GET YOUR RECORD EXPUNGED IN TEXAS - STARTING AT $995

An expunction (expungement) is a court order requiring agencies to delete, destroy, or return records of an arrest/case and to remove index references. After expunction, you may generally deny the arrest/case, with narrow exceptions.

Statutes: Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 55A.051–55A.054, 55A.151–55A.154, 55A.251–55A.253, 55A.351–55A.353.

An Order of Nondisclosure seals your criminal history from public view. Most employers/landlords cannot access sealed records; law enforcement and certain licensing agencies still can.

Statutes: Tex. Gov’t Code ch. 411, subch. E-1.

Most expunctions or nondisclosures take about 5–8 weeks from filing to a signed order, depending on the court’s docket, prosecutor response, and agency notice/service.

Reference: Arts. 55A.351–55A.353 (agency duties).

Eligible if dismissal was based on (art. 55A.053(a)(2)(A)–(E)):

• Completion of a pretrial intervention/diversion program
• Mistake, false information, or no probable cause
• Charging instrument void, or other statutory grounds
• Released, not convicted, not pending; no community supervision (other than Class C deferred)

Bars (arts. 55A.151–55A.154):

• Still subject to prosecution for another offense from same episode (55A.151)
• Probation-violation warrant or absconding after bond (55A.153–55A.154)

Statutes: Arts. 55A.051, 55A.053(a)(2), 55A.151–55A.154, 55A.251–55A.253.

No charging instrument filed — waiting periods (art. 55A.052(a)):

• Class C: 180 days
• Class B/A: 1 year
• Felony (or related felony): 3 years
• Or earlier with a prosecutor certification

Limitations route (art. 55A.054):

• Available once statute of limitations has expired

Bars:

• Pending case from the arrest, or community supervision (other than Class C)
• Absconding after release on bond (55A.154)

Statutes: Arts. 55A.052(a)(1)–(4), 55A.054, 55A.154.

Common paths:

• Deferred disposition → dismissal → expunction
• No complaint filed + 180 days since arrest
• Acquittal or pardon

• Class C community supervision does not bar expunction
• File in justice/municipal court for fine-only offenses

Statutes: Arts. 55A.051, 55A.052, 55A.252.

Eligible (Gov’t Code § 411.072) when ALL apply:

• Misdemeanor; deferred adjudication completed
• First offender(except fine-only traffic)
• 180 days since placement on deferred

Not automatic if:

• DWI/BWI or misdemeanors under PC chs. 20, 21, 22, 25, 42, 43, 46, 71
• Judge finds nondisclosure not in the interest of justice

Statute: Tex. Gov’t Code § 411.072.

Most Class C matters should be expunged. A convicted Class C with community supervision after conviction may qualify for nondisclosure under § 411.073 if eligible.

Statutes: Tex. Gov’t Code § 411.073; Tex. Code Crim. Proc. ch. 55A.

Deferred DWI/BWI — § 411.0726

• First offender; discharged/dismissed; wait 2 years

• No accident, no CDL/CLP, no BAC ≥ 0.15, no § 49.09 enhancement

DWI conviction + probation — § 411.0731

• First-offender Class B; all fines/costs paid
• Wait 2 years with ≥6 mo interlock, otherwise 5 years

• Same exclusions (accident, CDL/CLP, BAC ≥ 0.15)

DWI conviction without probation — § 411.0736

• Certain first-offender Class B after sentence completed
• Wait 3 years with interlock, otherwise 5 years

Statutes: §§ 411.0726, 411.0731, 411.0736; global disqualifiers § 411.074.

Conviction + community supervision — § 411.073

• Completed probation; fines/costs paid
• Immediate for most; 2-year wait if in PC chs. 20,21,22,25,42,43,46

Confinement (no probation) — § 411.0735

• Fine-only: immediate; otherwise 2 years

Global disqualifiers — § 411.074

• Registerable sex offense, aggravated kidnapping, murder, trafficking, injury/abandoning child, PO violations, stalking, or any offense involving family violence
• New non-traffic convictions/deferred during probation or waiting period

Statutes: §§ 411.073, 411.0735, 411.074.

Eligibility — § 411.0725

• Deferred adjudication → discharged/dismissed
• Immediate at discharge for most; 2 years if in PC chs. 20,21,22,25,42,43,46
• DWI/BWI use § 411.0726

Statutes: §§ 411.0725, 411.074.

Eligibility — § 411.0725(c)

• Deferred adjudication for a felony; discharged/dismissed
• 5-year wait after discharge
• Not DWI/BWI (those use § 411.0726)

Statutes: §§ 411.0725(c), 411.074.

Immediate when:

• Deferred adjudication misdemeanors not in PC chs. 20,21,22,25,42,43,46 — § 411.0725(b)
• Misdemeanor convictions with probation not in those chapters — § 411.073(b)

Statutes: §§ 411.0725(b), 411.073(b).

Dallas County focus: We handle arrests from cities across Dallas County (Addison, Balch Springs, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Coppell, Dallas, DeSoto, Duncanville, Farmers Branch, Garland, Grand Prairie, Irving, Mesquite, Richardson, Rowlett, etc.).

Links: DA · Criminal District Courts · District Clerk · eFileTexas · DPS Crime Records