California Expungement Under PC 1203.4

Not exactly. Expungement under PC 1203.4 dismisses your conviction, but the arrest and court case remain on your record—they just show as "dismissed" instead of "convicted." For most private employers and landlords, you can legally say you were not convicted. However, the record is still visible to government agencies, law enforcement, and when applying for certain professional licenses. For complete record destruction, you may need to pursue a separate "petition to seal and destroy" after expungement.

Yes! Many felony convictions are eligible for expungement under PC 1203.4, especially if you didn't serve time in state prison, or if your felony would now be classified as a misdemeanor under Proposition 47 or 64. If you did serve state prison time, you may still qualify if your conviction has been reduced to a misdemeanor. We can also help with reducing felonies to misdemeanors (PC 17(b)) before pursuing expungement, which opens even more opportunities.

It depends on the conviction. If you were convicted of a misdemeanor, expungement generally restores your right to own and possess firearms in California. However, if you were convicted of a felony, expungement alone does NOT restore gun rights—you'll need a separate "Certificate of Rehabilitation" or gubernatorial pardon. Additionally, certain domestic violence and other specific convictions carry lifetime firearm prohibitions under federal law that state expungement cannot override. We can evaluate your specific situation and advise on your options.

Expungement costs include court filing fees (typically $120-$150 per conviction) plus attorney fees. Our fees vary based on case complexity, number of convictions, and whether additional motions (like early termination of probation or felony reduction) are needed. We offer transparent, flat-rate pricing with no hidden fees. During your free consultation, we'll provide an exact quote for your specific situation. Investing in expungement pays for itself through better job opportunities, housing options, and peace of mind.

Absolutely. You can petition to expunge as many eligible convictions as you have, even from different cases or counties. Each conviction requires a separate petition and filing fee, but we can often bundle multiple expungements together to streamline the process and reduce overall costs. If you have several convictions you want cleared, we'll create a strategic plan to expunge them efficiently. There's no limit to how many convictions you can expunge in California as long as each meets the eligibility requirements.

Denials are rare when the petition is properly prepared and you meet the eligibility criteria. If your petition is denied, the court will typically explain why—common reasons include outstanding fines, incomplete probation, or pending charges. We can address these issues and refile. If denied for discretionary reasons (judge's decision), we can file a motion for reconsideration or wait and refile later. Most denials are temporary obstacles we can overcome. Our thorough case evaluation minimizes the risk of denial.