How much does it cost to expunge a felony in Texas?
Asked by: Mrs. Rosie Fay | Last update: January 21, 2026Score: 5/5 (57 votes)
The average lawyer's fee for expungement cases in Texas is $1500, but some attorneys charge $3000 or more. We charge a flat fee that begins at $950 for expunction.
How much does it cost to get a felony expunged from your record in Texas?
How Much Will It Cost to Expunge My Criminal Record in Texas? As a general rule, it costs more to expunge a felony than a misdemeanor. The expungement of a felony will customarily cost a minimum of $1,000, but may cost upwards of $2,500 or even more. Misdemeanors can usually be expunged for $1,000 or less.
How long does it take to get a felony expunged in Texas?
In most cases, you can expect to wait 30-90 days to schedule the hearing date after you file this petition. The entire process can take up to six months to complete. Once the court grants your expungement, however, it may take agencies up to 6 months to destroy records complete.
What crimes cannot be expunged in Texas?
- Murder.
- Manslaughter.
- Sexual Assault of a Child.
- Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child.
- Continuous Sexual Abuse of Young Child or Disabled Individual.
- Indecency with a Child.
- An offense involving leaving the scene of a collision if resulting in the death of a person.
Do I need a lawyer for expungement in Texas?
Most people can file and successfully process their own Texas expungement forms without the assistance of a lawyer. All you need is the proper forms and easy step-by-step instructions to complete your Texas expungement.
How Much does Expungement Cost in Texas?
Does a criminal record clear after 7 years in Texas?
There is a common myth that criminal charges are automatically removed after 7 years, however, this is simply not true.
Can I file an expungement myself?
You are allowed to pursue your case “pro se,” meaning without an attorney. The court might provide the forms you need to file the petition. However, the process of expunging a criminal record can be challenging. You could lose your case if you don't follow the appropriate steps or complete the paperwork correctly.
Do felonies go away after 10 years?
In California, a felony conviction stays on your record forever if you do not get it expunged. You may be eligible for an expungement if you did not serve time in state prison. You can face serious obstacles until you get the conviction removed from your criminal history.
Will my expunged record show up on a background check in Texas?
Answer: The information is not supposed to appear on a background check; however it still may by mistake. If it does, TREC will ask you to provide a copy of the Order of Expungment or Non-disclosure and upon receipt will not consider that offense in determining a person's fitness for licensure.
How to expunge your record in Texas for free?
Get Help Clearing Your Record
The Texas Fair Defense Projects provides free assistance to people who qualify for expunctions or nondisclosure orders. Applicants are required to submit a DPS Criminal History Report along with their application to determine eligibility.
Will a felony show up on a background check after 10 years in Texas?
The Seven-Year Rule for Criminal Background Checks in Texas
However, if you are found guilty of the crime, you can expect the conviction to continue being reported on your criminal background check for the rest of your life unless you contact a Houston expungement lawyer.
Can I expunge my own record in Texas?
While most convictions cannot be removed from a person's record, Texas law does allow individuals to permanently remove information about an arrest, charge or conviction from their permanent records in certain circumstances. This is called an expunction.
How long is a felony on your record in Texas?
The short answer is that without any further legal action, a felony charge or conviction will remain on your record for the rest of your life. However, Texas law offers two options to have your criminal record changed or sealed.
What is the waiting period for felony expungement in Texas?
The timeframe for receiving an expunction is (1) at least 180 days from the date of the arrest for an offense punish- able as a Class C misdemeanor, (2) at least one year from the date of the arrest for an offense punishable as a Class B or A misdemeanor, or (3) at least three years have elapsed for an offense ...
How much does it cost to get a felony expunged off your record in Florida?
An expungement in Florida typically costs around $995, but can vary depending on attorney fees and the complexity of your case.
What is the difference between sealed and expunged in Texas?
If you wish to erase your record entirely, you must enter an order of expunction. Each process has its own procedures and eligibility rules. Sealing your criminal record means that only certain entities will be able to see your record.
Can the FBI see an expunged record?
Even records that have been expunged or sealed can show up as an arrest only—with no additional information. An FBI search works differently. The FBI does not dig deeper or search other databases to help supplement incomplete information. They rely solely on the state.
Can you get a job with a pending felony charge?
California law permits the inclusion of all pending criminal charges in a background check, so even if you have not been convicted, the mere presence of charges against you might influence an employer's decision.
Can you be a police officer with a expunged felony in Texas?
Applicants must not have been dismissed or resigned in lieu of dismissal from employment for inefficiency or misconduct. Expungements. Under Texas law expungements are not accepted on convictions, even if the sentence was probation. Expungements from another state must meet the same standards as Texas law.
Does a felony stay with you for life?
A felony will stay on your record forever in California unless you choose to take action and get the conviction removed. This is called the “expungement process” and generally requires the help of a legal representative to get underway.
Can a felon get a passport?
Yes, a convicted felon can usually get a passport, but it depends on the felony and other factors: Felony typeSome felonies can automatically disqualify you from getting a passport, including: International drug trafficking Trafficking minors "Sex tourism" offenses Treason.
How long do felonies show up on background checks?
Code 1786.18(a)(7), California mandates that a conviction can't be reported when it's older than seven years. Arrests that didn't lead to convictions can't be reported regardless of how much time has elapsed.
What to say to a judge for expungement?
This conviction does not reflect the person I am today, and I humbly ask the court to consider my petition for expungement based on my personal growth and the changes I have made since my conviction. At the time of the offense, my life was in disarray.
Can you reverse an expungement?
A Type of Dismissal
Instead, it is used to clear defendants' records after sentencing. In most states, an expungement would not be reversed because the defendant already served their sentence.
How to check expungement status?
The best way to find out if this has happened is to go to the Court where your case was at and ask to see the documents. If they do not have them the case was expunged and some private company has the records and provided them when the background check was done.