Expunging your criminal record in North Carolina

Having a criminal record can be a significant burden and a barrier to employment, housing and even personal relationships. In North Carolina, the good news is that certain offenses can be expunged, allowing people to move forward with their lives normally and without the issue of having made past mistakes.

What is expungement?

Expungement is a legal process through which a person has their criminal conviction removed from their record.

It generally deletes all information associated with the infraction, which is helpful because having a criminal record can limit you in a variety of ways and keep you from living a normal life with all the freedoms and liberties as everyone else.

Can it be done in North Carolina?

There are numerous expunction statutes in North Carolina. These statutes allow individuals to apply for expungement if they qualify.

Yes, but not for everything

So, depending on several factors, individuals in North Carolina can apply for expungement. However, not everyone will qualify. It is important for people to generally know before they’re even in trouble because some individuals – often younger folks – believe that if they get in trouble, they can just ask for expungement a while later.