Arnold & Smith
The Historic John Price Carr House, 200 N McDowell St, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (704) 370-2828
Browning & Long
101 N McDowell St Suite 100, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (980) 207-3355
Cayll Law
28 W A St, Newton, NC
Phone: (828) 469-5159
Clifford and Harris
415-B W Friendly Ave, Greensboro, NC
Phone: (336) 574-2788
Coolidge Law Firm
434 Fayetteville St #2030, Raleigh, NC
Phone: (919) 239-8448
Crowe and Godwin
402 Turner St, Beaufort, NC
Phone: (252) 728-4266
DeCurtins Law Office
130 N McDowell St STE A, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (704) 375-7200
Dummit Fradin
1133 W 1st St, Winston-Salem, NC
Phone: (336) 485-4907
Eustache Law
111 S Chestnut St #202, Winston-Salem, NC
Phone: (336) 827-9208
Floyd Law Offices
434 Fayetteville St #1640, Raleigh, NC
Phone: (919) 805-3663
Frasier & Griffin
100 E Parrish St STE 350, Durham, NC
Phone: (919) 263-5522
Garrett Walker Aycoth & Olson
317 S Greene St, Greensboro, NC
Phone: (336) 379-0539
Gilles Law
725 E Trade St UNIT 215, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (980) 272-8438
Greene Wilson & Styron
401 Middle St, New Bern, NC
Phone: (252) 460-2868
Granados Law Group
701 E Chatham St #209, Cary, NC
Phone: (919) 650-2851
Hall & Dixon
725 E Trade St UNIT 115, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (704) 993-6825
Harkey Law Firm
380 Knollwood St #305, Winston-Salem, NC
Phone: (336) 733-7767
Hiltzheimer Law Office
19 W Hargett St Suite 508, Raleigh, NC
Phone: (919) 899-9405
Jason Aycoth Law
436 Spring Garden St, Greensboro, NC
Phone: (336) 390-2180
Jason H. Reece
1018 East Blvd STE 1, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (704) 714-8888
Jetton & Meredith
817 E Trade St, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (704) 931-5535
Jody S. Lanier
101 N Tryon St Suite 112, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (704) 323-6779
Kevin L. Barnett
130 N McDowell St STE C, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (704) 334-2044
Kevin M. Kennedy
1340 Environ Way, Chapel Hill, NC
Phone: (919) 960-5023
Kurtz & Blum
434 Fayetteville St #710, Raleigh, NC
Phone: (919) 832-7700
Law Office of Dewey P. Brinkley
130 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC
Phone: (919) 832-0307
Law Office of William G. Causey Jr.
204 Muirs Chapel Rd #100, Greensboro, NC
Phone: (336) 822-9201
Law Offices of J. M. Kotzker
4208 Six Forks Rd Suite 1000, Raleigh, NC
Phone: (919) 439-5104
Manning Law Firm
3509 Haworth Dr, Raleigh, NC
Phone: (919) 834-3499
Martin Taylor
431 S York St, Gastonia, NC
Phone: (704) 675-9939
Messer Law Firm
40 Clayton St, Asheville, NC
Phone: (828) 251-1502
Minick Law
104 E Main Ave, Gastonia, NC
Phone: (704) 312-1515
North Carolina Expungements
411 Waughtown St suite c, Winston-Salem, NC
Phone: (336) 773-0061
Randall Law
301 S McDowell St #504, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (980) 294-1080
Reece & Reece
121 S 3rd St, Smithfield, NC
Phone: (919) 300-1249
Richard J McCain Law Office
11 S Main St, Lexington, NC
Phone: (336) 249-0547
Russell D. Babb
150 Fayetteville St #1900, Raleigh, NC
Phone: (919) 821-4711
Saad Law
555 Fayetteville St #300, Raleigh, NC
Phone: (919) 263-2500
Sandman, Finn & Fitzhugh
7101 Creedmoor Rd #122, Raleigh, NC
Phone: (919) 845-6688
SeiferFlatow
2319 Crescent Ave, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (704) 512-0606
Stowe Law Firm
129 N Main St, Salisbury, NC
Phone: (704) 856-9502
Teddy, Meekins & Talbert
1219 Fallston Rd, Shelby, NC
Phone: (704) 396-5155
The Icard Law Firm
524 W 10th St, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (704) 377-9229
Woody White Law Firm
2004 Eastwood Rd #201, Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 338-4900
Zachary A. Cohen
105 E Jefferson St C, Monroe, NC
Phone: (704) 283-9090
North Carolina allows expunction of many dismissals, some not guilty findings, and a wide range of nonviolent convictions under Article 5 of Chapter 15A. The Second Chance Act updated the rules and expanded relief, including broader expunctions for multiple nonviolent misdemeanors and a simpler process for clearing dismissed charges. Most petitions require standard Judicial Branch forms and a filing fee, and you file in the county of the case. Some categories carry no filing fee, and people who cannot afford costs can ask the court to proceed as indigent. Serious offenses and impaired driving convictions are excluded from conviction expunctions, so careful eligibility screening matters before you file.
How much does it cost to get your record expunged in North Carolina?
Most petitions carry a one hundred seventy five dollar court filing fee. Expunctions of dismissed or not guilty charges do not require that fee, and the court can allow a person to proceed as indigent in qualifying cases. Local practices vary, so you should confirm costs with the clerk before you file and plan for certified copy charges if you want a stamped order for your records.
Do I need a lawyer for expungement in NC?
You are not required to hire a lawyer to seek an expunction. The statewide forms explain what you need and clerks can tell you about filing steps, but they cannot give legal advice about eligibility or strategy. If your record spans multiple counties or includes older felonies, a lawyer can prevent mistakes and speed things up by preparing a complete petition the first time.
How long does the expungement process take in North Carolina?
Timelines are not the same in every county. Many petitions take several months because the court reviews the filing, the State Bureau of Investigation checks your history, and the district attorney has a chance to respond. Complex records and mail delays add time, so building a clean packet with all required attachments helps avoid resets.
What crimes cannot be expunged in North Carolina?
Conviction expunctions exclude any offense that requires sex offender registration and offenses the law defines as violent or otherwise excluded. A conviction for impaired driving is not eligible for expunction under the nonviolent conviction statute. Other bars can apply based on offense class and prior history, so you should read the statute that fits your case before you file.
How can I get my record expunged for free in North Carolina?
If you are clearing a case that ended in a dismissal or a not guilty finding, there is no filing fee for that petition. For other categories, the court can allow you to proceed as indigent if you cannot pay the fee and you qualify under court rules. You still need to meet every eligibility rule and you must complete and file the correct form in the county where the case happened.
Who can see expunged records in NC?
After an expunction the case is removed from the public record and general background checks should not show it. Courts, prosecutors, and law enforcement can access expunged information for limited statutory purposes. The Administrative Office of the Courts keeps a confidential index to verify that an order exists, and disclosure from that index is restricted by law.
What is the Second Chance Act in North Carolina?
The Second Chance Act is a 2020 law that expanded expunction eligibility and streamlined how certain dismissed charges are cleared. It reduced waiting periods for some nonviolent convictions and allowed broader petitions for people with multiple misdemeanors. It also authorized prosecutors to file in some categories, which can move simple dismissals faster through the system.
What forms do I need to start an expunction in NC?
You must use the Judicial Branch forms for the exact statute that fits your case. For dismissed or not guilty charges you typically use the petition under G.S. 15A-146, and for nonviolent convictions you use the set of forms for G.S. 15A-145.5. Read the instructions on each form and attach any required affidavits or certified judgments so the clerk can accept the filing.
Can a DWI or DUI conviction be expunged in North Carolina?
A conviction for impaired driving is not eligible for expunction under the nonviolent conviction statute. The law treats impaired driving separately and excludes it from the list of convictions that can be cleared by petition. You can still clear dismissed impaired driving charges when the case ended without a conviction, using the dismissal route.
Will an expunged case still show up on private background checks?
Private background checks that use public court records should stop reporting the case after the expunction order. Older third party reports can linger for a period, so you should keep a certified copy of your order to correct errors. Employers and landlords that ask about current convictions should not count an expunged conviction as current.
Does an expunction restore firearm rights in NC?
No. Restoration of firearm rights is handled under a separate statute and process that is different from expunction. You can have records cleared and still need to apply for rights restoration if you lost those rights because of a felony or another disqualifying event.
How do I check if my expunction went through?
You will receive a signed order from the court when a judge grants the petition. Agencies then update their systems, which can take time. If you want to verify what your state record shows, you can request a personal review from the State Bureau of Investigation and compare it to your court file.
Where do I file my expunction petition?
You file in the county where the charge or conviction occurred. If you have cases in more than one county, you may need to file separate petitions and coordinate timing to meet statutory rules about multiple filings. Petitions that are filed in the wrong county get delayed or rejected, so check your docket carefully.
What proof do I need to attach to my petition?
Most conviction petitions require two character affidavits from people who know you and are not related to you. Many forms also require certified copies of the judgment and proof that fines, fees, and restitution have been paid. Follow the instructions on the form and do not leave required blanks empty, or the clerk will not accept the filing.
Can prosecutors or clerks deny a qualifying expunction?
Clerks accept or reject filings based on whether the packet meets form and document requirements. The district attorney can object if the facts do not meet the statute or if required information is missing. For some felony convictions the court has discretion even if basic criteria are met, which is why complete and accurate filings matter.
What happens after a judge signs the expunction order?
The clerk sends the order to the State Bureau of Investigation and other agencies listed so records can be updated. Public access to the case is removed and the docket should no longer appear in court searches. Keep a certified copy of the order in case you need to correct an outdated report that still shows the case.
Can I expunge cases from different counties at the same time?
The statutes allow coordinated filings, and some rules give a short window to file in multiple counties for related relief. If you miss those timing rules you may have to wait before filing again, which slows the process. Planning the sequence with the statute in front of you avoids avoidable delays.
What is the difference between a pardon and an expunction in NC?
A pardon is an act by the Governor through the Clemency Office, and it is separate from the courts. An expunction is a court order under a statute that clears a record and directs agencies to remove it from public view. A pardon by itself does not erase a court record, although a Pardon of Innocence can support an expunction through the court process.
Do expunged cases still count in later criminal cases?
Expunged matters are generally removed from public use, but the statutes allow limited use in later criminal proceedings. Prosecutors and courts can access expunged records for specific purposes that the law spells out. That is why the order clears your public history but does not erase all law enforcement access.
How do I get my state criminal record for review?
You can request a personal review from the State Bureau of Investigation with fingerprints and the required form. The SBI will send you a copy of your North Carolina record so you can confirm updates after an expunction. This helps catch reporting gaps and lets you keep proof for your files.
What if my record still appears online after an expunction?
Start with the clerk to confirm that the case is cleared in the court system. Then contact the background company or website and give them your certified order so they remove outdated data. If a vendor refuses to correct it, you can document the dispute and consider legal remedies under consumer reporting rules.
Official Sources
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Expunctions
- North Carolina General Assembly — Second Chance Act (SL 2020-35)
- AOC-CR-287 — Petition to Expunge Dismissed or Not Guilty Charges
- AOC Forms for G.S. 15A-145.5 — Nonviolent Convictions
- NCGS Chapter 15A, Article 5 — Expunction of Records
- NCGS 15A-145.5 — Nonviolent Misdemeanors and Felonies
- NCGS 15A-146 — Dismissed or Not Guilty Charges
- NCGS 15A-151 — Confidential Index of Expunctions
- North Carolina SBI — Background Checks
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Court Costs
- Office of the Governor — Legal Issues and Clemency
- NC DPS — Applicants for Pardon
- North Carolina SBI — Personal Review of Criminal Record