Ashbach Law Offices, LLC, can help you with your vacating or expunging questions, and can handle the process for you. Vacating a conviction requires legal research, drafting and filing pleadings and motions and oftentimes oral argument in court. In most instances, we can handle court hearings without your presence. Call us at 360-659-4950 or toll free at 888-WA-LAW-NW for a free, no-pressure consultation and case evaluation.
Vacating Misdemeanors
Washington State allows persons who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor to vacate (commonly known as expunge) that misdemeanor. To vacate a crime, a person must meet certain eligibility requirements:
• You have no pending criminal charges or new convictions.
• Your offense was not violent as defined by RCW 9.94A.030, or an attempt at such an offense.
• The offense was not a sex offense.
• You have satisfied all conditions of your sentence.
• You have not had another conviction vacated.
• You have not been the subject of a protection, No Contact or restraining order within the last five years.
Vacating Felonies
Vacating certain felony convictions is also possible in Washington State, and unlike the prohibition for misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, multiple felony convictions can be vacated. Certain felonies cannot be vacated, such as “crimes against persons,” Class A felonies, and Felony DUI or Physical Control.
Depending on the type of felony sought to be vacated, different waiting periods for eligibility apply. For example, if the offense was a Class C Felony, the person seeking vacation/expungement of the conviction must have gone at least five years since probation on that conviction ended without getting another conviction.
Ashbach Law Offices, LLC, aggressively represents clients throughout the Washington I-5 corridor, covering Skagit, Snohomish, King and Whatcom Counties. Regular courts of practice include, but are not limited to, Anacortes, Arlington, Bellevue, Bellingham, Blaine, Burlington, Edmonds, Everett, Issaquah, Lynnwood, Marysville, Monroe, Mount Vernon, Mountlake Terrance, Redmond, Seattle, Sedro Woolley and Shoreline.