Expungements
If you have a past arrest or criminal conviction, Indiana law provides a once-in-a-life opportunity to clear your record. In most cases, you can only get one expungement so it is critical that it is done correctly. Stidham Legal provides clear, upfront flat-fee pricing starting at $500 to complete your expungement start-to-finish.
A criminal record can be the greatest impediment to housing, employment opportunities, school admission, and scholarship prospects, especially for juveniles. In a fiercely competitive world, often the fastest and easiest way for a decision-maker to exclude a candidate is based on whether and to what extent they have a criminal history. In Indiana, an adult may be able to petition the court to seal their arrest record if their case was dismissed, or after a conviction, and may be able to seal the record under certain circumstances. If you were convicted of a crime as a juvenile, you may be able to expunge the conviction as soon as you have successfully completed your sentence.
Most importantly, an Indiana expungement attorney will advise you that you may be eligible for only one expungement during your lifetime.
Stidham Legal will determine if you are eligible to file a petition, and will work with you to seal or expunge your criminal record.
Stidham Legal, your Indiana expungement attorney, will advise you on the statutory time frames for filing an expungement. The time frame consists of the amount of time that must laps before filing a petition:
Dismissed case/no conviction: 1 year
Misdemeanor conviction: 5 years
D Felony/Level 6 conviction: 8 years
Other Felony convictions: 8 years or 3 years from sentence completion date
Serious Felony convictions: 10 years or 5 years from sentence completion date
One caveat to the above time frame requirement is that the statute allows for a specific petition for early expungement so long as the local prosecutor agrees in writing. Let Stidham Legal guide you through this potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to seal your past arrest(s) and/or conviction(s).
Indiana Expungement Law Features (Arrest or Misdemeanor)
| Arrest only or criminal charge with no conviction | Misdemeanor or Level D/6 Felony reduced to Misdemeanor | |
|---|---|---|
| Court Fee | $0 - No Court Fee | $157 Court Fee |
| Waiting Period | 1 year from date of arrest or charge | 5 years from date of conviction |
| Eligibility | 1. No charges pending 2. Arrest or charge did not result in conviction 3. Not currently in pretrial diversion | 1. No charges pending 2. All fines, fees, court costs and restitution paid 3. Waiting period satisfied |
| Effect (if granted) | Record is not available to public or listed on a criminal history report | Record is not available to public or listed on a criminal history report |
Indiana Expungement Law Features (Felonies)
| Level D/6 Felony not resulting in bodily injury | All other Felonies except those resulting in serious bodily injury | All other Felonies resulting in serious bodily injury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court Fee | $157 Court Fee | $157 Court Fee | $157 Court Fee |
| Waiting Period | 8 years from date of conviction | Later of: 8 years from conviction or 3 years from completion of sentence | Later of: 10 years from conviction or 5 years from completion of sentence |
| Eligibility | 1. No charges pending 2. All fines, fees, court costs and restitution paid 3. Waiting period satisfied | 1. No charges pending 2. All fines, fees, court costs and restitution paid 3. Waiting period satisfied | 1. No charges pending 2. All fines, fees, court costs and restitution paid 3. Waiting period satisfied 4. Prosecutor consents |
| Effect (if granted) | Record is not available to public or listed on a criminal history report | If granted, record remains available to public and listed on a criminal history report, but is visibly marked as "Expunged" | If granted, record remains available to public and listed on a criminal history report, but is visibly marked as "Expunged" |