Getting your criminal record erased
If you have a criminal record in Tennessee, it can alter the trajectory of your entire life. It can affect where you live, the types of jobs you can hold and whether you can get a loan. At Patrick T. McNally, Attorney at Law, we assist clients with their appeals and expunging criminal records.
According to the Tennessee State Courts, a court-ordered process called expungement can erase the legal records associated with specific criminal cases. Not all cases are eligible for this process. The general requirements are as follows:
- Arrested and released, with no charges filed
- The charges against you were dismissed
- The grand jury returned a “no true bill” verdict
- Your trial resulted in a “not guilty” verdict
- Following a hearing, an order of protection was victoriously defended and denied
- Your case resulted in a nolle prosequi
If your case meets the specifications, you can request an expungement from the court. The court clerk can provide a copy of your record and the information needed for the request. You can use the Order for the Expungement of Criminal Offender Record form. A form for each charge may be necessary depending on your case details.
Once completed, the clerk mails the forms to the judge, who forwards them to the proper agency. If you owe any court costs, you must pay them or get them waived before the process can continue. In cases that are on hold for an extended time, the charge may say “retired.” In this situation, you may have to request an updated status to “dismissed” before the expungement can continue. Visit our webpage for more information on this topic.
