If you are reading this, you already know the heavy cost of a criminal record. It is the job interview that goes great until the background check comes back. It is the rental application that gets denied without explanation. It is the loan that falls through, or the professional license you can’t obtain.
Even if your case was dismissed, or you “paid your debt to society” years ago, your arrest record remains visible to the public. It hangs over your head, closing doors before you even get a chance to knock.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
At The Vegas Lawyers, we help good people put their past behind them for good. We don’t just file paperwork; we navigate the complex bureaucracy of the Nevada criminal justice system to legally seal your record.
Our team is led by Tony Abbatangelo, the former Chief Judge of the Las Vegas Justice Court. We know exactly what the District Attorney and the judges are looking for because we used to make the decisions. We know the specific procedures for Clark County, Henderson, and North Las Vegas, and we know how to speed up a process that often traps people in red tape.
You’ve served your time. You’ve learned your lesson. Now, let us help you get your life back.
Consulting with an experienced attorney before you embark on the mission of obtaining a sealed record is smart. The record sealing process can differ depending upon the county in which your criminal record was created. However, in general, it requires preparing documents and correctly filing the documents in court.
Continue reading to learn more about how to seal a criminal record, sealed record eligibility, and the advantages of working with our record sealing lawyers. When you’re ready to get a fresh start on life, call The Vegas Lawyers at (702) 707-3000 and let us help you with your record seal.
Record expungement and record sealing have similar goals but different outcomes. Record expungement is where your criminal record is destroyed and erased as if it never happened in the first place. While record expungement is the most desirable outcome, it is not offered in Nevada at this time.
In Nevada, the only choice you have is to opt for record sealing. The record sealing process entails hiding (not erasing) your criminal record from most background checks (i.e., employment, housing, etc.). However, the main difference is that government agencies can still access sealed records, including the Nevada State Gaming Authority. Thus, if you have a criminal record and want to work in a casino, your record would still be accessible to gaming regulators.
It’s important to note that not every crime is eligible for record sealing, and some records take much longer than others to seal. Contact us to speak with our experienced record sealing paralegals and lawyers today.
If you’ve been convicted of a crime in the past, paid your debt to society, and are ready to move on, it’s reasonable to consider seeking help from a lawyer to seal your criminal record. A good criminal lawyer can help you determine eligibility, gather the appropriate documents, and submit the necessary paperwork. However, it’s important to remember that not every criminal record is eligible for a record seal. Currently, the waiting periods to seal criminal records are as follows:
How long do arrests stay on your record? If you do nothing about it, arrests stay on your record indefinitely. However, if you work alone or with a lawyer to seal your criminal record, arrests records are eligible for an immediate record seal. Contact The Las Vegas Lawyers today to speak with a knowledgeable criminal record lawyer.
A criminal record can affect just about every meaningful area of your life. That includes your work life, family life, housing situation, and more. Individuals with a misdemeanor or felony on their record must constantly explain their past to potential employers, mortgage lenders, volunteer organizations, and other people who conduct a background check.
By sealing your criminal record, you give yourself the opportunity for a fresh start. If your record seal is approved, you no longer need to worry about your past dragging down your future. That means that you can walk into the bank, job interviews, or into newly formed relationships with your head held high without the threat of someone finding out about your past.
The record sealing process can be complicated and drawn-out, but it’s definitely worth the trouble. If you’re interested in sealing your criminal record, give us a call to speak with a skilled lawyer for record sealing in Nevada. The simple fact is that good people make mistakes. Having a criminal record should not weigh you down for the rest of your life. Get the help you need by calling The Vegas Lawyers at (702) 707-3000 and let us help you.
There are a lot of reasons why a person would want to seal his or her criminal record. If you’re wondering if you should “clean my criminal record,” take a look at a few of the most commonly cited benefits for doing so:
It’s essential to note that one thing a criminal record seal can’t do is restore gun rights. The only way to have gun rights restored in Nevada is to be pardoned. However, pardons don’t erase or hide criminal history on background checks.
Can I clean my criminal record for any type of conviction? No. There are certain limitations to criminal record sealing in Nevada. Continue reading to learn more in the next section. If you have more questions, contact us to discuss the benefits of record sealing for your specific circumstances.
The vast majority of criminal offenses are eligible for record sealing in Nevada. However, there are a few crimes that are prohibited from ever being sealed. They include:
Otherwise, most other crimes are eligible for record sealing after the required waiting period. It’s important to note that in some cases, a judge can deny the sealing of a criminal record, even if you qualify for record sealing. Further, If your paperwork is inaccurate or omits important information, it could delay the record sealing process or result in denial. These are yet more reasons why having an experienced law firm that fully understands the process can make it go much more smoothly and efficiently.
Since you don’t get many chances to apply to have a criminal record sealed, it’s recommended that you consult with a proven criminal record sealing lawyer as soon as possible if your petition for record seal has been previously denied.
The record sealing process varies depending on the county you live in. The first step is to petition the court (within the arresting district) for record sealing. The next two steps include preparing your documents and filing the documents in court.
How can I seal my criminal record? Since the process can vary, it’s in your best interest to consult a lawyer to seal criminal record who is familiar with local procedures and requirements. Learn more below.
It’s important to note that partial criminal record seals are not possible. That means that if you’ve been convicted of a sealable offense and other non-sealable offenses, your entire record is ineligible for sealing.
In Nevada, the process for criminal record sealing requires extensive details and time. After submitting a petition to the court, it could take up to 8 months to receive an official response, and that doesn’t even include the time before the submission. The following are the basic steps you’ll go through when petitioning for record sealing in Nevada.
To begin the process, you must obtain all criminal history from the Nevada Criminal History Central Repository of the Department of Public Safety. This takes roughly 6-8 weeks, and you need to obtain a proof of valid government-issued identification via a fingerprint card. The required fee per each criminal history report request is currently $27 (which is subject to change) and cannot be waived. You must submit all criminal history reports to the District Attorney’s Office, as leaving one out could be detrimental to your petition.
After you obtain your criminal records and required identifications, you must accurately fill out and prepare record sealing forms. There are different forms tailored to whether you are petitioning in a district court or a justice court.
The forms are:
You must submit the forms in an unpadded manila envelope with a prepaid postage stamp and a return address to the district attorney’s office for review.
If the District Attorney’s Office grants you eligibility to have your records sealed, it will sign the Order and mail back to you the original forms and supporting documentation.
You must then send the original forms to the court clerk (depending on which court) for filing.
After you have filed with the court clerk, and when a judge signs the Order, you must send out copies to all the agencies that were involved in the criminal offense (district attorney’s office, etc.). Keep in mind that if you do not follow this step, your criminal records will never be sealed.
Per Nevada law, juvenile records are sealed when the individual turns 21. However, to be eligible for a juvenile record seal, the individual must avoid convictions for any other felony crimes, violent crimes, or crimes involving “lewdness” with minors.
How are juvenile records sealed if you don’t meet the initial requirements?
If you do not meet the requirements mentioned above, you may still have an opportunity to seal your juvenile record. Generally, doing so requires you to:
As you can imagine, proving that you’ve been rehabilitated isn’t always an easy task. Working with an experienced record sealing lawyer can help you provide convincing and detailed evidence of your rehabilitation.
Under most circumstances, when your criminal record is sealed, it’s treated like it never existed. However, that’s not true in every situation. For example, if you apply for a job with a casino or other gambling-related institution, the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission can (and most likely will) view your criminal record.
For the most part, the gaming commission is only concerned about convictions related to finance. Examples of sealed crimes that may still prohibit you from employment in the gaming industry include:
In addition to the Nevada Gaming Commission, it’s important to note that sealed criminal records can still be viewed by certain federal government agencies like the FBI, CIA, DEA, etc. Contact us to speak with a proven record sealing lawyer to learn more.
You can seal your record on your own without the assistance of a lawyer. However, the process can be especially frustrating and complicated without the help of an experienced record sealing attorney. We’ve had many clients come to us after they’ve tried to seal their records on their own without success. Generally, a record sealing attorney can do the following:
If you’re ready to seal your record, we can help. Continue reading to learn how a record sealing attorney at The Vegas Lawyers can help you.
No. This is the most common myth we hear. In Nevada, criminal records never disappear automatically, no matter how much time has passed. Even if your case was 20 years ago, it will still show up on a background check until you obtain a court order to seal it. You must file a petition with the court to have it removed; the system does not do it for you.
The waiting period depends on the severity of the offense. The clock starts after your case is officially closed (meaning probation is over and fines are paid).
Yes. Even if you were never convicted, the arrest record and the court booking still exist in the public database. Background checks often show “Arrested: [Date] – Charge: [Crime],” even if the final disposition was “Dismissed.” Employers often see the arrest and make assumptions. We can usually seal dismissed cases immediately to remove the arrest from your history
Yes. Once your record is sealed, your civil rights are restored, and you are legally permitted to answer “No” if an employer asks if you have a criminal record (with very few exceptions). The law treats the event as if it never occurred. This is the single biggest benefit of record sealing—it opens doors to employment that were previously closed.
Yes, but the waiting period is longer than other misdemeanors. For a standard Misdemeanor DUI (1st or 2nd offense), you must wait 7 years after the case is closed to petition for a seal. However, if your DUI charge was reduced to Reckless Driving, the waiting period drops to just 1 year. This is why having a strong defense attorney at the beginning of your case is so important.
A sealed record is invisible to the general public, landlords, private employers, and loan officers. However, specific government agencies may still have access. In Las Vegas, the most important exception is the Nevada Gaming Control Board. If you apply for a gaming license, they can still access sealed records. Other agencies with access include the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners and law enforcement agencies (if you are arrested again).
No. Record sealing and the restoration of gun rights are two different legal processes. Sealing hides the record from the public, but it does not automatically overturn a federal ban on firearm possession (common with Domestic Violence or Felony convictions). To restore gun rights, you typically need a Pardon from the Nevada Board of Pardons Commissioners. We can assist with both Sealing and Pardons.
You are allowed to try, but the process is bureaucratic and prone to rejection if paperwork is imperfect. You must obtain records from every agency that touched your case (Police, DA, Court), fill out specific petitions, and serve the correct prosecutors. If you make a mistake, the District Attorney can object, and your request will be denied. At The Vegas Lawyers, we handle the entire administrative burden for you, ensuring the petition is accurate and processed as fast as the courts allow.
Are you tired of being discriminated against due to mistakes you made years ago? Working with an experienced record sealing lawyer in Nevada gives you the best chance at finally sealing your criminal record from public view and no longer worrying about the consequences of society judging you for your past.
Sealing your criminal record can open doors to new job opportunities, housing, and the restoration of certain rights. Don’t face the complex Nevada record sealing process alone, our experienced Las Vegas lawyers are ready to guide you every step of the way.
Call (725) 217-4768 now for a free, no-obligation consultation and take the first step toward a fresh start.
