Kent Vacating and Sealing Lawyer

Kent Vacating and Sealing Attorney

Being convicted of a crime can be terrifying. A criminal record can be a major burden on your shoulders. You may find yourself unable to secure employment or housing, and because of this, you are curious about the laws for vacating or sealing your conviction. In Washington, this is also known as vacating, sealing, or expunging a conviction. Whether you’ve been convicted of a DUI along South 212th Street or assault in Kent Memorial Park, a Kent vacating and sealing lawyer is here to help.

ARK Law: Here to Protect Your Rights

Since 2020, ARK Law has been passionately assisting clients who have found themselves suffering from the complications of a criminal record. We offer a compassionate approach to vacating and sealing cases and attack those cases with a unique perspective showing the prosecutor and Judge who you are and why you deserve to move on from a mistake in your past. Lead attorney Andrea Kim works with both private client and is appointed as a public defender on many adult and juvenile cases and can use that experience to fight for your rights.

The differences between expungement and vacating or sealing:

• Vacating

  Adults can qualify to vacate their misdemeanor or felony records of convictions in Washington State if they meet the requisite time periods and other requirements to vacate the convictions off of their record.

• Sealing

  Juveniles can qualify to vacate their adjudications in juvenile court if they meet the requisite time periods and other requirements to seal their juvenile records. However, even if a juvenile successfully seals their record, if they are charged with a crime again in the future, their juvenile record is automatically unsealed.

• Expunging

  Expunging is the process of trying to delete what is known as non conviction data. That is related to police reports and arrest records where there is no record of conviction. This can occur when someone is investigated for a crime but no charges were ever filed, or the case was dismissed against them with no conviction. Unfortunately, even if the Washington State Patrol and Police Agency that arrested you delete the records, it is almost impossible to delete what is online or elsewhere in public records.

Seeking a Vacation or Sealing in Kent, Washington

Kent, Washington, boasts a crime rate of around 56.44 per 1,000 residents. At ARK Law, we understand that criminal convictions for many individuals can arise from a simple mistake or misunderstanding and that facing certain personal consequences for the rest of their lives is not fair. Having a criminal record can hurt your ability to:

• Get hired for employment, as the unemployment rate for people with a criminal record is about 30%
• Move to new housing
• Vote
• Receive certain benefits
• Get educational or financial aid
• Renew or obtain a driver’s license

There are certain prerequisites in Washington State for the deletion of non-conviction records or vacating certain convictions, which allow individuals to clear or seal their criminal records. These requirements, governed by the Revised Code of Washington, include specific waiting periods and eligibility criteria. Depending on your specific needs and the details of your case, hiring a Kent vacating or sealing attorney can assist you in getting your life back on track.

How ARK Law Can Help

It can be difficult to obtain all of the documents and proof necessary to request your convictions be vacated or sealed. This is especially true if your case is decades old and some of the Court’s may not even have the records anymore, and yet the convictions are still showing up on background checks. Hiring a Kent vacating or sealing attorney can take the stress out of the process for you. The team at ARK Law know where and how to access the necessary documents and records to submit a Petition to Vacate or Seal your record.

Hire a Vacating and Sealing Lawyer in Kent Today: Contact ARK Law

Vacating a conviction in Kent requires a substantial amount of paperwork that can be difficult to handle on your own. To learn if your conviction can be expunged and to get the help you need throughout the legal process, you need to hire a vacating and sealing lawyer as soon as possible. ARK Law is here to guide you through every step of the process and offer you the compassion and support you deserve. Contact our offices today to find out more information.