CRIMINAL RECORD SEALING
A guide to Nevada legal record sealing courtesy of Lisa Dee, Certified Paralegal of Ristenpart Law. If you have further questions or would like to reach out to Lisa she can be contacted at the bottom of this article.
DO YOU WANT TO HAVE A CLEAN RECORD?
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DO YOU WISH THAT YOUR MISTAKES IN THE PAST NO LONGER AFFECTED YOUR OPPORTUNITIES TODAY?
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANSWER “NO” TO THE QUESTION, ‘HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ARRESTED?’
In Nevada, a person can petition the court to seal their criminal record. Whether one has simply been arrested, has had formal charges against them, and even if one has been convicted: most arrests, dismissals, acquittals and convictions can be sealed in the State of Nevada.
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When a Nevada criminal record is sealed, the court orders that a person’s criminal records are removed from government and law enforcement databases, as well as, any other agencies involved in the arrest and the Court itself. This way, the general public can no longer find your criminal record in a background search.
After your record is sealed, all arrests and convictions are deemed to have never occurred. Your background checks will be clean. You will never have to disclose that you have ever been arrested or convicted to anyone again. You can even deny having a criminal record while you are under oath. Getting a record sealed restores a person’s rights to vote, serve on a jury or hold office in Nevada.
WHEN CAN I PETITION TO SEAL MY RECORD?
Most convictions in Nevada can be sealed, but you must wait the specified amount of time after the case has closed before petitioning to seal. A case is considered “closed” in Nevada when the defendant has completed all terms of the sentence. This includes paying all fines, completing any required classes, serving jail time, and/or completing probation. The table below summarizes the length of times criminal records are eligible to be sealed under the Nevada Revised Statues: 179.245.
Time Table for Eligibility to Seal Criminal Record
(based on time from close of case):
| Crime | Time Frame |
|---|---|
| An arrest without conviction, Dismissed charges or Acquittal | Immediately |
| Most Misdemeanors | 1 year |
| Misdemeanor Battery, Harassment, Stalking, Violation of TP | 2 years |
| Gross Misdemeanor | 5 years |
| Misdemeanor DUI | 7 year |
| Felony:
Category E Category B, C, and D Category A |
2 years
5 years 10 years |
You should check with an attorney as to whether your conviction is able to be sealed and what waiting time applies to your case.
Sealing a record is a complex multi-step process which is best done with the assistance of an experienced attorney. We offer reasonable rates and monthly payment plans. Contact us today to see how we can ensure your past stays in the past.
Contact Lisa Dee for Further Information Regarding Record Sealing in Nevada
Lisa is a certified Paralegal. Lisa passed her American Bar Association approved Paralegal Certification through the National Association of Legal Assistants in 2016, and is an active member of Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals. -Read more here