Reclaim Your Future with Record Sealing

Nevada does not use expungement as the standard remedy for most criminal cases. The remedy people are usually referring to is record sealing. When a record is sealed, it is removed from most public background checks and you can lawfully deny the sealed case in most situations. Sealing does not rewrite history, and certain government agencies may still access sealed records in limited circumstances.

Eligibility depends on the type of offense and the required waiting period. For your consultation, try to identify the courts and case numbers tied to each record you want sealed. The waiting period generally runs from when the case was closed or the sentence was completed, not the date of conviction. Once we have the case details, we can map out eligibility and a filing plan.

Nevada record sealing is typically handled as a complete package. If you have a newer case that is still pending, that can block sealing of an older record that would otherwise be eligible on its own. A common example is an older DUI that looks eligible, but a newer misdemeanor is still open. In that situation, you usually have to wait until the newer case is completed and eligible before sealing the older case.

Timelines vary by case and by agency, and there are no promises. Where the petition is filed and which prosecutor and agencies must review and process it can change the pace. A rough expectation is about 5 to 7 months from start to finish. Often that looks like roughly two months to gather intake records and receive the DPS criminal history report, about one to two weeks to draft, about one to three months for prosecutor review and stipulation, about one to four weeks for the court to sign the order, and about a month to confirm agencies comply with the sealing order.

No. We run the process. The client side is usually limited to a short intake, signing paperwork, and helping us identify prior case numbers and courts if you have them. We obtain the DPS related items and handle drafting, filing, service, and follow through.

Record sealing removes eligible cases from most public background checks, including those used by employers, landlords, and consumer reporting agencies. In most situations, you are legally allowed to deny the existence of sealed cases. Sealing protects your privacy for employment and housing, and it prevents embarrassing or outdated information from remaining publicly searchable. For rental and lease screenings in particular, sealed cases are hidden from the databases landlords typically rely on.

Record sealing has limits. It does not restore firearm rights if those rights were lost due to a felony or domestic violence conviction. It does not eliminate immigration consequences, and sealed cases may still be considered by immigration authorities. Sealing also does not erase guilt. If you have future contact with law enforcement or the courts, sealed convictions can still be seen and considered internally. Professional licensing can also be complicated. Many licensing boards require voluntary disclosure of prior criminal matters even if they have been sealed, and failing to disclose when required can create licensing problems.

The most common issues we discover partway through the process involve unpaid jail fees, probation fees, or house arrest costs. These usually can be fixed as long as they are paid promptly once identified. Other delays can come from clerical or legibility issues, such as fingerprints that cannot be read by the Department of Public Safety. A new arrest or criminal case after you hire us is another major issue. If a new case is filed while the sealing is in progress, it can reset eligibility timelines and may prevent completion of the sealing until the new matter is resolved. When issues arise, we work with the client to resolve them or minimize delay whenever possible.

A criminal history report is the official record maintained by the Nevada Department of Public Safety that lists arrests, charges, and case outcomes tied to your fingerprints. Courts and prosecutors rely on this report to confirm eligibility and accuracy before agreeing to seal records. Obtaining and reviewing this report is a required step in the record sealing process, and errors or omissions must be addressed before filing.

A SCOPE report is a Clark County specific criminal history record that supplements the statewide DPS criminal history. It helps identify cases that may not appear clearly on other records and ensures nothing is missed. When required, it allows us to verify case information, confirm eligibility timelines, and prepare a complete and accurate petition.

A Petition to Seal Records is the formal legal filing asking the court to order criminal justice agencies to seal eligible cases. It lays out the case history, establishes eligibility, and identifies every agency that must comply with the order. When appropriate, the petition is submitted with a stipulation signed by the prosecuting agency, which streamlines the court’s review.

In the overwhelming majority of cases we handle, the court is required to grant record sealing once eligibility is properly established and the prosecuting agency has signed a stipulation. As long as the waiting periods are correctly calculated and the petition is accurate, the court will issue the order to seal. Denials are rare and usually tied to eligibility errors or unresolved issues, which is why correct sequencing and careful review matter.