Houston Expungement Lawyer
Houston Expungement and Record Sealing Criminal Defense Attorney
The founder of the Hochglaube & DeBorde Law Firm in Houston, criminal defense attorney Nicole DeBorde, strongly feels that your legal record should not be tarnished by brushes with the law dating back to your youth.
As a productive, solid Texas citizen, you may be able to obtain relief with a record expunction or petition for nondisclosure. These days, virtually anyone can gain access to your past criminal record. An emphasis on background checks has seen to that. When such negatives are turned up by potential employers, your record could get in the way of obtaining gainful employment, public benefits or decent housing.
That’s where experienced Houston expungement lawyer Nicole DeBorde’s invaluable legal assistance for expediting record sealing and expunction comes in. Contact her in Houston today by calling (832) 720-7255.
Respected and Responsive Expunction Representation
A record expunction is a legal remedy that’s usually only available to you in certain situations. For example, if you’ve been arrested but your case was not filed or your case was dismissed. It’s also available if your case concluded with an acquittal. A record expunction (sometimes called an expungement) will effectively erase your criminal record.
If you have successfully completed what’s called a deferred adjudication, you may be eligible for nondisclosure relief. A petition for nondisclosure is a request that the government seal your criminal record from the prying eyes of the public. This sealing is not as thorough as an expunction, since the charge remains on your record.
If your criminal record from a bygone day continues to haunt your professional prospects, be in touch with our trusted Houston law firm today. The Hochglaube & DeBorde Law Firm can help with respected, responsive representation.
Reputational damage from arrest and prosecution in a criminal matter can be devastating and lifelong both professionally and personally. Publicly available criminal records can prevent you from getting the job you want, affect your finances, prevent you from getting loans, prevent you from attending school activities with your family and even from living where you want to live. A Houston expunctions lawyer can help you explore the possibility of removing or sealing damaging records from public view.
The law firm of Hochglaube & DeBorde can help you with the record expunction or sealing process whether your cases were in Houston, Harris County, Fort Bend, Montgomery County, Brazoria County, and beyond. Whether you are interested in sealing records or removing them entirely through expunction, one of our experienced Houston-based lawyers can walk you through the options to clear your good name. If your case involves post-conviction matters, a post conviction lawyer can also assist in navigating the complexities of post-conviction relief and ensuring that your rights are protected throughout the process.
What Is a Texas Record Expunction?
In Texas, an expunction, often called expungement in other states, is a civil lawsuit which can be brought to clear arrests in certain criminal cases from a person’s record. Generally, with very limited exceptions, convictions cannot be expunged. Typically, records of arrest and criminal filings can be expunged after an accused individual has been acquitted, or found not guilty, by a judge or jury.
Some cases which have been dismissed can also be expunged depending on certain factors such as whether the case has been indicted and when the case was dismissed. Sometimes, people confuse the term expunction with sealing. Some records which cannot be expunged can still be subject to an order preventing the records from being visible to the public via a petition for non-disclosure. Unlike petitions for expunction, which are often filed in civil district court, petitions for non-disclosure are filed in the criminal court where the original case took place.
Juvenile records are another example of records which are sealed as opposed to expunged if a petition is filed and an order granting the petition is made by the court. Petitions for non-disclosure in adult criminal cases are generally made in certain cases after a person has successfully completed deferred adjudication, a type of community supervision. If you are dealing with juvenile records or charges, consulting with a juvenile defense lawyer can provide the specialized legal support needed to ensure the best possible outcome for a young person’s future.
Some cases are not statutorily eligible for sealing even after successful completion of deferred adjudication. Our team can discuss your options with you and answer questions about how you might be able to minimize the impact of an arrest record on your life.
If a petition for expunction is granted, an order will be issued for agencies served in the petition to destroy records related to the arrest and charge and would be prohibited from retaining or sharing such documents and reports. If a record is ordered sealed or non-disclosed, the records pertaining to the case are no longer visible to the public but will be available to certain law enforcement and government agencies.
Over 60 Years of Combined Experience
Handling Criminal Defense & Serious Injury Cases
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Proven, Successful Trial Attorney in Texas
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Persistent, Thorough, and Prepared Advocacy
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Former Prosecutors With a Long Track Record of Respect
Client Testimonials
Proven Results, Trusted Representation
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“Nicole goes above and beyond the “call of duty” both in and out of the court room. Her statement to us when my husband and I hired her was that she would treat us like her family. She most certainly has done that. It has been almost 5 years since adjudication and she has continued to help us with any need that may arise. In this world of uncertainty, there is no one else I would rather have as our counsel than Nicole DeBorde. She truly is an anomaly and has no equal.”- Kasie
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“I was on probation and got arrested out of town. I had an attorney at the time who told me I would go to prison for 2 to 4 years for Revocation of Probation. I found Ms DeBorde, who told me that she would fight all the way to make sure this didn’t happen. I hired her, and in the end, she did just what she said. I’m very grateful that we have people on this earth who care about others the way Ms DeBorde does. She is an honest straight forward super Attorney . Thank you, Ms. DeBorde.”- Michael
