What To Note About North Carolina Felony Expungement Process
Today, felony expungement is very possible in North Carolina. However, there is need to understand that not every person is eligible for the expungement. This article will help you understand some facts about felony Expungement in North Carolina and the eligibility process.
Recently, North Carolina amended their expungement laws and this has made it possible for some felony convictions to meet the threshold. It’s through these new expungement laws that the North Carolina expungement process gets simplified. This has made it possible for a person to file their felony expungement petition sooner and not wait for long like with the old laws.
Where your court found you not guilty for the felony against you, you will automatically manage to file an expungement. At the same time, it’s possible to have your felonies expunged if the case against you gets dismissed. Your age during the time of the crime and the conviction charge that you received plays an integral role in expunging your record.
Basically, not all, persons are eligible for the felony expungement. Therefore, there is need to ensure that you understand the expungement eligibility process appropriately and immensely. Basically, there are crimes that are eligible and others aren’t and before filing your petition, you need to examine whether your crime meets the threshold. You will, never be eligible if your crimes are violence, sex and drunk driving related. Felonies or crimes under Class A all the way to Class G are not eligible. There is still hope as you can petition your ineligible crime with the governor for pardon. However, the governor’s pardon isn’t guaranteed.
There are conditions that will determine whether you are eligible if your crime is eligible. Basically, you need to be 18 years and above and this is the primary requirement. This means that only people who are 18 years and above are able to petition for an expungement. There are other factors to be considered and this is having waited for the pre-defined time for the criminal record you need to obliterate. Generally, the process will demand that you clear all the costs for the expungement. Also, there is need to prove that you have paid these costs including any fines or restitutions. The expungement eligibility will reflect on your pending criminal charges, criminal summons and even paroles and probations.
Where your crime meets the threshold and you are eligible, you should make sure to identify an expungement lawyer. Endeavor to hire an experienced attorney. Before the attorney takes your case, they will have to assess your eligibility.