
Fill Out and Submit an Application to Your County ClerkĬheck with the court clerk’s office before doing any paperwork.
OHIO FELONY CONVICTION RECORDS TRIAL
Last, if you were indicted and went to trial only to have all the charges dismissed or to be found not guilty on any charges, you can apply to have the records sealed immediately. If you were arrested and initially charged but not indicted by a grand jury, you must wait a certain amount of time from the date on which the grand jury returned its finding of “no bill” to apply to have the records sealed. Your Columbus criminal defense lawyer will be able to confirm all of those details for you. If you were arrested but never charged, the police department or sheriff’s office will have its own timeline and procedures for sealing records. You are no longer on probation or parole.You have paid all the restitution you were ordered to pay, and.You have paid all the fines and court costs,.You have completed the jail or prison sentence,.If you have been convicted, you cannot have the records related to that offense sealed until you can show all of the following: Your particular situation determines this. Recognize When You Can Submit an Application to Have Records Sealed Consulting with a criminal defense attorney in Columbus will help clarify which records you can ask to have sealed. Ohio law does not allow the sealing of most records related to traffic tickets (unless the charges were dismissed), drunk or drugged driving convictions, or convictions for sex crimes against minors, violent crimes like rape and aggravated assault, or the highest-level felonies. That legal right does not extend to all types of offenses, however.

Ohio allows residents of the state to seal police and court records related to two misdemeanors or one misdemeanor and one felony. Know What Records You Can Ask to Have Sealed You can speak to a Columbus criminal defense attorney now by calling (614) 205-2208 or completing this online contact form. Speaking with a lawyer when you first decide to try to have your criminal record sealed can be especially helpful because omitting essential information from the application you submit to the court clerk or the procedure you use may result in an automatic rejection.Ĭolin Maher of The Maher Law Firm welcomes the opportunity to help people seal their records. Still, fighting through all the obstacles can make it much easier to pursue a rewarding career, secure loans, and take advantage of educational opportunities.Īs you review the steps, keep in mind that you can seek advice and assistance from a Columbus criminal defense lawyer at any point. The process for sealing criminal and arrest records in Columbus Ohio includes multiple steps and is punctuated by a hearing before a judge.
