If a criminal record is impacting your quality of life, expungement is one possible legal option to consider. In simple terms, expungement is the process of entirely removing certain convictions from your legal record. For this outcome, you should work with a skilled attorney to demonstrate to the court how your request meets state requirements. If you’re curious about expungement in Tennessee, here are a few important details to know about the benefits, your eligibility, and how to navigate the process.

What Are the Benefits of Expungement?

Even if you’ve fully paid the penalty associated with a crime, having it listed on your legal record can present many barriers. For example, this history can prevent you from obtaining secure employment, starting your own business, being approved for financing, or finding suitable housing. With an expungement, you’ll be able to submit to a background check without having to worry about a criminal past impacting your eligibility for these opportunities.

Who Is Eligible for Expungement in Tennessee?

According to Tennessee law, you may qualify if you’ve had charges dismissed, were arrested and released without charges, or received a not guilty or “no true bill” verdict in trial. You may also be eligible if your case did not result in prosecution or if you had successfully defended an order of protection that was ultimately denied by the court.

However, not all crimes are eligible for expungement. Eligible felony charges must be found on a list maintained by the state. These crimes can include theft, forgery, vandalism, specific drug charges, and certain types of fraud.

Eligible misdemeanors work a little differently. To qualify for expungement, your misdemeanor must not be listed on the state’s list. For example, assault, restraining order violation, child abuse, and finalized DUI charges may not be eligible.

What Steps Are Necessary for Expungement?

To streamline expungement and avoid errors, hiring an experienced attorney is highly recommended. Your attorney will guide you through all the steps of the process. These steps include:

• Filing a request with the applicable court.
• Indicating eligible charges and filing them with the criminal court clerk.
• Receiving certified copies of expungement orders after court approval.
• Paying applicable fees.

Understanding the severe effect that a criminal record can have on your life, Patton & Hyder PLLC offers comprehensive legal support for expungement matters. Whether you’re trying to erase a misdemeanor or felony charge from your record, these criminal defense attorneys of Crossville, TN, will guide you through every step of the process to ensure your concerns are resolved promptly within the confines of state law. If you’re facing criminal charges, these Tennessee lawyers may also be able to help you seek lesser penalties. Visit this firm online to learn more about their services or call (931) 787-1333 to schedule a consultation.