{"id":1755,"date":"2021-05-11T13:37:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T13:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/?p=1755"},"modified":"2021-05-12T18:42:12","modified_gmt":"2021-05-12T18:42:12","slug":"should-i-hire-a-lawyer-to-expunge-my-criminal-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/should-i-hire-a-lawyer-to-expunge-my-criminal-records\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I Hire a Lawyer to Expunge My Criminal Records?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Because the criminal record expungement process is so complex and requires a concentrated approach, it is necessary to hire a criminal defense lawyer to navigate your petition if you want successful results. Continue below to learn some important facts about Indiana criminal record expungement and sealing that will help you better understand the importance of retaining professional legal assistance and teach you how to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Indiana-Criminal-Record-Expungement-Lawyer-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Criminal Expungement Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana \" class=\"wp-image-1756\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Indiana-Criminal-Record-Expungement-Lawyer-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Indiana-Criminal-Record-Expungement-Lawyer-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Indiana-Criminal-Record-Expungement-Lawyer-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Indiana-Criminal-Record-Expungement-Lawyer-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Indiana-Criminal-Record-Expungement-Lawyer.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Criminal Expungement Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana 317-636-7514<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Criminal Record Expungement Law<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Indiana\u2019s Second Chance law (IC \u00a735-38-9) was enacted on July 11, 2013. It permits the permanent sealing of a criminal record from public access or view. Although the general public cannot access or view an expunged criminal record, some parties can, such as the government and law enforcement officials. Those who cannot include current employers, potential employers, landlords, banks, college admissions offices, credit card companies, dating partners, coworkers, family, friends, and similar types of private, non-governmental parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Expungement Process<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">There are various stages of the criminal record expungement process, all of which your skilled defense lawyer will navigate for you. But here is a basic breakdown:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2611 Gather all necessary documents and evidence needed for the petition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2611 Complete the expungement petition and submit it by the required deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2611 Continue to file all remaining documents and copies with the proper county clerks\u2019 office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2611 Satisfy all filing fees. You may choose to fill out and submit a fee waiver that would excuse you from paying any filing fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2611 Receive a case number and court date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2611 Attend the hearing and complete the argument for expungement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Criminal Record Expungement Costs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>How much does it cost to expunge or seal criminal records in Indiana? Well, it all depends on the lawyer you choose, their personal fees, and the complexity of your case. Lawyer fees generally start at $1,000 or so, and then you might also have to pay filing fees and related costs. There is no fee to submit the actual expungement petition, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why You Need a Lawyer to Help With Your Expungement Paperwork<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The process that is required of the petitioner for record sealing or expunging is highly complicated, and revolves around a stringent schedule that\u2019s difficult to follow. One little filing mistake or missed deadline, and a person loses their chance at sealing their public criminal history forever. For these reasons, it is imperative to retain the professional legal counsel of a licensed attorney that\u2019s familiar with the Indiana expungement laws and provides services for filing and petitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:19px\"><strong>Are you looking for a qualified criminal defense lawyer who can help you with your petition?<\/strong> <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/contact-us.php\" target=\"_blank\">Contact the Law Office of David E. Lewis<\/a> at 317-636-7514 to schedule a free consultation and get your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/appeals-expungement.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Indianapolis Indiana criminal record expungement<\/a> appeal started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:19px\"><strong>You Should Also Read:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/criminal-record-expungement-faqs-for-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Criminal Record Expungement FAQS for 2021<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/can-i-expunge-my-arrest-if-i-am-on-probation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Can I Expunge My Arrest if I Am on Probation?<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/who-can-access-expunged-criminal-records\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Who Can Access Expunged Criminal Records?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/contact-us.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"447\" src=\"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/4-Copy-e1561564766838-1024x447.jpg\" alt=\"Indianapolis Criminal Defense 317-636-7514\" class=\"wp-image-1296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/4-Copy-e1561564766838-1024x447.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/4-Copy-e1561564766838-300x131.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/4-Copy-e1561564766838-768x336.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Schedule a Free Consultation Today!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Because the criminal record expungement process is so complex and requires a concentrated approach, it is necessary to hire a criminal defense lawyer to navigate your petition if you want successful results. Continue below to learn some important facts about &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/should-i-hire-a-lawyer-to-expunge-my-criminal-records\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1756,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1300,250],"tags":[1311,1310,33,627,502,651],"class_list":["post-1755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-appeals","category-criminal-record-expungement","tag-criminal-expungement-law","tag-criminal-expungement-lawyer-indianapolis","tag-criminal-record-expungement","tag-criminal-record-expungement-indiana","tag-expungement-application-indiana","tag-expungement-lawyer-indianapolis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1755"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1757,"href":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1755\/revisions\/1757"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.delewislaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}