HOUSTON NONDISCLOSURE ATTORNEY
If you were ever charged with a crime in Houston, or a surrounding area, a criminal background check will quickly uncover this information. Background checks of your criminal history often occur when you apply for a job, mortgage, loan, financial aid, or even to lease an apartment. Most colleges and graduate programs also require that you divulge this information. If you do not qualify for an expunction of your criminal records, you may still be eligible for the process known as “Nondisclosure”. Many people confuse expunctions with this other legal remedy. The Law Office of Nicholas R. Westbrook can help you with this important process. As a Houston Nondisclosure criminal defense attorney, I offer reasonable rates and want to help.
To determine whether you qualify for a Nondisclosure, please contact the Law Office of Nicholas R. Westbrook at (713) 936-2174. You may also contact me through
email or our
Free Case Evaluation.
SEALING YOUR CRIMINAL RECORD THROUGH NONDISCLOSURE –
A person is eligible to seal his or her criminal record through Nondisclosure after successfully completing Deferred Adjudication Probation for certain misdemeanor and felony offenses. Deferred adjudication is a form of probation that requires you to plead guilty to your criminal charge, but where the Judge defers a finding of guilt. To learn more about deferred adjudication, please click here.
If you successfully complete your deferred adjudication probation, and your criminal offense qualifies under Texas law, you will be eligible for nondisclosure as follows: (1) immediately; (2) in two years; or (3) in five years. If you received a final conviction for any reason, including paying a fine and accepting time served, and/or pleading "no contest," you will NOT be eligible for Nondisclosure. A final conviction is final -- there is no way to seal this type of record.
Misdemeanor offenses that trigger an immediate Petition for Nondisclosure include:
Misdemeanor offenses that require you to wait two (2) years before filing a Petition for Nondisclosure include:
-
Assault (with no finding of family violence)
-
Bigamy
-
Deadly Conduct
-
Discharge of Firearm
-
Disorderly Conduct
-
Harassment
-
Public Lewdness
-
Indecent Exposure
-
Riot
-
Unlawful Carrying of Weapon
-
Possession of Prohibited Weapon
-
Terroristic Threat (misdemeanor only)
-
Interference with Emergency Phone Call
All qualifying Felony offenses have a five (5) year waiting period before you can file a Petition for Nondisclosure.
Certain criminal offenses are NEVER eligible for a Petition for Nondisclosure. These crimes include:
-
Indecency with a Child
-
Sexual Assault
-
Aggravated Sexual Assault
-
Prohibited Sexual Conduct (such as Incest)
-
Aggravated Kidnapping
-
Compelling Prostitution
-
Sexual Performance by a Child
-
Injury to a Child
-
Violation of a Protective Order
-
Any Offense Involving Family Violence
-
Possession or Promotion of Child Pornography
-
Unlawful Restraint, Kidnapping, or Aggravated Kidnapping
-
Murder and Capital Murder
-
Attempt, Conspiracy, or Solicitation to Commit any of the Above Offenses
EFFECT OF SEALING YOUR CRIMINAL RECORD THROUGH NONDISCLOSURE –
As an experienced Houston Nondisclosure lawyer, I will prepare the necessary Petition for Nondisclosure and argue your case to the Judge. If the Court grants the Nondisclosure, criminal justice agencies will not be allowed to disclose information about your case to most law enforcement and government agencies.
Texas law permits some government entities and law enforcement agencies to obtain information about your criminal history, such as the Boards that regulate nurses and teachers, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and TABC. Nevertheless, your criminal record will virtually vanish from background checks and ultimately be sealed through an Order of Nondisclosure. Through this process of Nondisclosure, you can deny that you were ever arrested for purposes of loan applications, job interviews and leases. However, unlike an Expunction, you cannot deny that you were arrested in any future criminal prosecution.
WHAT IF A NEW JOB CAME DOWN TO YOU AND ONE OTHER PERSON?
We all know the economy is horrible right now. People are getting laid off everyday. You may be one of those persons right now. If so, what if a new job opportunity presents itself in the next few weeks? Will a criminal background check hurt your chances? What if that job came down to you -- someone with a criminal history -- and one other person -- someone with no criminal history? The other person will likely get the position. You can't afford this unfortunate reality. Jobs are scarce these days, and you need to do everything possible to help your situation and secure your employment. If you were ever charged with a crime and successfully completed deferred adjudication for that offense, you must call the Law Office of Nicholas R. Westbrook as soon as possible. In most cases, I can prepare the necessary documents, argue the case, and obtain an Order of Nondisclosure in less than four weeks. In less than one month, you could be free from your negative criminal history. Don't let the other guy get your job because of your prior criminal history.
CONTACT A HOUSTON NONDISCLOSURE CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER –
If you were charged with a crime and successfully completed deferred adjudication in Houston, or a surrounding area, you may be able to seal your criminal record and protect your future. As a motivated Houston Nondisclosure lawyer, I will work hard to seal your criminal record through Nondisclosure, ensuring that your life is no longer in jeopardy because of harmful background checks.
To schedule a free consultation to determine whether you can seal your record, please call the Law Office of Nicholas R. Westbrook at (713) 936-2174. You may also contact me through
email or the
Free Case Evaluation. I look forward to sealing your criminal record and helping you move on with your life.