're in trouble, I would definitely recommend hiring Mr. Stornello."I found him to be very honest and hard-working, he stood up for me when nobody else would.- Antasia M.
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"If you are charged with a crime you should hire Mr. Stornello."In both cases, he got me the best result I could have hoped for.- Charles P.
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"He was very professional and answered any questions that I had."I contacted Mr. Stornello to file a early termination of probation motion. He explained to me the process and what to expect when going to court. He was very professional and answered any questions that I had.- Keanu
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"My son was exonerated"I would highly recommend Rosario Stornello, and his law firm, and would definitely utilize his services again.- Oblidobli D.