Charges
Taking an old charge off your record
An old charge can turn up on every job or apartment application. Many records can be cleared, but the rules for who qualifies are strict. Garland checks yours first, for free.
Dismissed charges
A charge that was dropped or dismissed can usually be removed.
Not-guilty verdicts
If you were found not guilty, the arrest can still be on file.
Older convictions
Some minor convictions qualify after a waiting period with no new charges.
Diversion programs
Finished a pretrial program? The record of it may need its own filing.
Step by step
What clearing a record takes
- 01
Step 1: Background check
Garland pulls your record and lists every entry, including ones you may have forgotten.
- 02
Step 2: Who qualifies
He tells you which entries can be cleared now, which must wait, and which can't be.
- 03
Step 3: The filings
He prepares and files the applications and pays the filing fees you've agreed in advance.
- 04
Step 4: Confirmation
When each order is signed, you get a copy and a letter saying what was cleared.
Questions
Record-clearing questions
How long does it take?
Usually a few months from filing to a signed order, depending on the court and how many agencies have to respond.
Will employers still see it?
Once an order is signed, the agencies remove the record. Private background-check companies can lag behind; he'll tell you how to ask them to update.
Is there a filing fee?
Yes, courts and agencies charge fees for each application. Those are separate from Garland's flat fee, and both are listed in writing before he files.
I have more than one charge. Can they all go?
It depends on what they were and how they ended. The record check sorts out which ones qualify.
Find out if your record can be cleared
Bring any paperwork you have. If you don't have any, he can pull your record at the first meeting.
The first consult is free; any fee and costs are agreed in writing.