Expungement Lawyer in Greensboro, NC
Looking for an expungement lawyer in Greensboro, NC? If your case was voluntarily dismissed, deferred dismissed, or you were found not guilty, our firm can help clear your record. If you were convicted, North Carolina shortened the wait in 2025. One phone call tells you where you stand.
Can your record be cleared?
Tell us what the charge was and roughly when. That is enough for us to check.
Sending this form does not make us your lawyer yet.
Case voluntarily dismissed, deferred dismissed, or found not guilty? Your record can be cleared, and we can start now. Most people do not want to wait and hope the system gets to it.
If you were found guilty, you have to wait, then ask. How long depends on what it was. The table below gives the real numbers.
If anyone told you five years for a misdemeanor, that is old information. North Carolina changed it to three years in July 2025, so you may already be able to file.
- Can my record be cleared?
- How long do I have to wait?
- What can never be cleared
- What you have to prove
- How long it takes
- What changes after it is cleared
- What does an expungement lawyer cost in Greensboro?
- How to choose an expungement lawyer in Greensboro
- Our criminal defense team
- What clients say
- Where we practice
- Questions people ask us
Can my record be cleared?
Start with how your case ended. That is what decides everything.
If your case was dismissed, deferred dismissed, or you were found not guilty
Your record can be cleared, and this is the easiest group to help. There is no waiting period to serve and no conviction standing in the way.
Most people in this position come to us because they want it dealt with now, not left to chance. A pending job, a license application, a lease or a background check next month does not wait.
What we do:
- Pull your record so we are working from what the court actually holds, not what you remember.
- Confirm which route applies to your case, because they are not all the same.
- Get it filed and followed through, so it is done and you have the order in your hand.
If you were found guilty
Then nothing happens on its own. Somebody has to file a petition with the court, and the rules are strict. That is the part we handle, and the waiting periods below are where it starts.
Has yours already cleared on its own?
Worth checking before you do anything. Since 1 December 2021, some dismissed charges and not guilty findings are cleared by the court itself, under G.S. 15A-146(a4), roughly six to seven months after the case ends.
It does not cover everything, and it does not always work. A felony dropped as part of a plea deal is left out. So is a case dismissed because the court found you were not able to take part in your own trial, if that was on or after 1 December 2025. And it is a new system that misses cases.
Call and we will check for you. If your case was dismissed over a year ago and a background check still shows it, something has gone wrong and it needs chasing. If it has cleared, we will tell you that too. Either way you will know where you stand, and the check costs you nothing.
How long do I have to wait?
This is the question everyone asks, and most websites will not give you a straight number. Here they are.
These are for nonviolent charges. The clock starts at whichever is later: the day you were found guilty, or the day you finished jail, probation or supervision.
| What you were found guilty of | How long you wait |
|---|---|
| One misdemeanor | 3 years |
| More than one misdemeanor | 7 years from the last one |
| One felony | 10 years |
| Breaking or entering a building G.S. 14-54(a) |
15 years |
| Two or three felonies | 20 years from the most recent one |
The three year number is new. It used to be five years. North Carolina changed it in July 2025. If you checked a year ago and were told to wait five years, check again, because you may already be able to file. The change is S.L. 2025-71. The waiting periods are in G.S. 15A-145.5.
One honest warning about the three year rule. The way the law is written, lawyers do not fully agree on whether the three years runs from the day you were convicted or the day you finished probation. The School of Government has said the same. If your date is close, we will tell you which way Guilford County is reading it rather than guess.
A few other rules that catch people out.
- Several charges dealt with on the same day in the same court usually count as one.
- You can ask for up to three felonies at once, but they have to have happened within the same two year window.
- If your cases are in different counties, all the petitions have to go in within 120 days of each other.
- If you have had a record cleared before, you usually cannot have another one of the same kind cleared.
What can never be cleared
Some things stay on your record forever, no matter how long you wait or how well you have done since. It is better to know now.
| Cannot be cleared | Why |
|---|---|
| DWI or DUI | The law shuts these out completely. There is no waiting period that fixes it. |
| Anything with assault in it | If assault is part of what you were found guilty of, it is excluded. That includes assault on a female. |
| Class A1 misdemeanors | The highest misdemeanor group is excluded as a whole. |
| Class A to G felonies | The more serious half of the felony list. |
| Sex offenses that put you on the register | Excluded. |
| Some drug felonies | Meth offenses, and having heroin or cocaine with intent to sell. |
| Commercial vehicle felonies | Felonies committed in a commercial motor vehicle are excluded. |
There is a difference between a charge and a conviction. If an assault charge was dismissed, or you were found not guilty, it can still be cleared, and it may already have been cleared automatically. It is only a guilty finding for assault that is locked in forever.
If your charge is on this list, call anyway. There is a second route called a Certificate of Relief that does not clear the record but can help with some job and license problems. It is in G.S. 15A-173.1 and after.
Three situations, and only one of them costs you anything
Your case was dismissed and may already be clear. Or you have waited long enough and can file now. Or your charge is on the excluded list and we will tell you straight.
We check all three before you pay us a penny.
Call (336) 379-0539Free consultation, answered 24/7What you have to prove
The court will not just take your word for it. A judge has to be satisfied of all of this.
- You have waited long enoughMeasured from the later of your conviction or the end of your sentence.
- You are of good character nowThis needs sworn letters from two people who are not related to you.
- You have no warrants out and no cases waitingNothing pending anywhere.
- You have paid back any money the court orderedOutstanding restitution will stop the whole thing.
- You have stayed out of troubleDuring the waiting period. Minor traffic matters do not count against you.
- No recent misdemeanors, if you are asking about a felonyNo non traffic misdemeanors in the last five years.
The two letters are where most people get stuck. Start asking now. A former employer, a pastor, a landlord, a teacher. Not family.
How long it takes
- We check what you are eligible forOne phone call, usually same day. We pull your record so we are working from the real thing, not memory.
- We get your papers togetherThe petition, the two character letters, the fee or the waiver request.
- It is filed with the Clerk of Superior CourtAt the courthouse on South Eugene Street if the case was in Guilford County.
- The District Attorney gets to respondThey are told and can object.
- A judge decidesIf you meet every requirement for a nonviolent conviction, the judge is required to grant it. It is not left to mood.
201 South Eugene St, Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 412-7300
Waived if you cannot afford it
Ask us how
From people not related to you
Start asking early
(336) 379-0539, answered 24 hours
What changes after it is cleared
The record is wiped. In law you are put back in the position you were in before it happened.
- On most job applications you can answer no when asked about a conviction.
- It should stop showing on standard background checks.
- Housing applications and license applications get easier.
It is not magic. Private background check companies sometimes keep old copies, and that has to be chased separately. We tell clients to run a check on themselves a few months after the order to make sure it actually came off. There is more on what a clear record does for a job search.
What does an expungement lawyer cost in Greensboro?
Two separate costs, and you should get both numbers before you commit to anything.
| What | How much |
|---|---|
| The court filing fee | $175, paid to the court, not to us. It can be waived if you cannot afford it. |
| Our fee | Quoted as a flat figure on the first call, before you agree to anything. It depends on how many charges and how many counties. |
| The first conversation | Free. Including the check on whether your record already cleared itself. |
If your case was dismissed after December 2021, the honest answer may be that you owe nobody anything, because the court should have cleared it for free. We check that first.
How to choose an expungement lawyer in Greensboro
People search for the “best” expungement lawyer in Greensboro. No lawyer is allowed to tell you they are the best one, and any firm that does is breaking the North Carolina State Bar advertising rules. What we can do is tell you what actually separates a good expungement lawyer from a bad one, so you can judge for yourself.
| Ask them this | What a good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| “Has my record already been cleared automatically?” | They should know about the December 2021 rule and offer to check before quoting you anything. |
| “How long do I have to wait?” | A specific number of years. If they say five for one misdemeanor, they are working from pre-July 2025 law. |
| “Will you pull my record first?” | Yes. Eligibility turns on exactly what the charges were, not what you remember. |
| “What is your flat fee?” | A number, on the first call. |
Ask us all four. If we are not the right fit, we will tell you.
Our criminal defense team
Jason Aycoth
Criminal Defense, Felony Charges, State and Federal Court
Jason handles criminal cases in state and federal court across North Carolina. He has served as Editor of the True Bill and was Commencement Speaker at Elon Law School's graduation.
- Former President, Greensboro Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Elected member, Criminal Justice Section, North Carolina Bar Association
- Selected to present the Wade M. Smith Award for Top Criminal Defense Lawyer in North Carolina
Chad D. GarrettFounderJason AycothPartner
Sean OlsonPartner
Brandon GoldsboroughCriminal Defense
Stephanie GoldsboroughCriminal Defense
Rebecca ElliottCriminal Defense
Patrick BidwellCriminal Defense
Samantha HeplerCriminal DefenseWhat clients say
4.9 out of 5 from 587 Google reviews. A few recent ones:
Where we practice
Our office is two minutes from the Guilford County Courthouse.
Guilford County: Greensboro · High Point · Jamestown · Gibsonville · Summerfield · Oak Ridge · Pleasant Garden · Stokesdale · Whitsett · McLeansville · Sedalia
Also serving: Randolph, Forsyth, Alamance, Rockingham and Davidson Counties
Questions people ask us
How do I find the best expungement lawyer in Greensboro?
No lawyer is allowed to claim to be the best, under North Carolina State Bar rules. Judge them on specifics instead. Do they know about the automatic clearing rule from December 2021? Do they give you a number of years rather than a vague answer? Will they pull your record before quoting?
How long do I have to wait to clear one misdemeanor?
Three years. It used to be five. North Carolina shortened it in July 2025, so if you were told five years before then, check again.
My charge was dismissed. Do I need to pay someone?
Probably not. Since December 2021 the court is supposed to clear dismissed charges and not guilty findings on its own, free, about six months after the case ends. Check a background check first. If it is still showing after a year, call us, because something has gone wrong.
Can a DWI be expunged in North Carolina?
No. Impaired driving offenses are shut out of the expunction law completely. No amount of waiting changes that.
Can an assault charge be cleared?
A conviction for assault cannot be. Assault offenses are excluded, including assault on a female. But a dismissed assault charge or a not guilty finding can be cleared, and may clear automatically.
What does it cost?
The court charges $175, and that can be waived if you cannot afford it. Our fee is separate and you get a straight number on the first call.
How many times can I do this?
Usually once. If you have already had a record cleared, you generally cannot have another of the same kind cleared. There are narrow exceptions for petitions filed before December 2021.
Do I need letters from people?
Yes. Two sworn letters from people who are not related to you, saying you are of good character now. Start asking early, because this is what holds most people up.
I still owe restitution. Can I still apply?
No. Any money the court ordered you to pay back has to be cleared first. It will stop the petition.
Will it come off every background check?
It should come off the official ones. Private background check companies sometimes keep old copies, which has to be chased separately. Run a check on yourself a few months after the order.
What if my charges are in different counties?
All the petitions have to be filed within 120 days of each other. Tell us about every county on the first call so nothing gets missed.
Find out if your record can be cleared
One call tells you which of the three situations you are in. Free, and there is no obligation.
Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Attorneys at Law
317 South Greene St, Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 379-0539 · answered live, 24 hours
Free consultation · Se habla español
This page explains North Carolina law in general terms as of October 2026. It is not legal advice about your case, and penalties and statutes change. Figures come from N.C.G.S. 15A-145.5, 15A-146, 15A-173.1 and S.L. 2025-71. Recent changes are described in the UNC School of Government expunction guide for 2026.