Expunging and Vacating Criminal Convictions

A criminal charge does not have to be on your record forever. Searching for a job is difficult enough without having to disclose a conviction from your past. It is possible to vacate or expunge your criminal records. When done correctly, an attorney can erase your conviction so you can tell future employers that you were never convicted of that crime.

If you meet certain criteria, Washington law allows you to clean up your criminal record by vacating or expunging your conviction. Vacating a conviction means that the court will withdraw your guilty plea or set aside your guilty verdict and dismiss the charge. This information will be sent to law enforcement agencies so they will update their records. After a conviction is vacated, you can legally tell employers that you were never convicted of the crime.

As If You Were Never Convicted in the First Place

We are able to get the court to withdraw your guilty plea or guilty verdict and then have have court dismiss your charge. The law allows you to now say that you were never convicted of the crime. This is as close you can get to going back in time and never committing the offense in the first place. This information is sent to local law enforcement agencies and ultimately the National Crime Information Center database that is maintained by the FBI.

We charge a flat fee that takes care of your entire case. We make all court appearances for you and ensure that your charge is completely vacated. Even if you have multiple charges on your record, we take care of everything. We just need you to sign off on paperwork and we take care of the rest.

Vacating Criminal History Checklist

Click here for expunging your Oregon criminal history.

Washington law allows you to clean up your entire record, even if you have multiple convictions. The rules are different for felony, misdemeanor and misdemeanor domestic violence offenses.

For misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor convictions the general rule is that you must:

Have no pending criminal charges against you or any subsequent convictions since the original offense.
Have completed all conditions of your sentence, including paying off all fines and fees.
Three years must have passed since the completion of your sentence. Five years for misdemeanor domestic violence convictions.
If the charge is for domestic violence, you cannot have another domestic violence conviction on your record.
You cannot vacate a DUI or Physical Control conviction or any charge that would count as a prior offense to one of those charges.

For Class B and Class C Felony convictions the general standard is:

There are no pending criminal charges against you or any subsequent convictions since the date or your discharge from the offense.
The crime was not a “violent offense” as defined by RCW 9.94A.030.
The crime was not a “crime against persons” as defined by RCW 43.43.830.
The crime was not a felony DUI or Physical Control.
It has been at least 5 years since the date of discharge on a Class C felony; and 10 years from the date of discharge on a Class B felony.

Vacating a criminal record does not automatically restore your firearms rights, which requires a separate process.
Each person’s situation is different, contact us for a free consultation to see if you can clear up your criminal record.

Expunging Juvenile Offenses

If you have a conviction for a juvenile offense in Washington, the law allows you to expunge the crime and seal your record. The effect of an expungement is that the law allows you to erase the conviction and clear up your criminal record as if you were never convicted. The courts will allow expungement of multiple offenses and often we are able to clear everything off our client’s records. Each case is different, so call for a free consultation.

Contact a Criminal Expungement Attorney

Don’t let your criminal history haunt you for the rest of your life. There is a way to finally put it all behind you and give yourself a fresh start. We offer affordable options for cleaning up your record. We make all court appearances for you and make sure all your records are clear with local and federal databases. Call us today to set up a free consultation to clear up your criminal record.

Results

How We Achieved Dismissal in a Complex Assault 4 Domestic Violence Case

Introduction Navigating a domestic violence charge can be daunting, especially when the accusations are unfounded. Our recent victory in an Assault 4 Domestic Violence case showcases the importance of a robust defense strategy and thorough investigation. Here’s how we turned a challenging situation into a successful dismissal. The Case Our ... Read more

Assault 3 Domestic Violence – Felony – Dismissed

Client was charged with felony assault domestic violence when his truck ran over his girlfriend’s leg during an argument in a parking lot. The girlfriend was badly injured and had to be taken to the hospital. The girlfriend wanted charges filed and was cooperating with police and the prosecutors. After ... Read more

Feb 29, 2024

by GC on Kris Carrasco Attorney at Law

Out of State Restraining Order

I was in a horrible situation where the mother of my son had me arrested on false claims so she could kidnap our son and move to Washington from California. She filed a restraining order when she got to Washington, listing our son as a protected party and claimed I had been abusive to her and him, writing a statement filled with lies and stories going back many years. She went so far as to have her family members, whom had never left Washington submit statements as well. The whole thing was disturbing and as a result I wasn't able to see my son for months. Kris didn't get dragged into arguing the meritless claims she made but instead focused on the actual law. Washington did not have jurisdiction over me and as a result a restraining order was not legal. A temp judge granted the restraining order and Kris made the judge explain on the stand multiple times how Washington had jurisdiction. She could not. He filed a motion for reconsideration shortly after outlining case law and making it clear that the temp judge had made a mistake. A commissioner reviewed and granted the motion for reconsideration. As a result, I was able to be reunited with my son, 102 days later. Kris is an amazing lawyer and I can't thank him enough for what he did for me and my son. Don't hesitate to hire him.