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If you’re looking for a cost-effective and stress-free way to clear your criminal record in California, consider alternatives to hiring a traditional expungement attorney. Legal document preparation services like Laguna Legal Help provide professional support with filing and managing your expungement paperwork—without the high cost of legal fees. Our team is experienced in working with courts throughout California and ensures your documents are completed accurately and filed on time.
Expungement in California offers individuals with eligible criminal convictions the opportunity to clear their records and move forward. Under California Penal Code 1203.4, expungement allows for the dismissal of certain convictions, meaning you can legally answer “no” when asked if you’ve been convicted of a crime on most job and housing applications. This process can be life-changing for those seeking employment, professional licenses, or a fresh start.
As of July 1, 2023, California implemented Senate Bill 731 (SB 731), which expands eligibility for expungement. Under this law, individuals with certain felony convictions, including those who served time in state prison, may now qualify to petition for expungement under Penal Code §1203.41, provided at least two years have passed since completing their sentence. Additionally, SB 731 introduces an automatic expungement process for specific lower-level offenses, eliminating the need to file a petition in many cases.
Yes, law enforcement agencies and certain government entities retain access to expunged records. While expungement removes the conviction from public view and allows individuals to state they have no convictions in most situations, these records can still be reviewed for purposes like background checks for law enforcement employment or licensing.
Certain offenses are ineligible for expungement in California, including:
Serious sex offenses involving minors
Murder
Rape
Arson
Terrorism
Additionally, individuals currently serving a sentence, on probation, or facing new charges are not eligible for expungement.
The cost of expungement varies:
Court Filing Fee: Fees can range from $0 to $150, depending on the county and the nature of the offense.
Attorney Fees: Expungement attorneys may charge:
Infraction Expungement: $900
Misdemeanor Expungement: $900
Misdemeanor DUI Expungement: $1,075
Felony Expungement: $1,200 (includes reduction to misdemeanor when eligible)
At Laguna Legal, we offer affordable expungement services. Contact us today to learn more.
The expungement process typically takes between 30 to 120 days from the date of filing. However, processing times can vary depending on the court’s workload and the specifics of the case.
Generally, expungements are not reversible. However, in certain situations, such as if new criminal charges are filed or if the expungement was granted based on false information, a court may vacate the expungement.
The Clean Slate Program is a reentry initiative that provides free legal services to individuals convicted of criminal offenses who are eligible for record clearance. The program aims to help individuals clear eligible convictions to facilitate better access to employment, housing, and educational opportunities.
As mentioned, the expungement process usually takes about 30 to 120 days. Once granted, the conviction is dismissed, and the individual can legally state they have not been convicted of that offense, with some exceptions.
An experienced attorney can ensure eligibility, prepare and file all paperwork accurately, and advocate for you in court. However, they are expensive. At Laguna Legal, we offer the same expungement expertise at lower prices. Contact us today to learn more.
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About Us
We’ve been providing Southern California with Excellent Legal Document and Divorce Mediation services since 1998.
We service the following counties: Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Imperial.
Contact Us
Address:
Laguna Legal Headquarters
24800 Chrisanta Drive, Suite 200
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Phone:
800-497-9850
Fax:
949-497-9877
Email:
team@lagunalegalhelp.com
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aBonded and Certified Legal Document Assistant, LDA #267. We are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice. A Legal Document Assistant provides only self help service to a member of the public who is representing him/her self in a legal matter. We are, however, very experienced and knowledgeable in preparation of living trusts, deeds and other legal documents including divorce mediation. We work closely with several attorneys who can give you the legal advice you need.
