| Tennessee is one of the more difficult states in | | | | if they are not fully expunged, even if they are |
| which to expunge your criminal record. | | | | part of a diversion agreement, or a plea under |
| Unfortunately for those convicted of a crime, | | | | advisement. It is vital that you retain an |
| there are only limited instances where you can | | | | expungement attorney who does a complete |
| get a Tennessee expungment of your criminal | | | | criminal record search to make sure all charges |
| record. The laws and regulations governing | | | | that can be erased from your record are |
| Tennessee expungements are identical for all | | | | expunged. A good expungement attorney |
| classes of convictions, whether felony or | | | | conducts an exhaustive record search with your |
| misdemeanor. | | | | complete name, date of birth, and any aliases you |
| Expunging your criminal record in Tennessee is | | | | may have used so that every charge against you |
| difficult but certainly not impossible. There are a | | | | that can be expunged is completely removed. It |
| variety of situations where erasing your criminal | | | | does you little good to miss an expungeable |
| record and expunging damaging information can | | | | charge and end up with a partial expungement |
| legally occur. Dismissed charges can always be | | | | that will still show up on background checks. |
| expunged in Tennessee. A criminal expungement | | | | It is important that you start the process as soon |
| attorney can do a records search for you to find | | | | as possible. Obtaining an expungement can |
| the dismissed charges against you, the relevant | | | | sometimes take months to complete depending |
| indictment or warrant numbers, and the name | | | | on the county where you were charged. This |
| under which you were charged (to avoid | | | | makes it vital to retain an attorney fluent in the |
| problems by perhaps missing aliases in the criminal | | | | criminal system to ensure that your expungement |
| database). Once a complete search is completed, | | | | is handled correctly the first time. It is important |
| an expungement attorney will then able to draft | | | | to make sure your record is fully expunged |
| the required order and submit it to the court clerk | | | | before you seek a new job or apply to college or |
| in the county where you were convicted or | | | | a technical school. The process for obtaining an |
| charged. The request is then sent to the district | | | | expunement is the same no matter the |
| attorney's office to determine whether there is | | | | seriousness of the charge. A knowledgeable |
| any state opposition to the expungement. | | | | criminal lawyer familiar with the Tennessee |
| Post-trial and pre-trial diversion agreements also | | | | expungement process is definitely your best bet. |
| allow you to expunge a guilty plea. Keep in mind, | | | | Though not easy, a Tennessee expungement is |
| however, that one can only apply for an | | | | not impossible to obtain. After the expungement |
| expungement once all requirements of diversion | | | | process is complete, state law ensures that no |
| have been met. Tennessee law allows counties to | | | | physical evidence of your conviction or charge |
| collect a court fee for expunging records. This can | | | | remains. Expert counsel and a committed effort |
| be in addition to any court costs that may still be | | | | are necessary make sure your record is clean. |
| owed on your case. Criminal charges and | | | | Getting an expungement in Tennessee can be a |
| convictions can negatively affect you in the future | | | | trying process. Good counsel is your best bet. |
