Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Misdemeanor Expunged Cost?

I was convicted of petty theft as an 18 year old. Since then I�ve committed no crimes, graduated college, served the community, and have been an exemplary citizen. I am currently in the process of finding employment, but am concerned about my prior history being discovered in a background check. I have read several postings on the site concerning expungement, and am looking into that as a means to remedy my situation. However, I no longer have any information regarding my case (i.e. case number, dates, etc.) Without such info, will it still be possible to easily expunge my record? Is hiring an attorney absolutely necessary to carry out the expungement? Because I am currently unemployed and a recent graduate with no savings, am I concerned about the costs associated with hiring an attorney. How much does this undertaking normally cost? Are there any attorneys that provide such services pro bono to struggling citizens? If so, who can I contact?


Asked on 1/08/04, 6:21 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Miller Robert L. Miller & Associates, A Law Corporation

Re: Misdemeanor Expunged Cost?

Thank you for your posting.

If you still remember the court where your case was handled, you should be able to visit the clerk's office, or do a records search, and get the information that you, or an attorney, would need to do an expungement.

Hiring an attorney, like having a tax preparer do your taxes, or having a doctor do a medical procedure, is not "absolutely" necessary. It certainly is recommended, however, and reduces the chances of problems causing you to have to re-do paperwork or refile. I can't speak for other attorney's fees, and I don't quote fees until I know more information, but I invite you to email or call for a fee quote. Because the right to counsel doesn't apply to expungement cases, you won't get an appointed attorney to handle an expungement, and I am not aware of any attorneys that do expungements pro bono.

I hope that this information helps, but if you want more information, have further questions, or feel that you need legal representation, please feel free to email me directly at [email protected]. It's my pleasure to assist you in any way that I can.

Read more
Answered on 1/08/04, 6:59 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Criminal Law questions and answers in California