Shae Irving has written and edited for Nolo since 1994, specializing in estate planning and family law issues. She has written or co-written books and software, including Prenuptial Agreements: How to Write a Fair and Lasting Contract, Living Wills and Powers of Attorney for California, Get It Together: Organize Your Records So Your Family Won't Have To, and Nolo's Quicken WillMaker software. Shae graduated from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley and briefly practiced law at a large San Francisco firm before becoming a legal author.
Articles By Shae Irving
If you are a former juvenile offender, you may be able to clear your record by having your juvenile court record expunged—that is sealed or destroyed.
In Florida, some criminal records can be sealed or expunged under certain conditions. In most cases, after your record is sealed or expunged, the general public won’t be able to view it.
Wisconsin allows adult criminal records to be expunged -- that is, erased or sealed -- in very limited circumstances.
Virginia’s expungement laws are restrictive, but there are a few circumstances under which you can apply to have your criminal record sealed.
Employers and landlords are increasingly asking about applicants’ criminal histories. Screening often involves a background check, or at least a Google search. Assume that your record will become known, and prepare now to handle it.
If your criminal record contains inaccurate information, you can ask the state to correct it. Criminal records are usually kept on file in a central state database.
A pardon and an expungement are two different legal mechanisms with different legal results. Learn more about the advantages and limits of each.
When a private site has published information about your criminal record, you can take some steps after your expungement.
In Mississippi, you may petition to have your criminal record expunged -- that is, erased or sealed. But not all records are eligible.