Erase your arrest record — permanently

What is an expunction?

An expunction (sometimes called an expungement) is a civil court order under Chapter 55A of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure directing every agency that holds records of a qualifying arrest — police departments, the Texas Department of Public Safety, county clerks, prosecutors — to delete or destroy them. After an expunction, the arrest is treated as though it never happened, and with narrow exceptions you may deny it on job applications, rental applications, and licensing forms.

Who qualifies for expunction in Texas?

Expunction is generally reserved for arrests that did not end in a conviction or in court-ordered community supervision (other than for certain Class C misdemeanors). Common qualifying situations include:

• Acquittal

  You went to trial and were found not guilty.

• Dismissal

  Your charge was dismissed and, in most cases, the statute of limitations has expired — or the dismissal reflects a lack of probable cause, mistake, or similar reason.

• No charges filed

  You were arrested but never charged, and the statutory waiting period has passed (generally 180 days for a Class C misdemeanor, one year for a Class A or B misdemeanor, and three years for a felony).

• No-bill by a grand jury

  A grand jury declined to indict you on a felony charge.

• Class C deferred disposition

  You successfully completed deferred disposition on a Class C (fine-only) misdemeanor.

• Pardon or actual innocence

  You were convicted but later pardoned or found actually innocent.

• Identity theft

  Someone else was arrested using your name or identifying information.

Who does not qualify?

A final conviction generally cannot be expunged (unless pardoned), and completing deferred adjudication or probation for a Class A or B misdemeanor or a felony makes that arrest ineligible for expunction. But don't stop reading — many people in that position qualify for an order of nondisclosure, which seals the record from public view. Eligibility also typically requires that the arrest not be part of a broader criminal episode that led to a conviction.

The expunction process

1. 1

   We obtain and review your complete criminal history to confirm eligibility and catch every record that needs to be included.

2. 2

   We draft a petition for expunction listing every agency that may hold your records, and file it in the appropriate district or county court.

3. 3

   The court sets a hearing, usually 30 or more days out, and the listed agencies are notified and may respond.

4. 4

   If the statutory requirements are met, the judge signs the order of expunction. We then ensure certified copies reach every agency, which must destroy or return your records.

Start to finish, most expunctions take a few months depending on the county's docket. The result is permanent.