Welcome to Records Removal Services! We remove criminal records by either expungement, seal, or pardon. Current laws allow your criminal records to be visible to everyone resulting in the loss of jobs, housing, and credit opportunities until you expunge, set-aside, or vacate your court and arrest records.

  Records Removal Services™ - Click on the state your conviction or problem occurred for additional information; Records Removal Services only operates in the states linked below:

Operating States:

Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana

Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Arizona
A Pardon is a form of Executive Clemency which relieves an offender from further punishment and disabilities imposed by reason of conviction of a criminal offense. It is an act of grace which represents forgiveness for the particular crime.
All civil rights are restored, which includes the right to possess firearms, right to vote, right to hold public office and to sit on a jury.

State offenders can have their convictions “set-aside” or “vacated” by the sentencing court. This process dismisses the charges against them upon successful completion of probation or sentence and discharge. This relief also restores all rights and eliminates all disabilities and penalties as a result of the conviction.

Arkansas
A pardon is the exemption of a convicted person from the penalties of an offense or crime. A pardon can restore the right to serve on a jury and the right to possess firearms.

An expungement is automatically granted after the pardon has been granted. The record “shall be sealed, sequestered, and treated as confidential”. The individual may state that no such conduct ever occurred and that no such records exist.

A person whose record is expunged “shall have all privileges and rights restored, shall be completely exonerated, and the record which have been expunge shall not affect any civil rights or liberties, unless otherwise specifically provided for by law.”

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record.

California
A pardon is a distinct achievement based upon proof of a useful, productive and law-abiding life following conviction. A person who receives a pardon may serve on a jury. A full pardon will enable one to possess any type of weapon that may lawfully be possessed by others in California.

An expungement relieves the defendant of certain penalties and disabilities that result from a criminal action. Under California law, once a case is expunged you are no longer required to disclose these convictions on job applications and in interviews for certain jobs.

Sealing a criminal record means to remove the specific record from public view. When a criminal history record is sealed, the public will not have access to it. Sealed records remain in a confidential file on the Department of Justice’s computer but it does not show up on record checks such as background checks done by employers

If you were arrested for or convicted of the following offenses before January 1, 1976, you can request for the record to be purged:

    Possession of “not more than 28.5 grams of marijuana”;
    Unlawful possession of marijuana paraphernalia;
    Unlawful presence in a place where marijuana is being used;
    Unlawfully being under the influence of marijuana.

When a case is purged, the marijuana arrest and conviction records are completely removed from the rap sheet.

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record.

Colorado
A pardon is a distinct achievement based upon proof of a useful, productive and law-abiding life following conviction. A pardon restores fire arm privileges. It also removes legal disabilities, including employment disqualifications, and is likely to enhance an individual’s employability.

An expungement is the process that removes a criminal record from general view. An expungement gives you the ability to indicate that no record exists for employment purposes.

Sealing a criminal record means to remove the specific record from public view. When a criminal history record is sealed, the public will not have access to it.

Pardon in the State of Florida: A Pardon is a constitutionally authorized process that provides the means through which convicted felons may seek restoration of their civil rights and may be considered for relief from punishment. The restoration of voting rights and other civil rights, pardons, commutation of sentence, relief from fines and forfeitures, and restoration of firearm authority will be granted.

In Florida, requests for a pardon may only be filed under the following circumstances:

  10 years following completion of sentence. 

  A waiver (for the required 10 year waiting period) is available for non violent offenders after 5 years of being free of criminal activity.

  Expungement in the State of Florida: When a record has been expunged, those entities which would have access to a sealed record will be informed that the subject of the record has had a record expunged, but would not have access to the record itself without a court order.

Any criminal history record that is ordered to be expunged by a court of competent jurisdiction must be physically destroyed or obliterated by any criminal justice agency having custody of such record.

In Florida, criminal records may only be expunged under the following circumstances:

  Nolle Prosequi: Didn’t go to trial/court.
  Case against you was dismissed.
  No bill (no information).
  Minor Misdemeanors having been sealed for 10 years.

  Seal in the State of Florida: Sealing a criminal record means to remove the specific record from public view. When a criminal history record is sealed, the public will not have access to it, but certain governmental or related entities may have access to it.

In Florida, criminal records may only be sealed under the following circumstances:

  Adjudication withheld.
  Acquittal (after trial).
  Minor Misdemeanors.

  As determined or ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record.

  Pardon in the State of Georgia: A pardon is a distinct achievement based upon proof of a useful, productive and law-abiding life following conviction. The right to vote, right to serve on a jury, the right to purchase or possess firearms will be restored. (more)

  Expungement in the State of Georgia: The terms "expunge" and "expunction" shall mean that all records or other evidence of the existence of the complaint shall be destroyed.

  Criminal Records in the State of Georgia: If you have ever been arrested or convicted of a crime, your criminal record is likely to be stored in a national or state database. The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) keeps a record of all of your arrests or convictions in the State of Georgia.

Special Note:  Nolo contendere, in criminal trials, in some common law jurisdictions, is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of guilty or not guilty. Its literal translation from Latin means, "I do not want to contend," and is also referred to as a plea of no contest, to stand mute, or, more informally, a nolo plea. Nolo contendere, while not technically a guilty plea, has the same effect as a guilty plea, and is often offered as a part of a plea bargain. In the State of Georgia, anyone accepting this plea cannot get an Expungement.

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record. 

Idaho
A pardon is a distinct achievement based upon proof of a useful, productive and law-abiding life following conviction. A pardon will state that the person has been rehabilitated, relieves legal disabilities and prohibitions. A pardon will relieve state firearms disabilities, as well as welfare and employment disabilities.

Indiana
A Pardon is essentially the abolishment of guilt and automatically becomes grounds for judicial expungement. A pardon will restore rights and removes disabilities lost from a conviction. Firearm privileges can also be restored.

In the State of Indiana, under some circumstances, you may be able to have a criminal record expunged, which means the records will be delivered to you or destroyed. All references and information of the arrest and booking, the case chronology, case charges, criminal history and charge disposition that is electronically maintained in the Justice system will be destroyed.

Iowa
A pardon, which if full and unconditional, relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon restores all citizenship rights (right to vote, hold public office, and firearm rights).

An expungement is the “erasing” of the record of a particular criminal offense. The record is expunged, or erased from public access.

Kansas
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon removes disabilities and restores all rights imposed under state law.

An expungement treats your record as not having been convicted. The expungement will erase the conviction off the criminal record.

Louisiana
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon will restore the convicted person to “status of innocence”. All civil rights are restored, including firearms.

An expungement means the removal of a record from public access. An expungement shall order all agencies and law enforcement offices having record of the arrest, whether on microfilm, computer card or tape, or on any photographic, electronic, or mechanical method of storing data, to destroy any record of arrest, photograph, fingerprint, or any other information of any and all kinds or descriptions.

Maine
A pardon represents evidence of rehabilitation.
After 10 years a pardoned person can apply to the State Bureau of Identification to have all references to the pardoned crime deleted from the FBI’s identification record.

Maryland
"Pardon" means an act of clemency in which the Governor, by order, absolves the grantee from the guilt of the grantee's criminal acts and exempts the grantee from any penalties imposed by law for those criminal acts.

All disabilities and penalties imposed by the conviction will be lifted. Voting, holding public office, jury and firearms privileges are restored.

Expungement is the removal of police and court records from public inspection. A person need not refer to or give information concerning an expunged charge when answering a question concerning a criminal charge.

Pardon in the State of Michigan:  A pardon in the State of Michigan relieves the punishment and takes away the existence of guilt. A pardon puts the offender at an innocent status in the eyes of the law as if the person never committed the crime.

A pardon will restore the right to serve on a jury. Firearm privileges may be restored by the concealed weapons licensing board. The board must find convincing evidence that the person is not likely to be dangerous to the safety of other persons.

  Expungement in the State of Michigan: Expunging your criminal record means that your prior conviction is set aside. If you have a conviction expunged, you are considered not to have been convicted for most purposes.

  Only first time offenders are eligible for Expungement in the State of Michigan. After an Expungement, you can honestly tell potential employers that you have a clean criminal record.

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record.

Minnesota
A pardon will restore all legal disabilities and sets aside the conviction.

Minnesota allows all records relating to an arrest, indictment or information, trial, or verdict to be sealed so that they are inaccessible except by a court order.

If your case is “expunged,” then a landlord, employer, or any other private citizen searching public records won’t be able to access it.

Missouri
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon will abolish all effects of the conviction, relieve all obligations associated with the conviction as well as restoring all civil rights (includes firearms) and legal disqualification.

Sealing or expunging a criminal record means to remove the specific record from public view.

Nebraska
A pardon is an exemption from all penalties incurred as a consequence of a crime.

A pardon will restore civil rights that are lost from a felony conviction, including the right to be a juror, the right to hold public office, the right to possess firearms, and the right to hold certain licenses (liquor license, public health and welfare licenses).

Nevada
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense.

The pardon will remove all disabilities, including licensing barriers. Firearm privileges may be restored with a pardon unless specified otherwise within the pardon document.

Sealing a criminal record means to remove the specific record from public view. When the court seals a record, the record is considered to be non-existent, with exceptions related to law enforcement and consecutive offensives. The offender may rightfully answer prospective employers that they do not have a criminal conviction when asked.

Pardon in the State of New Jersey: A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon will restore all civil rights and relief from all legal disabilities imposed as a result of a conviction.

  Expungement in the State of New Jersey: An expungement is the process that removes a criminal record from general view (see waiting periods below). Once a record is expunged, the individual is legally permitted to state that there is no record.

  Expungement waiting periods in the State of New Jersey:

  2 years for Municipal Offenses.

  5 years for Misdemeanor (Disorderly Persons/Petty Offenses).

  10 years for Felony Offenses.

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record.

New Mexico
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon will restore all the rights of citizenship.

  »  As of September 17, 2007 Records Removal Services is very selective about the cases we will accept in the State of New York.  Current laws in New York make the expungement, seal, or pardon of criminal records difficult, and often times, impossible. 

Pardon in the State of New York: A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense.

  Expungement in the State of New York: Adult felony and misdemeanor convictions cannot be expunged, except where a pardon has been given for innocence.

In all the above cases of persons eligible for expungement, the expungement is to be made as a matter of law. In the case of youths seeking to have records expunged under the inherent authority of the court, a motion to expunge must be made.

  Certificates in the State of New York:  A certificate is available to people with no more than one felony conviction and many misdemeanor convictions. The certificate will relieve and remove disabilities and disqualifications that are imposed upon as a result of the conviction. It will restore firearm rights through specific indication.

A certificate makes it illegal for an employer to consider an applicants criminal background in the hiring process. If applicant is turned down for the job then employer must write a letter stating why applicant was not hired.

 

Certificate of Relief from Disabilities (CRD):  CRD is available to people with no more than one felony conviction and any number of misdemeanor convictions. A CRD is also available to people with federal convictions who reside in New York at sentencing, or at any time thereafter. If issued prior to expiration of supervision, it is deemed temporary, and may be revoked.

Certificate of Good Conduct (CDC):  CDC is available to people with a multitude of felony convictions.

Sealing criminal records in the State of New York: Sealing is available for favorable dispositions such as acquittals, dismissals, decline prosecution and a variety of non criminal infractions (except DWI and prostitution). 

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record.

Additional sealing provisions apply to Youthful Offender adjudications and juvenile proceedings.

  Youth offenders may have records expunged in the court’s discretion, using the inherent authority of the court. Fam. Ct. Act § 373.3.
  Youth offenders may have all fingerprints, palm prints, photographs, and copies thereof, and all other information obtained in the case destroyed under Fam. Ct. Act § 354.1.

North Carolina
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon can restore firearm rights and provides a basis for judicial expungement of the record.

An expungement of a record will restore the offender to the status prior to conviction.

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record.

  Pardon in the State of Ohio: A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. The pardon restores all civil rights including firearms. The pardon also purges (erases) the conviction.
 

  Expungement in the State of Ohio:

  Misdemeanor first time offenders may be expunged one (1) year after completion of sentence (multiple charges may be combined depending upon time span).

  Felony first time offenders may be granted one (1) year after completion of sentence (multiple charges may be combined depending upon time span).

  Sealing criminal records in the State of Ohio: Sealing a criminal record means to remove the specific record from public view. Once a record is sealed, private and public employers, including occupational licensing authorities, are not allowed to inquire about the sealed cases, unless there is critical relationship to the job position (i.e. law enforcement).

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record.

Oklahoma
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon serves as recognition that the offender have adjusted well to society since completion of sentence. A pardon will restore all legal rights lost from conviction. Firearm rights are restored separately and must be specified in the application.

An expungement means the removal of a record from public access. If the record is expunged or sealed, it is as if the conviction never took place and you will not have to disclose your conviction to employers, state, and local government agencies, educational institution.

Oregon
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon will restore all legal rights lost from conviction.

Expungement is the process by which a criminal conviction and/or arrest is destroyed and erased from court records. Once a criminal record is expunged, the conviction is considered to have never occurred. You do not have to advise employers about your past conviction.

Pennsylvania
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon will restore all legal rights lost from conviction. This includes the right to serve on a jury and the right to register firearms.

Expungement means that information about an arrest or charge is removed from your record. The record will be kept aside confidentially.

Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon will restore all legal rights lost from conviction. This includes the right to register firearms.

Expunged records are withdrawn from public access, allowing courts to give deserving people a chance to rebuild their lives without the stigma of a criminal conviction. An expungement relieves all legal disabilities (including firearms disabilities) and allows a person to deny the conviction.

  Pardon in the State of South Carolina: A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon restores all civil rights, gun rights and right to be licensed for any occupation requiring a license.

  Expungement in the State of South Carolina:

  You have never had a charge expunged before, AND

  The charges against you were dismissed, "nol prossed", found "not guilty", OR

  The charges were dismissed by the Solicitor because the defendant successfully completed a Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program, OR

  You were convicted of a Fraudulent Check Law violation, and no criminal activity has taken place for three years following the date of the conviction, OR

  You were convicted of a first offense simple possession of marijuana, received a conditional discharge, and has successfully complied with the terms of that sentence, OR

  You were convicted of a first offense in a Magistrates' or Municipal Court and no other criminal activity has taken place within three years following the date of conviction.
 

  Magistrate Courts in the State of South Carolina: Magistrates are appointed to four-year terms by the Governor upon the advice and consent of the Senate. They serve the county in which they are appointed and exercise county wide jurisdiction. They preside over civil and criminal cases, issue restraining orders, search and arrest warrants and conduct bond hearings, preliminary hearings, bench and jury trials. The South Carolina Constitution guarantees defendants the right to a trial by jury on all criminal charges. Juries in Magistrate's Courts are composed of six citizens.

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record.

  Pardon in the State of Texas: A pardon releases the person from the conditions of his/her sentence and from any disabilities imposed as a result of the conviction. The pardon will restore all civil rights that were lost and removes barriers to some types of employment and professional licensing.
 

  Expungement in the State of Texas:  An expungement of a record will restore the offender to the status prior to conviction. After an expungement, the individual is legally permitted to deny the existence of the conviction.

  Sealing criminal records in the State of Texas: Sealing a criminal record means to remove the specific record from public view. The court shall issue an order prohibiting criminal justice agencies from disclosing to the public criminal history record information related to the offense.

General Statues: A petition for nondisclosure may be filed five (5) years after the discharge and dismissal of enumerated misdemeanor offenses and five (5) years after the discharge and dismissal of felony offenses for which the person was placed on deferred adjudication or diversion program and successfully completed the required community supervision.

All other misdemeanors and felonies (with exception to treason and impeachment) qualify for clemency procedures. All sentences must have been successfully completed. Approval is basis for Expungement of record and petitioner may deny conviction ever existed.

Texas Reg. 37 TAO 27.1, TROS 6252-17, and State of Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 55.01.

  General waiting periods in the State of Texas:

  Two (2) years for Misdemeanor Offences, including but not necessarily limited to: abuse of corpse, advertising for placement of child, aiding suicide, assault, bigamy, cruelty to animals, deadly conduct, destruction of flag, discharge of firearm, disorderly conduct, disrupting meeting or procession, dog fighting, false alarm or report, harassment, harboring runaway child, hoax bombs, indecent exposure, interference with emergency telephone call, leaving a child in a vehicle, making a firearm accessible to a child, obstructing highway or other passageway, possession, manufacture, transport, repair or sale of switchblade knife or knuckles, public lewdness, participating in a riot, silent or abusive calls to 9-1-1 service, terroristic threatening, unlawful carrying of handgun by license holder, unlawful carrying of weapons, unlawful possession of firearm, unlawful restraint, unlawful transfer of certain weapons, violation of protective order preventing offense caused by bias or prejudice.
  Five (5) years for Felony Offenses with Deferred Adjudication.

Special Note:  Nolo contendere, in criminal trials, in some common law jurisdictions, is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of guilty or not guilty. Its literal translation from Latin means, "I do not want to contend," and is also referred to as a plea of no contest, to stand mute, or, more informally, a nolo plea. Nolo contendere, while not technically a guilty plea, has the same effect as a guilty plea, and is often offered as a part of a plea bargain. In the State of Texas, anyone accepting this plea cannot get an Expungement.

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record.

  Pardon in the State of Utah:  A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A pardon restores all rights and relieves the offender from all legal disabilities. Firearm rights can be restored if specified on the pardon application.

  Expungement in the State of Utah:  An expungement is the process that removes a criminal record from general view. An expungement of a record will restore the offender to the status prior to conviction. If the court grants the petition for expungement, all of your court records will be sealed and the matter treated as if a record never existed.

Arrests not leading to conviction may be expunged 30 days after the arrest if there have been no other arrests during the 30 day period and no charges were filed, the case was dismissed, or the individual was acquitted or discharged without a conviction and no charges were re-filed or the record has been sealed.

Most misdemeanor and felony convictions can be expunged provided the individual has a limited criminal history, has no cases pending, and the following time periods have elapsed following completion of sentence: 15 years for multiple class B and C misdemeanors, 10 years for an alcohol- or drug-related traffic offense, 7 years for a felony and 3-5 years for a misdemeanor.

Utah general waiting periods:
2nd and 3rd degree felonies	NEVER
Alcohol related traffic offenses (Title 41)	10 years
Class A misdemeanors	5 years
All other misdemeanors & infractions	3 years
Arrests without filing of charges	30 days
Proceedings Commenced & Dismissed	30 days
Acquittals	30 days

  Per Utah Code Ann. § 77-18-12(1) the following convictions may not be expunged: capital felony, first degree felony, second degree forcible felony, any sexual act against a minor, any registerable sex offenses, and attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit these offenses.

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record.

A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense.

An expungement is the process that removes a criminal record from general view. If the court grants the petition for expungement, all of your court records will be sealed and the matter treated as if a record never existed.

Virginia
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A restoration of rights will restore the rights to vote, sit on a jury, hold public office and serve as a notary public. A pardon constitutes forgiveness and generally serves as the means of advancement in employment and education.

Information about a particular arrest or charge is removed from the version of the rap sheet that will be sent to employers and others.

Washington
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense. A Pardon will remove the conviction from the defendant’s criminal history. Restoration of rights may be issued in alternative to a pardon to restore rights to the defendant.

An expungement is the process that removes a criminal record from general view.

Click here for detailed information on how Records Removal Services can expunge, seal, set-aside, vacate, or pardon your criminal record.

Wisconsin
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense.

A pardon will restore all civil rights. A pardon serves ground for a record expungement.

An expungement is the process that removes a criminal record from general view. If a conviction is expunged, educational institutions and licensing authorities may not acknowledge the expunged conviction.

Wyoming
A pardon relieves an offender from further punishment imposed by reason of a conviction of a criminal offense.

A pardon restores all rights and privileges lost as a result of conviction. Which include the right to vote, to serve on a jury, to hold public office and the right to possess firearms.

An expungement is the process that removes a criminal record from general view. The state of Wyoming allows persons convicted to petition a court for an expungement of records on the conviction, allowing the person to restore any firearms rights they may have lost as a result of the conviction.