California Juvenile Record Sealing

A common misperception is that your California juvenile criminal record automatically gets sealed when you turn 18. The only way your juvenile record will be sealed is if you take the appropriate actions to seal your record. This also means that if you have a juvenile record this information will be visible on any background check conducted until you take the action to seal your juvenile record. With over 80% of employers conducting background checks today, why would you want to put yourself at a disadvantage in this tough job market?

Once we seal your juvenile record it is like it never existed. If any of the involved law enforcement agencies are contacted regarding your juvenile record they must reply that "they have no record of the matter." All the details of your juvenile offenses will also be deleted from the national databases used for background checks. Lastly you will be able to honestly state that you have never been adjudicated or arrested. The process of sealing your juvenile record truly lets you put your youthful mistakes behind you. Our law firm specializes in juvenile record sealing in the state of California, and we pride ourselves on producing consistent positive outcomes for our clients.

California Juvenile Record Sealing Summary

The California legislature has specifically addressed your right to put your juvenile mistakes behind you for good with California Welfare and Institutions Code 781. Under WIC 781 we are able to petition the juvenile court to permanently seal your juvenile record.

Once we file the petition with the juvenile court, the judge will set a hearing date. At the hearing, the judge will review our petition and any evidence presented by us, the local county's Department of Probation, the District Attorney, or any other agency that has relevant information pertaining to your juvenile record. The judge has the discretion to grant the motion, and will base his decision on many factors, the most important being whether he feels you have been rehabilitated. In other words, he needs to believe that sealing your record will have a positive effect on your adult life and that it is in the interest of society to do so.

If the judge grants the petition your record will be officially sealed and will essentially cease to exist. This means that all activity associated with the juvenile record will be erased from the national databases used by private employers for background checks. All involved agencies are required to respond to any inquiries regarding your juvenile record with "we have no record of that matter." You will also be able to legally say that you have never been arrested. Having your juvenile record sealed in California will undoubtedly make you a more marketable employee candidate in this down economy with the tough job market, as over 80% employers today conduct background checks.

However not all juvenile records are eligible to be sealed under WIC 781, here is a list of the following requirements that must be met to be eligible:

1. You were not sent to the California Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) (formerly known as the California Youth Authority (CYA), commonly referred to as Juvenile Hall or Juvie). If you were sent to the Juvenile Hall you may be eligible for our juvenile record set aside service.
2. You are 18 years or older now OR the jurisdiction of the juvenile court terminated at least five years ago (whichever comes first).
3. You were not charged with a "serious violent felony" under 707(b) when you were 14 or older. (List of WIC 707(b) offenses)
4. Your juvenile case was not heard in adult court, and you were not convicted in adult court. However, if your juvenile offense resulted in an adult conviction we may be able to expunge that adult conviction with our other expungement services.
5. You cannot  have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude as an adult, which are offenses that are intuitively wrong or dishonest. Examples include: theft, violent crimes, drug related crimes, etc. Examples of crimes not considered crimes of moral turpitude include: DUI, trespassing, drunk in public, regulatory offenses, etc.  Learn more about crimes of moral turpitude.
6. There is no pending civil litigation arising from any of your juvenile incidents.

We are one of the few firms that specialize in juvenile record sealing in California. From the second you sign up with us an experienced and knowledgeable attorney will be dedicated to getting you the best possible outcome. We will use our expertise to draft a concise and persuasive petition to the court which will include all appropriate evidentiary support. We will also attend all hearings, wherein we will passionately argue your case on your behalf. We handle everything for you from start to finish, and we offer the absolute lowest fixed price anywhere (we guarantee that our price is the lowest). The average juvenile record sealing case will take 2-6 months in California, and will depend on on how backed up the court is at the time we file the petition. We deeply pride ourselves in our ability to help our clients to forget their past so that they can embrace the future. Don't wait any longer, get a fresh start on life today!

Benefits Of California Juvenile Record Sealing

Do not let stupid choices made in your childhood effect your adult life and your ability to earn an income. Once we successfully seal your juvenile record under WIC 781 you will experience the following tangible benefits:

1. You juvenile record will be completely sealed, meaning that it will essentially cease to exist.
2. Your juvenile record will not be displayed on any background checks.
3. All involved law enforcement agencies will be forced to answer all inquiries regarding your juvenile record with "we have no record of that matter."
4. You can truthfully and legally answer "NO" on private sector job applications when asked if you have ever been arrested or convicted of a crime.
5. You can greatly increase your earning capacity by becoming eligible for more employment opportunities.
6. You become eligible for more types of professional licenses and certificates
7. You can become eligible for better student loans.
8. You can become eligible for better housing assistance.
9. You can tell friends and family that you have not been arrested or convicted of a crime.
10. You have the satisfaction of forgetting the past for good and moving forward into a more positive future.

Isn't it time you put the past behind you for good, allowing you to concentrate on a productive future for you and your family? Get started today and get the fresh start you deserve.

Why An Experienced Attorney Is Essential

Hiring an experienced attorney is critical for your juvenile record sealing case. Having an attorney that understands the juvenile courts and intricacies of WIC 781 will greatly increase your chance of successfully getting your juvenile record sealed. A knowledgeable attorney will apply the applicable laws to the unique details of your case and will use your distinct facts to demonstrate to the judge, and any opposing parties, the virtues in granting your WIC 781 petition. It is important that you have a knowledgeable ally in attendance at your hearings, who knows how to handle the specific legal procedures of juvenile court and who is comfortable responding to any opposition, written and/or oral, that might exist.

We are experts in juvenile record sealing in California. Our entire practice is focused on California record clearing laws. Our knowledge and experience allows us to provide you with ultra focused legal representation that optimizes your probability of getting the WIC 781 petition granted and your juvenile record sealed for good. We pride ourselves on being there for you every step of the way, answering any questions you might have, and providing professional, knowledgeable, and friendly juvenile record sealing legal services.

From the second you sign up a knowledgeable and experienced attorney will begin working on your case, and we will be there for you every step of the way, addressing any concern you might have. We are known for our high standard of customer service, and we fully understand how important it is for you to get your juvenile record sealed. We only focus on record clearing laws in California, which allows us to not only provide specialized a juvenile record sealing service, but to also provide that service at the lowest fixed price anywhere (we guarantee the lowest price). We greatly appreciate you taking the time to browse our website and we hope that you found the information useful. We truly looking forward to helping you seal your juvenile record so that you can finally forget the past and embrace the future.

Sincerely,

David Huffman, Esq.
Founding Attorney, Fresh Start Law Center