Articles

One of the most common questions people have when starting the expungement process is: where exactly do I go to file? Virginia has a specific court system for handling expungement...

If you have a criminal record in Virginia and want to move forward with your life, you are probably asking yourself: how can I seal my record? Virginia law provides...

A criminal record -- even one consisting entirely of charges that were dismissed -- can cast a long shadow over your daily life. Virginia Code § 19.2-392.1 acknowledges that criminal...

Virginia has been undergoing a significant transformation in how it handles criminal records. For decades, the state offered only traditional expungement. In recent years, the General Assembly introduced record sealing,...

Misdemeanor charges are the most common type of criminal charge in Virginia. While less serious than felonies, they still create arrest records that can follow you for years. The short...

If you have received a letter stating the prosecution will not proceed with your criminal case, or a judge announced a nolle prosequi, you may be wondering what it means...

If you are seeking to expunge a criminal charge from your record in Virginia, you will almost certainly encounter the term manifest injustice. This legal standard is the single most...

A criminal record in Virginia can create significant barriers to employment, even when the charges were dismissed or the offense was minor. Research consistently shows that individuals with criminal records...

Virginia's relationship with marijuana law has changed dramatically. In July 2021, Virginia became the first Southern state to legalize simple possession for adults 21 and older. But for thousands of...

If you were arrested and charged with a crime in Virginia but the charge was ultimately dismissed, that arrest and charge still appear on your criminal record and can show...