Expunging your record is important for your future. If you want to get into college, be hired for a job, or live life without a cloud over your head knowing that you’ve been convicted of a crime, you should consider expungement. The process doesn’t have to be difficult. Hiring an attorney will give you peace of mind and may even save you from another court appearance.

Timeline for Applying

Depending on the crime, you’ll be able to apply for an expungement either immediately or within a few months or years. You will have an arrest on your record even if you aren’t convicted of a crime. You can apply for an expungement immediately if this is the case. However, you’ll have to wait six months if you complete a pre-trial intervention or a conditional discharge program. In addition, for town ordinance violations you must wait two years, and disorderly or petty disorderly offenses will need 5 years. These waiting periods will either begin on the date of your sentence, the date you pay your fines, the date you complete parole or probation, or the date you finish your prison sentence. 

Early Pathway Option

Finally, there may be an early pathway (three years for disorderly persons and five years for indictable cases as opposed to five and ten respectively) to expungement available to you, but you would need to discuss your particular situation with counsel to get more information on that. 

What Your Records Will Show

In the state of New Jersey, any expungement must be reported when applying for a job with a law enforcement agency or judicial branch of government. Also, if you expunged a conditional discharge in the past, you won’t be entitled to a second. Other than that, all expungements will allow you to say “no” when asked if you have been convicted of a crime. That’s enough to give you peace of mind when applying for a new job or college.

Hire An Expungement Attorney

While you can represent yourself when applying for expungement, you should carefully consider using an attorney. With the right knowledge, resources, and skill they will make the process easier and be there to represent you in case you need to make a court appearance. In addition, filing for an expungement requires a lot of paperwork and time. Because of this, allowing an attorney to help you, answer any questions, and do research will make things much easier.

Contact Leon Matchin For Help

Attorney Leon Matchin will work with you every step of the way to get your record expunged. No matter the charge or the crime, we are here to help you. Let us give you the peace of mind you deserve. For this and any other legal advice, call us today at (732) 887-2479 or email Leon at [email protected].