Mooresville Expungement Lawyer

Experienced Expungement Attorney in Mooresville

If you’ve been charged with a crime, your record may not have to follow you for the rest of your life. North Carolina offers some criminal offenders a second chance in the form of expunction, or expungement. You can talk with a Mooresville expungement lawyer to go over your options for a fresh start.

Work With The Law Office of William T. Corbett, Jr., P.L.L.C.

The team here at The Law Office of William T. Corbett, Jr., P.L.L.C., is committed to helping our clients move forward with their lives following criminal charges and convictions. We can help you navigate the expungement process, whether you’re trying to have a Class I felony or a Class 3 misdemeanor removed from your record.

Reasons to Hire an Expungement Lawyer

In FY 2024-2025, the Tar Heel State issued 1,418,282 expunctions. Many of them were pursuant to S.L. 2020-35, the Second Chance Act, which was signed into law on June 25, 2020. This act allowed for the automatic expungement of cases that ended in acquittals or dismissals. However, it also includes the expungement of many felony and misdemeanor convictions.

If you were convicted of a crime and now want to have your record expunged, you can hire an expungement lawyer to assist you with every step in the process. Your lawyer can navigate complex expungement laws, prevent errors in your paperwork that could lead to denials, and notify appropriate agencies. They can represent you at expungement hearings and advise you about how to handle processes like background checks moving forward.

Who May Qualify for Expungement?

Expungements in North Carolina are offered not just to people who were acquitted by a jury or had their cases dismissed but also to certain nonviolent felony and misdemeanor offenders, as outlined in N.C.G.S. 15A-145.5. The statute makes it impossible to get expunctions for:

• Class A through G felonies
• Class A1 misdemeanors
• Offenses that include assault
• Offenses that require sex offender registration
• Certain stalking or sex-related offenses
• Felony offenses involving heroin, methamphetamine, or possession with intent to sell cocaine
• Certain motor vehicle offenses
• Impaired driving

If you’re not sure whether your conviction qualifies for expunction, contact our office to discuss your options. You can have up to three nonviolent felony convictions or multiple misdemeanor convictions expunged.

How the Expungement Process Works

You can initiate the expungement process by filing a petition form with the Iredell County Clerk of Superior Court at the Iredell County Hall of Justice in nearby Statesville. You may want to obtain a copy of your criminal history first. Your attorney can help you with this process and with filling out the appropriate paperwork, which can include:

• Affidavits of good moral character
• An application form
• An affidavit that there are no outstanding restitution orders or civil judgments
• An affidavit providing information on additional petitions submitted
• An acknowledgment that the waiting period has ended

The petition must be served upon the district attorney, who has 30 days to file an objection and is notified of the date of the hearing. The victim may be present at the hearing, and the judge may also call upon your probation officer. Following the hearing, the court can order that the conviction be expunged, or it can deny your petition.

FAQs

How Much Does It Cost to Expunge a Record in NC?

How much it costs to expunge a record in North Carolina varies. You can expect to pay court fees if you are expunging a conviction, but you must also consider the cost of hiring an attorney to help you handle the paperwork. Some attorneys charge flat fees for expungement cases, while others bill their clients hourly. You can find out how much your case could cost to resolve by contacting our office to schedule a consultation.

What Is the Difference Between an Expungement and an Expunction?

There is no difference between an expungement and an expunction in Mooresville. The two terms are used interchangeably. Though the courts often use the term expunction, the general public usually refers to expungement. Both are correct, and both refer to the legal restoration of the status you had prior to your arrest.

Can I Expunge My Record Myself in NC?

You can expunge your record yourself in North Carolina, but it’s always a good idea to hire an expungement lawyer to help you with this process, which can be confusing. Working with a Mooresville expungement attorney means you won’t have to worry about complex paperwork and keeping track of deadlines. Your attorney can file your paperwork for you and represent you during the proceedings.

How Long Does It Take to Expunge a Record in NC?

How long it takes to expunge a record in North Carolina varies. Factors that can influence your timeline include:

• The type of case you are having expunged
• Whether there is a court backlog
• How long the State Bureau of Investigation review takes

You must also complete the required waiting period, which varies based on the type of offense, before you can file for an expunction order.

Who Can Still See Your Record After an Expungement?

The general public cannot see your record after an expungement in North Carolina, which means that landlords, employers, and educational institutions can no longer use information regarding your arrest against you. However, police departments and prosecutors may still see your record, which can impact future cases should you be accused of further criminal activity.

Your Mooresville Expungement Lawyer

If you are interested in obtaining a clean slate, you can work with a Mooresville expungement lawyer to explore your options. The team here at The Law Office of William T. Corbett, Jr., P.L.L.C., can provide detailed guidance through each step.

Our lead attorney, William T. Corbett, Jr., has over three decades of experience in practicing criminal law. In that time, he has assisted many clients with pursuing expunction orders. Our team has a clear understanding of the eligibility criteria and how expungement laws work. We can manage every aspect of your expungement case. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.