If you’ve been charged with a crime, you know that the consequences can linger long after you’ve served your time. Even after fulfilling your legal obligations, a criminal record can continue to impact various aspects of your life. Whether it’s your career, housing, education, or even voting rights, the stigma of a criminal conviction can persist, often making it harder to move forward. At the Law Offices of Garrett T. Ogata, we understand the struggles you face. Our team is committed to helping you seal your criminal record and give you a fresh start, free from the shadows of your past. With years of experience and a proven track record of success, we’ve helped countless clients remove the burden of a criminal history.
Contact us today for a free consultation and start the process of sealing your criminal record. Let us help you move forward with a clean slate!
Anyone who has been charged with a crime can attest to the fact that punitive results don’t end after their trial and punishment period is over. Any type of conviction can affect a person’s current or future employment opportunities, housing, educational opportunities, voting, and even gun rights.
We at the Law Offices of Garrett T. Ogata know that the stigma attached to being convicted of a crime can unfairly affect you long after you have paid your debt to society. An experienced attorney can help get your records sealed, thus lessening the chances that that record will haunt you forever. At our office we have successfully sealed hundreds of records!
The main difference between a sealed record and an expunged record is that with an expungement, your record is destroyed. With a sealed record, the record still exists but is hidden from public view. While many use the term “expungement” interchangeably with “Sealing Records”, the state of Nevada does not allow for expungement, it does allow for your records to be sealed, with many of the waiting periods recently shortened significantly.
Sealing a record in Nevada involves several steps, each requiring careful attention to detail. Here’s how the process typically works:
Determine Eligibility
Before starting the process, we assess your criminal history to determine if your charges qualify for sealing under Nevada law. (See eligibility below.)
Obtain a Criminal History Report
You must request a full criminal history report from the Nevada Department of Public Safety. This report outlines all arrests and convictions.
Prepare and File the Petition
We draft a petition to seal your records, along with supporting documents such as affidavits and a proposed court order.
Notify All Relevant Agencies
Once the petition is filed, we serve copies to all parties involved in the original case—law enforcement, prosecutors, and others—so they have the opportunity to respond.
Court Hearing (If Required)
In some cases, the court may set a hearing. We represent you in court, arguing why sealing your record is in the interest of justice.
Receive and Distribute the Order
If the court approves the petition, a judge will sign an order to seal your record. We then ensure that the order is distributed to all relevant agencies to remove the record from public view.
This process can take several months depending on the complexity of the case and court timelines—but with our team, you’ll always know what to expect.
Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 179.245 allows for many types of criminal records to be sealed, but there are exceptions. The rules can be confusing, so here’s a simpler breakdown:
Misdemeanors: 1 year after case closes
Gross misdemeanors: 2 years
Non-violent felonies: 5 years
Arrests without conviction: Immediately eligible
The best way to determine if you are eligible to have your records sealed is by speaking to an attorney. Contact Garrett T. Ogata for a free consultation.
Under NRS 179.245.5, individuals convicted of felony DUI, or DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm or death, are not eligible to have their records sealed at any point in time. This includes any DUI conviction that causes serious injury or fatalities.
As per NRS 179.245.5, records related to convictions for sexual offenses cannot be sealed. NRS 179.245.7(b)(1)-(15) outlines the specific offenses classified as “sexual offenses” under this statute, which includes various forms of sexual crimes.
NRS 179.245.5 prohibits the sealing of criminal records for convictions related to crimes against a child. NRS 179.0357 further specifies what constitutes a “crime against a child” for the purposes of this statute, which includes a wide range of offenses involving minors.
Background Check Protection – Prevents your record from appearing in most public background checks
Improved Employment Opportunities – Employers can’t use sealed records to deny you a job
Housing and Education Access – Landlords and schools won’t see sealed offenses
Peace of Mind – You don’t have to keep explaining your past
Our team at the Law Offices of Garrett T. Ogata handles the entire sealing process for you—from reviewing eligibility to filing paperwork, appearing in court, and notifying the proper agencies. We even have an in-office notary to streamline your paperwork. Prior clients also receive discounted services.
We make the process as quick and convenient as possible, so you can move forward without your past holding you back.
Don’t let your record limit your future. Our Las Vegas record sealing lawyers have a long history of helping people get the second chance they deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward a better future.
Sealing a criminal record hides it from public view and most background checks, like for jobs or housing. It still exists for law enforcement but gives you a fresh start. This is different from expungement, which erases the record entirely.
To seal your criminal record in Las Vegas, you must follow a specific legal process. This includes determining your eligibility, filing the required paperwork, and submitting it to the court for review. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process, ensuring all the necessary steps are completed correctly. Consulting with a Las Vegas record sealing lawyer, like those at the Law Offices of Garrett T. Ogata, can help streamline the process.
The time it takes to seal a record in Nevada can vary depending on the specifics of your case, including the type of crime and court processing times. Generally, it can take anywhere from a few months to over a year to complete the record sealing process. Having a knowledgeable lawyer to handle your case can help ensure the process moves forward as efficiently as possible.
In Nevada, certain crimes cannot be expunged or sealed. These include felony convictions involving the use of a deadly weapon, sexual offenses, crimes against children, and DUI convictions resulting in death or substantial bodily harm. Additionally, felonies where the victim was a minor or where the sentence included a prison term are not eligible for sealing. It’s important to consult with a legal expert to understand your specific eligibility.
Even if your record is sealed in Nevada, federal law generally prohibits those with felony convictions from buying or possessing a gun. However, Nevada law may restore your gun rights in certain circumstances, such as for certain non-violent felony convictions after a specific waiting period. It’s best to consult with an attorney to understand how your sealed record may affect your firearm rights under both state and federal law.
Nevada law generally allows you to seal one conviction for each category of offense. That means you could potentially seal one felony, one gross misdemeanor, and one misdemeanor conviction. However, there are exceptions and limitations to this rule, so consult with an attorney to determine your eligibility.
Nevada’s Second Chance Act aims to provide individuals with certain criminal convictions an opportunity to have their records sealed. This law expands the eligibility criteria for record sealing, making it easier for people to clear their past and move forward with their lives. The Second Chance Act reflects a growing recognition of the importance of rehabilitation and giving people a chance to overcome their past mistakes. For those who have records for offenses that the Nevada legislature has since decriminalized, procedures are now in place to help get those records sealed.
