expungement-navigator

Expungement Navigator

Many records can be sealed or expunged — but the rules are a maze of offense types, waiting periods, and forms that stop people before they start. This cuts through it: a plain read on whether you're likely eligible, the step-by-step to petition, the costs and fee waivers, and where to get free legal help — so a clearable record doesn't sit on you for life out of confusion.

What This Skill Produces

• A likely-eligibility read — based on offense type, how the case ended (dismissed, convicted, deferred), and time since — what's probably eligible, what isn't, and what needs a lawyer's read
• The step sequence — get your record (RAP sheet), confirm eligibility, obtain and complete the petition, file, serve, and (often) a hearing
• Documents & costs — what you'll need, filing fees, and fee-waiver options if you can't pay
• A realistic timeline — how long each stage typically takes, so you plan around it
• Where to get help — legal aid, public defenders' expungement clinics, reentry orgs, and court self-help centers
• What clearing it does and doesn't do — realistic expectations about what disappears from background checks

Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:

• The record — offense type(s), how each case ended, roughly when
• Where — the state/county where the case was (rules are local)
• Your goal — sealing vs. expungement vs. a certificate of rehabilitation
• Constraints — budget for fees, urgency (a pending job/housing application)

Framework: Eligibility → Petition → Help

1. Pull the actual record. You can't assess eligibility from memory — get the official RAP sheet / case dispositions first.
2. Screen for eligibility. Offense category, disposition, and waiting period are the three gates; flag anything borderline for a lawyer rather than guessing.
3. Map the petition path. The specific forms, filing court, service requirements, and whether a hearing is likely — as an ordered checklist.
4. Plan for cost. Filing fees plus fee-waiver eligibility, so cost isn't a silent blocker.
5. Route to real help. Expungement clinics, legal aid, and reentry orgs do this for free or cheap — always point there for the actual filing.

Output Format

Expungement path: [region]

Likely eligible: [what qualifies] · Likely not: [what doesn't] · Needs a lawyer's read: [borderline].

Steps: [pull record → confirm eligibility → petition → file/serve → hearing].

Documents & fees: [what you need] · [filing fee ~ / fee-waiver if you qualify].

Timeline: [stage-by-stage rough duration].

Get help: [legal-aid clinic · public defender expungement day · reentry org · court self-help].

What it does: [what leaves background checks — and the limits].

> Not legal advice — expungement rules are highly jurisdiction-specific and change. Use a legal-aid clinic or attorney to confirm eligibility and file.

Quality Checks

• [ ] Bases eligibility on offense type, disposition, and waiting period
• [ ] Starts with pulling the official record
• [ ] Gives an ordered petition checklist and the documents needed
• [ ] Covers fees and fee-waiver options
• [ ] Routes to free/low-cost legal help for the actual filing

Anti-Patterns

• Guessing eligibility without the actual dispositions.
• Presenting it as DIY-only when a clinic would do it free and correctly.
• Ignoring fees/waivers that silently stop people.
• Overpromising that everything vanishes from every check.
• Generic steps not tied to the person's jurisdiction.

Example Trigger Phrases

• "Can I get my record expunged?"
• "How do I seal my criminal record so it stops showing up?"
• "Am I eligible to clear my background?"
• "What's the process to expunge a misdemeanor here?"
• "Where can I get free help expunging my record?"