Expungements and
Non-Disclosure Orders in Texas

Having a criminal charge on your record can be devastating. It can make finding employment, renting an apartment, obtaining child custody, or getting admitted to school all the more difficult. It can also affect your social standing. However, you may be entitled to erase or seal your criminal record through an expunction or a non-disclosure order. Austin-based expungements and record sealing attorney Chris Perri can help.

What is an expungement according to Texas law?

An expungement, also commonly referred to as an expunction, is one of the most powerful procedures in Texas criminal law. In effect, it erases all records of a criminal charge and allows a defendant to deny that the arrest ever occurred.

However, keep in mind that defendants are only eligible to expunge the records of their arrest if their case resulted in a dismissal or acquittal. If you received a criminal conviction, you are not eligible for an expungement, unless you get the conviction overturned through exoneration, through a governor’s pardon, or possibly through an appeal or writ of habeas corpus. Unlike most defense firms in Texas, Chris Perri Law has extensive experience filing these post-conviction relief options as well.

In the context of multiple charges, expungement law is quite complex, so you need an experienced expunction attorney in Austin like Chris Perri to identify which cases are eligible. Chris Perri Law has won arguments for expungements in the most complex of circumstances and is prepared to litigate issues before trial courts and, if necessary, appeal rulings all the way to the Texas Supreme Court.

Time Restrictions on When to Apply for an Expungement

In most Texas cases, you must wait until the statute of limitations for a charge has expired before you can apply for an expunction. Generally speaking, statutes of limitations break down as follows:

  • Most misdemeanors have a two-year statute of limitations (three years for family violence assault).

  • Most felonies have a three-year statute of limitations.

  • Some serious felony offenses, such as murder, have no statute of limitations, meaning those arrests are typically not eligible for expunction.

There are exceptions. In some cases, early expunction may be possible, particularly after successful completion of a pretrial diversion program or depending on local policies. An experienced Texas expunction attorney can evaluate your case and determine the earliest opportunity to clear your record.

What is a
non-disclosure order?

A non-disclosure order, also known as record sealing, limits public access to a person’s Texas criminal record. While the record is not erased entirely, it is hidden from most employers, landlords, schools, and background-check companies. Law enforcement and certain state licensing agencies may still be able to view the information.

In many cases, people are eligible for record sealing after successfully completing deferred adjudication requirements or if they have a single qualifying misdemeanor conviction, including certain DWI cases.

To qualify for a non-disclosure order in Texas, a person must meet all case-specific eligibility conditions and complete any required waiting period without incurring additional criminal charges. Some serious offenses, such as sex crimes, are not eligible for record sealing at all.

Because the rules are complex and constantly evolving, an experienced Texas non-disclosure attorney can review your case and help determine whether you qualify.

When it comes to expungements and record sealing, Chris Perri is at the forefront. 

Chris Perri has extensive experience in Texas expunction and non-disclosure law and has played an important role in shaping how these procedures are understood and applied. He served as lead counsel in a case that significantly altered Texas expungement law and has presented seminars for Austin-area criminal defense attorneys on effective strategies for clearing and sealing criminal records.

For many years, Chris Perri served as a founding partner and supervising attorney for the University of Texas School of Law’s Expunction Project, a pro bono initiative that helps individuals in Travis County pursue expunctions each year. In recognition of this work, he received the Excellence in Public Interest Award (EPIA) from Texas Law Fellowships. He has also been regularly selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list and has earned other professional distinctions.

A criminal record should not define your future. If you are unsure whether you qualify for an expungement or non-disclosure order in Texas, Chris Perri Law is ready to review your case and guide you through every step of the process. With a deep understanding of the nuanced Texas laws governing record clearing and sealing, Chris Perri is committed to helping clients move forward swiftly with clarity, dignity, and a clean slate.

For a free consultation on your case, call Chris Perri Law at (512) 269-0260 today.