Straight answers about clearing Texas records

Most expunctions take roughly two to six months from filing to a signed order, depending on the county's docket. Courts generally set the hearing at least 30 days after filing, and after the order is granted it takes additional weeks for every agency to certify destruction of its records.

Costs have two parts: court filing fees (which vary by county and are typically a few hundred dollars for expunctions) and attorney's fees. We quote a flat fee up front after your free eligibility review, so there are no surprises.

No. A dismissal ends the prosecution, but the arrest record, booking photo, and court file remain public until a judge orders them expunged. Background check companies routinely report dismissed cases.

Generally no — final convictions are not eligible for expunction unless you were pardoned or found actually innocent. However, certain first-time misdemeanor and DWI convictions can be sealed with an order of nondisclosure, which hides them from public background checks.

Expunction destroys the records entirely and lets you deny the arrest ever happened. Nondisclosure seals the records from the public but keeps them visible to law enforcement and certain state licensing agencies. Expunction is for cases that didn't end in conviction; nondisclosure mostly covers deferred adjudication and some first-time convictions.

For most cases, no. Texas record relief generally requires filing a petition and obtaining a court order (a limited automatic-sealing provision covers some deferred-adjudication misdemeanors, but even that is not guaranteed in practice). If your record is holding you back today, waiting won't fix it.

Often, yes. A first-time DWI conviction can usually be sealed if your blood alcohol concentration was under 0.15, the incident didn't involve an accident with another person, and you complete the waiting period — typically two years if you had an ignition interlock for at least six months, or five years otherwise.

Usually not. In most counties we can handle the filing and hearing without you appearing, or with only a brief appearance. We'll tell you exactly what to expect for your county.

Yes, in almost all situations — on job applications, apartment applications, and most licensing forms. The narrow exception is testimony under oath in a criminal proceeding, where you must acknowledge the expunged arrest (you may state that the matter was expunged).

Yes. The petition is filed where the arrest occurred, and in most cases everything can be handled without you traveling back to Texas.