The processes of record sealing and expungement involve making your criminal record unavailable to the public. With record sealing, your criminal record is still on file but it cannot be viewed by the public without a court order. Law enforcement agencies and firearm background checks, however, can still access your record. Expungement, a type of record sealing, is a court proceeding that enables your record to be sealed and only available to State and Federal agencies.
Even reading about record sealing and expungement can be a headache, as they both require potentially complicated paperwork filing, court proceedings, and legal know-how. The Law Office of Lisa Pelosi understands not only the intricacies of expungement law, but also how important a clean record is to your life. We compiled the top reasons to proceed with record sealing. Even if it requires initial effort, getting your record sealed can drastically improve your life.
Job Searches
You know that sinking feeling you get when you see the “criminal history” section of a job application? Because you have a criminal record, you fill out the section honestly; as a result, though, employers usually pass right over your application, no matter how qualified of a candidate you might be. After getting your criminal record expunged, though, you can honestly answer “no” to questions related to criminal record. This reason alone is worth hiring an expungement attorney to help you seal your record.
Loan Applications
Whether you need a loan for school, buying a house, or financing a new vehicle, any loan application will ask about your criminal history and record. If you even get a financing option from a lender, your monthly interest rates will be unreasonable. If you have a criminal record, you have no choice but to pay way more than you should to finance a purchase. When you get your record sealed or expunged, though, you no longer have to admit to any criminal record — because yours is clean! At The Law Office of Lisa Pelosi, we have seen how record sealing has improved the quality of life for so many of our clients. Contact our expungement attorneys today to see how we can help your specific situation.
Mental Health
Nobody in the world wants their life defined by one or two of their worst moments. Having a criminal record forces you to dwell constantly on a mistake you might have made when you had just turned 18. You have moved on in your life, maybe raised children or found a partner. You have cleaned up your life, and it’s not fair that your record doesn’t show this progress. For peace of mind and a chance to truly live without a blemish on your record, consider record sealing and expungement.
The Law Office of Lisa Pelosi specializes in expungement law in New York City and New York State. If you want to move beyond your criminal record and clean up your legal history, call our law offices today for a free consultation.
