Expungement Attorneys

Expunging your criminal record

New legislation expands availability of expungement to those convicted of any petty misdemeanor or misdemeanor two years after discharge from their sentence or probation, any gross misdemeanor four years after discharge from probation, and some felonies five years after discharge from probation or parole. The bill also makes eligible those who received a stay of adjudication or other diversion involving a guilty plea but that results in a dismissal of charges, one year from the date of discharge from probation. This new legislation will now make expungement a meaningful remedy for tens of thousands of Minnesotans deserving of a second chance at life. Read more about Minnesota’s New Second Chance Law here.

Expunging your criminal record is now more important than ever to aid in career advancement, admission to educational programs, securing affordable housing and loans, interstate travel and employment.

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Call 651-455-1555 today to schedule a comprehensive consultation at no charge to you. We will listen to your story carefully and help you determine an appropriate course of action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. You have a public criminal record that says you were charged with a crime and that your charge was later dismissed.

The type of crime charged, the name of the court that convicted or dismissed the charges, the date of conviction or dismissal, a description of the sentence served, if any, and other details of the crime and court process are public. Employers, landlords or any other person can view these records.

An expungement is a sealing of your criminal records. This action does not “erase” your criminal case history, but it does limit who can see it. If you record is expunged, a sealed state court record still exists but it is “invisible” to the general public. Most employers and landlords cannot see sealed records; law enforcement and immigration agencies can see them. Sealed cases can be reopened in certain types of employment checks, including criminal justice agencies, human services, and Department of Education jobs. Sealed cases can be reopened for criminal investigations and for sentencing or probations services, or for other reasons by a court order.

At least 4 months. By law, at least 63 days must pass from when your forms are served to the government agencies to when a judge holds the hearing to consider your request. If the judge grants the expungement, another 60 days will pass before the court actually seals your record.

Call for a free consultation to discuss your case.

The attorneys at Sieben & Cotter, PLLC will work closely with you to make the most appropriate and effective arguments to persuade the court to let you move on from past mistakes. Please call us today at 651-455-1555 so we can begin working on your much-needed expungement.

Call Sieben & Cotter at 651-455-1555 to arrange your free and comprehensive consultation, or send a request for more information.
The Sieben & Cotter Law office is located in South St. Paul, making it convenient to access attorneys in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the Twin Cities metro area. We also serve greater Minnesota and Wisconsin. We know that criminal defense concerns may require more immediate attention, contact Tom Sieben or Patrick Cotter.