Top Rated Richmond VA Expungement Lawyer • 1500+ Reviews
A criminal charge creates a criminal record that can negatively affect your career – even if not convicted. If you have been arrested or charged with a criminal offense in Richmond VA and were not convicted of the offense, then you may be eligible to have the criminal record of your case expunged or erased from police and court records. Petition for Expungement is the legal process to expunge or erase the record of a criminal offense from police and court records. NOTE: For purposes of expungement, a conviction includes cases where the evidence was found to be sufficient for a finding of guilt even if not convicted. Click Above Image for Actual Court Order of Richmond Assault & Battery Expungement
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Experienced Richmond VA Attorneys for Expungement of Criminal Record
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is an established local Richmond VA law firm with over 60 years of combined legal experience. Our expungement lawyers can successfully petition Richmond VA Circuit Court to have your felony or misdemeanor criminal record expunged. We are recognized as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report. We have a long track record of success with convincing Richmond Circuit Court Judges to grant our Petitions for Expungement. NOTE: For purposes of expungement, a Richmond conviction includes cases where the evidence was found to be sufficient for a finding of guilt even if not convicted except in cases where Va. Code §19.2-298.02 (D) applies.
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Petition for Expungement Attorney Richmond VA Circuit Court Lawyer
The Petition for Expungement to erase or seal the Richmond VA criminal arrest or charge from police and court records is filed in the Richmond Circuit Court. The mere filing of a Petition for Expungement does not automatically mean your petition will be granted. Retain the best Richmond VA Expungement Attorney for your case because the Richmond Commonwealth Attorney can object to the Petition. Such an objection does not mean you will lose. Ultimately it is up to the Judge on whether the Petition to Expunge is granted and the police and court records are sealed. Our Richmond expungement lawyers have been positively reviewed more than any other lawyer or law firm.
Free Consultation with Highest Rated Richmond VA Expungement Attorney
Some folks think they do not need help with expunging or sealing the records of their criminal cases. The biggest issues for most are the lack of experience and legal knowledge. The average person does not understand the legal process and is not equipped to properly present the case in the Richmond VA Circuit Court. Our experienced law firm knows the best tactics for obtaining results. We spend hours in the Courts every week and are familiar with the habits of the different judges and the Commonwealth Attorney’s who handle expungement cases. This specialized knowledge is invaluable in order to present your best case.
Richmond Criminal Convictions Can Be Sealed Effective July 2025
Effective July 1, 2025, certain Richmond “convictions” can now be sealed. The sealing of a criminal conviction is a big step in criminal justice reform. The law allows for many Richmond misdemeanor and felony convictions to be sealed. Some convictions will be automatically sealed. Most cases will require a petition to be filed and presented to the Richmond Circuit Court Judge. Sealed Richmond convictions will no longer be visible to employers, landlords, and others who conduct background checks. This can improve opportunities for employment, housing, and other areas of life. Sealed Richmond records are still accessible in limited circumstances, such as for background checks for firearm purchases or when hiring for police departments and government agencies.
Richmond VA Expungement of Criminal Record Cases Are Adversarial
If you have been petitioning to have the police and court records of your Richmond VA criminal case expunged or sealed, then your case will eventually be set before the Richmond Circuit Court. These cases are adversarial by design. This involves a structured and formalized dispute between the petitioner and the respondent. The respondent is the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Richmond Commonwealth Attorney represents the commonwealth. The adversarial system is designed to ensure a fair process subject to the rules of law and evidence by allowing each side to present their case and to be able to challenge the other’s arguments and evidence. The Richmond Judge ultimately evaluates the evidence & arguments and makes a ruling.
Richmond VA Attorneys Argue to Seal Criminal Record
Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from over 70 practice areas – including lawyers that handle expungement matters – who have attained a high-degree of recognition and achievement. Super Lawyers recognizes the top attorneys nationwide across a variety of practice areas and firm sizes using a patented process of independent research and peer input. Our Richmond VA expungement lawyers have been recognized as Virginia Super Lawyers since 2009. No more than five percent of the lawyers in a state are named to Super Lawyers and no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list. This recognition is merit based. Retain a Richmond VA expungement attorney who has been recognized as a Virginia Super Lawyer.
Seal Richmond VA Criminal Records for Privacy and Professional Reasons
The record of a Richmond VA criminal charge – even if the case was dismissed – is considered sensitive information by most clients. We understand. Do not lose an educational or professional opportunity – if possible – because of a criminal charge that did not result in a conviction. Virginia law prohibits an employer or educational institution from requiring an applicant to disclose information concerning a criminal charge that has been expunged. NOTE: Private background check companies may possess records related to cases that have now been expunged. Contact them directly for removal of the expunged records.
Deferred Richmond Criminal Case Dismissals & Expungement Eligibility
In some instances, the Richmond trial court will defer proceedings in a criminal case for final disposition. In 2020, the law changed and now allows for expungement eligibility when, upon agreement of all parties, a Richmond charge that is dismissed pursuant to Va. Code § 19.2-298.02 (D), including an original Richmond charge that was reduced or a charge that is dismissed after a plea or stipulation of the facts that would justify a finding of guilt, may be considered as “otherwise dismissed” for purposes of expungement of Richmond police and court records in accordance with Va. Code § 19.2-392.2, when such agreement of all parties indicates such expungement eligibility in the Richmond Court’s final disposition order.
Legal Elite Richmond Expungement Attorney Recognized by VA Business
The Virginia Business publication is dedicated to covering the Richmond legal community including expungement attorneys. Since 2000, VA Business, in cooperation with the Bar Association, annually recognizes the top lawyers with its Legal Elite award. There are over 23,000 legal practitioners in Virginia. Legal Elite recognitions are awarded to approximately 1400 attorneys each year. This is an exclusive list of top rated individuals who have been recognized by their peers for excellence. Only outstanding and experienced professionals are recognized for being Legal Elite. A practitioner cannot purchase their way in to being recognized as a member of the Legal Elite community. Contact our top rated Richmond VA expungement lawyers about your case.
Richmond Expungement Attorney Explains “Otherwise Dismissed”
There are three case outcomes that are eligible for expungement in Richmond: acquittal, nolle prosequi and “otherwise dismissed”. The legal definitions of acquittal and nolle prosequi are clear, but the phrase “otherwise dismissed” is not defined in the expungement statute and has been debated for decades. The courts have ruled that “otherwise dismissed” includes Richmond charges dismissed without any finding that the evidence was sufficient to establish guilt. The courts have also held that “otherwise dismissed” does not include Richmond charges dismissed after completion of a first offender program, charges concluded in a plea of nolo contendere, and Richmond charges dismissed following a defendant being found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Superb Avvo Rated Richmond Expungement Attorneys
The Avvo Lawyer Rating can help you find the right Richmond expungement lawyer to help you expunge a Richmond criminal record or seal certain Richmond convictions starting in July 2025. Avvo is a legal directory that rates legal professionals using a mathematical model on a scale of 1 (Extreme Caution) to 10 (Superb). Our Richmond Virginia expungement attorneys maintain a 10.0 Superb Avvo rating. Avvo collects relevant information from state bar associations, other organizations that license Virginia lawyers, legal professionals and thousands of consumers to calculate its rating. The same set of standards are used for every lawyer that is evaluated. The Avvo rating is merit based. You cannot pay a fee to improve your Avvo rating.
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5/2/2021 | Updated 2/15/2025