Crescent City Law
935 Gravier St Suite 850, New Orleans, LA
Phone: +1 504-264-9492
The Scott Law Firm
10636 Linkwood Ct, Baton Rouge, LA
Phone: +1 225-400-9976
The Norris Law Group
6130 Fairfield Ave, Shreveport, LA
Phone: +1 318-771-7000
Whiddon Criminal Defense
609 N 5th St, Monroe, LA
Phone: +1 318-594-3592
Manasseh Gill Knipe Belanger
8075 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA
Phone: +1 225-927-1234
Lawrence Law Firm
508 Minden St, Ruston, LA
Phone: +1 318-232-4000
Boustany Law Firm
421 W Vermilion St, Lafayette, LA
Phone: +1 337-261-0225
NOLA Criminal Law
4907 Magazine St #5, New Orleans, LA
Phone: +1 504-571-9529
Barkemeyer Law Firm
147 St Charles St, Baton Rouge, LA
Phone: +1 225-964-6720
Russell Law Firm
11616 Southfork Ave Suite 101, Baton Rouge, LA
Phone: +1 225-307-0088
Law Office Of Lance J. Robinson
650 Poydras St Suite 1400, New Orleans, LA
Phone: +1 504-427-6210
Dewey & Braud Law
9270 Siegen Ln Ste 103, Baton Rouge, LA
Phone: +1 225-953-8330
Stephen D. Hebert, LLC
700 Camp St #216, New Orleans, LA
Phone: +1 504-250-6020
Hunt Law Firm
613 Alamo St, Lake Charles, LA
Phone: +1 337-310-9111
The Law Offices of Dan A. Robin, Jr.
9117 W St Bernard Hwy, Chalmette, LA
Phone: +1 504-267-2440
The Ambeau Law Firm
4970 Bluebonnet Blvd Suite C, Baton Rouge, LA
Phone: +1 225-330-7009
The Barry S. Ranshi Law Firm
4224 Florida Ave Suite 6, Kenner, LA
Phone: +1 504-905-8399
Sudduth & Associates
1109 Pithon St, Lake Charles, LA
Phone: +1 833-783-3884
Precht Law Firm
600 Jefferson St Suite 1205, Lafayette, LA
Phone: +1 337-201-9119
John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm
415 Main St, Minden, LA
Phone: +1 318-707-0313
Michael L. Capdeboscq, LLC
1966 N Hwy 190 A, Covington, LA
Phone: +1 985-517-1213
DiGiulio Utley, LLC
530 Powder St #3, New Orleans, LA
Phone: +1 504-524-4080
Ikerd Law Firm
600 Jefferson St Suite 903, Lafayette, LA
Phone: +1 337-366-8994
Bloom Legal
825 Girod St Suite A, New Orleans, LA
Phone: +1 504-599-9997
Law Offices of Philip B. Adams
400 Travis St Suite 1109, Shreveport, LA
Phone: +1 318-230-7199
The Law Offices of Ossie Brown
123 St Ferdinand St, Baton Rouge, LA
Phone: +1 225-343-1111
Law Office of Ernest J. Bauer, Jr.
1966 N Hwy 190 Suite A, Covington, LA
Phone: +1 504-610-5645
The G. Carter Law Firm
1100 Poydras St #2990, New Orleans, LA
Phone: +1 504-322-6111
Phillips Law
700 Camp St #313, New Orleans, LA
Phone: +1 504-370-6264
Rhett Spano
4707 Bluebonnet Blvd Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA
Phone: +1 225-384-0174
Louisiana Expungement Assistance & Advocacy Center
934 3rd St #1001, Alexandria, LA
Phone: +1 318-308-7667
Justice & Accountability Center of Louisiana
4035 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA
Phone: +1 504-322-4050
Louisiana uses a statewide set of rules in the Code of Criminal Procedure that covers expungement for arrests that did not lead to conviction, misdemeanor convictions, and some felony convictions. A granted expungement removes the record from public access, but it does not destroy the record and it stays visible to courts, law enforcement, and other agencies named in the statute. Most petitions require serving several agencies, paying statutory fees, and waiting out response periods, so many residents work with a Louisiana expungement lawyer to file clean paperwork and confirm the court’s order is carried out.
How much does an expungement cost in Louisiana?
The default statutory costs total five hundred fifty dollars paid across four agencies. Two hundred fifty dollars goes to the Louisiana State Police, two hundred dollars to the clerk of court, and fifty dollars each to the sheriff and the district attorney. Some cases have extra local costs for certified copies or mailings, and a few parishes publish their own fee sheets that match these state amounts.
How can I get a free or reduced fee expungement in Louisiana?
A narrow fee waiver exists for non felony situations and only applies when the district attorney issues a certification that you qualify under Article 983. The Louisiana State Police will honor that certification for its fee, but any felony conviction in your history usually blocks a waiver. Courts may still charge for copies or other local costs, so plan for those even if a waiver applies.
What are the basic eligibility requirements for expungement in Louisiana?
If your arrest did not lead to a conviction you can file after the case ends, subject to limits for certain offenses. Many misdemeanor convictions can be expunged after you complete your sentence and a five year wait if you did not pick up new disqualifying cases, and dismissals under Article 894 can shorten that path. Felonies are more limited and often require ten years without new convictions unless the case was set aside under Article 893, and listed violent or sex crimes remain excluded.
How long does the expungement process take in Louisiana?
Most timelines are driven by service and agency response windows. After you file and serve the required agencies, each has a set period to oppose, and if no one objects the court can sign without a hearing. Real world cases commonly run two to four months from filing to a signed order, and updates to state and local databases may extend a few weeks beyond that.
Who can still see an expunged record in Louisiana?
An expunged record is confidential to the public, but it is not erased for everyone. Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and courts keep access for defined uses, and certain licensing bodies and background authorities can obtain the information when a statute allows it. Private background screeners should not display an expunged conviction as a current public record once the order is processed.
Does an expungement restore my gun rights in Louisiana?
Expungement by itself does not restore firearm rights that were lost due to a disqualifying felony. Firearm possession remains governed by Louisiana law on felon in possession, which has a ten year cleansing period and other conditions, and federal rules can apply separately. People with questions about rights restoration usually need advice on both state law and the federal standard before they make any decisions.
What is the 60 day rule in Louisiana expungement cases?
After you serve the required agencies, each one has a fixed time window to oppose the motion. For filings made after statutory updates in 2015, key agencies have sixty days from service to file an objection. If every agency files a no opposition affidavit or the deadline passes with no objection, the court can grant the order and skip a contradictory hearing.
What disqualifies someone from owning a gun in Louisiana even after expungement?
State law bars firearm possession for people with listed felony convictions during the cleansing period and for some offenses the bar is longer or permanent. An expungement does not change those disqualifiers because it removes the record from public view but does not reverse the conviction. Federal law has its own rules, and a state expungement that leaves civil rights unrestored will not satisfy the federal standard.
How do I apply for a pardon in Louisiana?
You submit a pardon application to the Louisiana Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole using the forms and instructions on the corrections department site. The board screens cases and makes recommendations, and only the governor can issue a pardon on Louisiana convictions. A pardon is separate from expungement, and a favorable pardon does not automatically update public databases unless you also complete the expungement process if eligible.
How many expungements can I get in Louisiana?
The code allows more than one eligible expungement, but you must meet the waiting periods and offense limits each time. For felonies the statute permits more than one in a ten year period if each felony independently qualifies and is not on the excluded list. Courts still review your full history and can deny relief when a case does not satisfy the specific article you are filing under.
What forms and agencies are involved when I file?
You file in the parish of the arrest or conviction using the motion and order forms that fit your situation. Service usually goes to the district attorney, the arresting agency, the parish sheriff, and the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information at the State Police. Some clerks publish packets that include a fee waiver certification page and local cover sheets, and using the right packet speeds review.
Can I expunge a felony in Louisiana and what are the limits?
Many felonies require ten clean years after completion of sentence, while cases set aside under Article 893 can qualify sooner. Crimes of violence and sex offenses are generally excluded unless the statute lists a narrow exception with strict conditions. Even for eligible cases you still have to serve all required parties and provide the district attorney certification that there are no new disqualifying charges.
What happens on background checks after an expungement is granted?
Public records should no longer show the conviction as an active public record once the order is processed and the agencies update their files. Government agencies and courts may still view the case for limited purposes that the statute allows. Keep a certified copy of your order so you can resolve any report that shows outdated information while databases catch up.
What is the difference between expungement and sealing in Louisiana?
Louisiana uses the term expungement for removing the record from public access while keeping it available to criminal justice agencies. Sealing is a term used in other states and sometimes in Louisiana materials to describe a similar result, but the controlling language in Louisiana is in the expungement articles. The key point is that expungement is not destruction of the record and access remains for defined legal uses.
Do I have to disclose an expunged conviction to employers or licensing boards?
Most private employers should not see an expunged conviction on a standard public records check and do not need disclosure unless a law says otherwise. Some licenses and government roles ask questions that reach nonpublic records or require a certified order, and agencies can verify through the State Police. Read the exact question and answer truthfully using your dismissal or expungement paperwork to explain the outcome.
Official Sources
- Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 971–983 (Expungement)
- La. C.Cr.P. art. 971 — Definitions and effect
- La. C.Cr.P. art. 973 — Confidentiality of expunged records
- La. C.Cr.P. art. 977 — Misdemeanor expungement
- La. C.Cr.P. art. 978 — Felony expungement
- La. C.Cr.P. art. 983 — Costs and fee rules
- Louisiana State Police — Expungements and fees
- Louisiana State Police — Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information
- Orleans Parish District Attorney — Expungement guidance
- City of Shreveport — Expungements overview
- Louisiana Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole
- Pardon Application — Louisiana DOC
- La. R.S. 14:95.1 — Felon in possession of a firearm