I'll ask a few quick questions about your federal case. One case at a time.General information, not legal advice. I'm a tool, not your lawyer.
Federal convictions almost never get expunged. That's the truth most sites won't tell you. But there are real paths. Find yours in 2 minutes.
The Justice Department opened applications to the public for the first 5,000 people through the Office of the Pardon Attorney. It's free to apply until January 4, 2027, when a $30 fee starts. You get 30 days to finish once you start. Read the full guide.
The Justice Department reviews every petition against published standards: your life since the conviction, how serious and how long ago the offense was, whether you accept responsibility and have made it right, why you need relief, and what the prosecutor and judge think. The petition is long, every answer is sworn, and you need three notarized character affidavits from people who aren't family.
Eligibility date calculator, a full disclosure prep checklist, a character affidavit builder, and a personal statement builder mapped to the DOJ's own standards.
See the kitNo. State sealing laws only reach state records. A federal conviction has to be handled under federal law.
No. A pardon is forgiveness, not erasure. The conviction stays on the record, but the pardon removes federal legal disabilities from that conviction, including the federal firearm ban, and it's strong proof of who you are now.
Almost never. Nearly every federal appeals court, including the Eighth Circuit (Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and the Dakotas), has ruled that judges lack the power to expunge a valid conviction just because it would be fair.
The Office of the Pardon Attorney doesn't publish a timeline, and reviews commonly take years. Petitions stay under consideration until the President in office acts.
No. The petition is designed for people to complete themselves, and there's no fee. You can prepare it yourself. A lawyer can help with complex records.