Indianapolis Record Sealing Lawyer

A single arrest, even one that never led to a conviction, can show up on background checks for years. Landlords run them. Employers run them. Licensing boards run them. And in Indiana, the law gives most people a real path to get that record sealed from public view. Working with an Indianapolis record sealing lawyer is the most effective way to find out whether you qualify, prepare the petition correctly, and give yourself the best chance of walking out of court with a clean slate.

Indiana’s expungement statute is one of the more comprehensive in the Midwest, allowing for the sealing of arrests, misdemeanor convictions, and even many felony convictions under the right circumstances. But the law comes with a web of eligibility requirements, waiting periods, and procedural rules that trip people up constantly. Filing too early, listing the wrong case numbers, or missing a required petitioner notice can all result in a denial, and in some situations, you cannot refile for years after a failed petition.

The stakes are real whether you are trying to get a job at a company that runs background checks, secure housing in Indianapolis, apply for a professional license with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, or simply move forward without your past following you. Getting this right the first time matters.

What Indiana’s Expungement Law Actually Covers

The term “expungement” gets used loosely, but in Indiana, the technical term is “expungement” under Indiana Code, and it produces what is commonly called record sealing. When a petition is granted, the court orders the records sealed from public disclosure. Criminal justice agencies and employers who conduct background checks through standard channels will no longer see the sealed record. The arrest or conviction is treated, in most public contexts, as though it never happened.

Indiana law covers several categories of records. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction are eligible under a shorter waiting period and a simpler process than conviction-based petitions. Misdemeanor convictions carry their own waiting period and eligibility requirements. Class D felonies (now Level 6 felonies under the current sentencing framework) can be treated as misdemeanors for expungement purposes in some cases. And many higher-level felony convictions are eligible for sealing as well, though the waiting periods are longer and the process more involved. Certain conviction types, including serious violent offenses and sex offenses requiring registration, are not eligible.

One of the most important features of Indiana’s law is that it allows petitions covering multiple cases in a single filing, as long as they are filed simultaneously across all relevant counties. Missing a county can create problems that are difficult to fix after the fact.

Why Rigney Law LLC Handles Record Sealing Cases in Indianapolis

Jacob Rigney and Kassi Rigney built Rigney Law LLC around criminal defense work. Expungement and record sealing are not a side service, they are a direct extension of the firm’s core practice. The same knowledge that goes into defending someone against a criminal charge applies directly to analyzing whether that charge, or a past conviction, qualifies for sealing under Indiana law. Understanding how Indiana prosecutors charge offenses, how courts classify convictions, and how the sentencing framework connects to expungement eligibility is knowledge earned in courtrooms, not from a checklist.

The firm emphasizes two things it describes plainly: experience and effort. On record sealing cases, experience means knowing how Marion County courts process expungement petitions, understanding which categories of cases present complications, and spotting eligibility issues that are not obvious from reading the statute alone. Effort means doing the background work, pulling the full case history, identifying every relevant court and county, and preparing a petition that holds up. Rigney Law LLC can determine whether you qualify for relief under Indiana’s expungement statute and pursue maximum relief under the law.

Types of Records Eligible for Sealing in Indiana

• Arrests Without Conviction: If you were arrested but charges were never filed, were dismissed, or resulted in an acquittal, your arrest record may be eligible for sealing with a shorter waiting period and without the need to show the same level of rehabilitation that conviction-based petitions require.
• Misdemeanor Convictions: Most misdemeanor convictions in Indiana are eligible for expungement after a waiting period from the date of conviction. This includes Class A, B, and C misdemeanors that cover a wide range of offenses from minor drug possession to some theft charges.
• Level 6 Felony and Class D Felony Convictions: These lower-level felony convictions can sometimes be treated as misdemeanors for expungement purposes, which affects both eligibility and the practical effect of the sealing on background checks.
• Higher-Level Felony Convictions: Many Level 5, Level 4, and Level 3 felony convictions are eligible under Indiana law, subject to longer waiting periods, completion of sentence including probation, and in some cases prosecutorial or judicial consent.
• Multiple Cases Across Multiple Counties: Indiana requires that petitions covering cases in different counties be filed simultaneously. An Indianapolis record sealing attorney must identify every relevant county and coordinate filings to avoid leaving records open in one jurisdiction while sealing them in another.
• Juvenile Records: Certain juvenile adjudications may also be eligible for sealing under Indiana law, which operates on a separate track from the adult expungement process.
• Convictions That Are Not Eligible: Indiana excludes certain offenses regardless of how much time has passed, including sex offenses requiring registration, most violent felonies resulting in serious bodily injury or death, and certain crimes against children. Knowing which category your case falls into before filing is essential.

How to Get the Process Started and What to Expect

The first practical step is pulling your complete criminal history. In Indiana, you can request your own official criminal history through the Indiana State Police. This gives you a starting point, but court records and arrest records held by local law enforcement agencies may contain entries that do not appear on the state summary. An Indianapolis expungement attorney familiar with Marion County and surrounding courts will know where to look and how to reconcile discrepancies.

Once you have a full picture of your history, the eligibility analysis begins. Each case has its own waiting period measured from the date of conviction, the date of arrest, or the date of discharge from probation or incarceration, depending on the category. Filing before the waiting period has run is one of the most common errors, and Indiana law bars a second petition for a fixed period after a premature or unsuccessful filing. Getting the dates right before you file is not optional.

Petitions are filed in the court of conviction for conviction-based cases, or the court with jurisdiction over the arrest for arrest-only cases. In Indianapolis, many criminal cases are heard in Marion Superior Court, which handles the bulk of felony and misdemeanor cases for the county. The clerk of court’s office processes the filing, and the prosecutor’s office receives notice and has the opportunity to object in many categories of cases.

After filing, there is a waiting period for the prosecutor to respond. If there is no objection, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. If there is an objection, a hearing will be scheduled. Having an attorney who can appear and advocate for you at that hearing, particularly on higher-level felony petitions where prosecutorial consent may be required, can be the difference between a granted and a denied petition.

One mistake people make is assuming that a prior expungement filing in one county closes the door on cases in other counties. That is not necessarily true, but simultaneous filing requirements mean timing coordination across jurisdictions is critical. Another common error is failing to include all cases in the petition and then discovering later that a missed case is now ineligible for a separate filing under the one-petition rule.

What Happens After Your Record Is Sealed

When an Indiana court grants an expungement petition, it issues an order directing criminal justice agencies, courts, and law enforcement to seal their records related to the case. For most background check purposes, the sealed record will not appear. Indiana law also allows people with expunged records to lawfully state that they were not arrested or convicted of the expunged offense in most contexts, including job applications. This is a significant protection that many other states do not provide.

There are important exceptions. Certain licensing boards, particularly those overseeing professions in healthcare, law, and education, may still have access to sealed records. Federal background checks, including those required for federal employment and federally licensed firearms dealers, operate under different rules than state background checks. An Indianapolis record sealing attorney should walk you through what the sealing will and will not affect given your specific goals, whether that is employment, licensing, housing, or something else entirely.

For people whose convictions affected their ability to possess a firearm under Indiana law, an expungement order in Indiana may restore certain rights that were restricted by a state conviction. Federal law on firearms disabilities operates independently, and the intersection of state expungement and federal firearms law is an area where the analysis gets complicated quickly.

Questions People Have About Sealing Records in Indiana

Does Indiana expungement completely erase my record?

Indiana expungement seals your record from public access, meaning it will not appear on standard background checks and you can legally deny the arrest or conviction in most situations. The records are not physically destroyed. They remain in restricted government systems and may be accessible to certain agencies under limited circumstances defined by law.

How long do I have to wait before filing for expungement?

The waiting period depends on the type of record. Arrests without conviction have a shorter waiting period. Misdemeanor convictions require a longer wait from the date of conviction. Felony convictions have the longest waiting periods, and those timelines run from discharge from probation or incarceration, not just from the conviction date. Confirming the exact applicable waiting period for your specific case requires a review of the conviction and sentence details.

Can a felony conviction be expunged in Indiana?

Yes, many felony convictions are eligible. Indiana’s expungement law covers a broad range of felony offenses with varying waiting periods and procedural requirements depending on the level of the felony. Certain felonies are excluded by statute, including most crimes involving serious violence and offenses requiring sex offender registration. Whether a specific felony conviction qualifies requires a case-by-case analysis.

What happens if I have cases in multiple Indiana counties?

Indiana requires that petitions covering cases in different counties be filed simultaneously on the same day. Filing in one county while waiting on another is not permitted under the law. This simultaneous filing requirement means coordinating paperwork and filings across multiple courts, which is one of the reasons having an attorney handle the process reduces the risk of errors that could limit your relief.

Can I expunge a conviction if I still owe fines or court costs?

Outstanding fines and court costs can affect eligibility. In many cases, you must have satisfied all financial obligations related to the conviction before you can successfully petition for expungement. Addressing unpaid balances before filing is an important part of the preparation process.

Will sealing my record affect my professional license or ability to get one?

Indiana’s professional licensing boards, including those overseeing healthcare workers, attorneys, teachers, and others, may have access to sealed records in the licensing context even after expungement. The effect of sealing on a specific license application or renewal depends on the board’s rules and the nature of the underlying offense. If licensing is a primary goal, understanding how a particular board treats expunged records before filing is important.

Can I get my record sealed if I was on probation?

You generally must have completed your sentence, including any probation term, before the waiting period for expungement begins to run on a conviction-based petition. Early discharge from probation may affect when your waiting period begins. The specific facts of how your probation ended matter for calculating your earliest eligible filing date.

What if the prosecutor objects to my expungement petition?

For many misdemeanor and lower-level felony petitions, the court can grant the petition over a prosecutorial objection if the eligibility requirements are met. For higher-level felony petitions, prosecutorial consent may be required by statute, making an objection more significant. At a hearing on a contested petition, having an attorney present to respond to the objection and argue in favor of granting relief is particularly valuable.

Does a sealed record show up on federal background checks for purchasing a firearm?

Federal firearms eligibility is governed by federal law, which does not automatically defer to a state expungement. Whether a sealed Indiana conviction still triggers a federal firearms disability depends on how federal law classifies that conviction. This is an area where the state and federal legal frameworks diverge, and it requires specific analysis rather than a general assumption in either direction.

Can I file for expungement myself without a lawyer?

Indiana law does not require you to have an attorney to file an expungement petition. But the process involves identifying all relevant cases, confirming eligibility for each, calculating waiting periods accurately, filing simultaneously in multiple counties if necessary, and potentially appearing at a hearing if the petition is contested. Errors in any of these steps can result in a denial that delays your ability to refile. For people with a single, straightforward case, self-filing is possible. For anyone with a complex history, multiple counties, or a higher-level felony, working with an Indianapolis expungement attorney significantly reduces the risk of a costly mistake.

What does the expungement process cost?

There are filing fees paid to the court for each petition, and those fees vary by court. Attorney fees depend on the complexity of the case, including how many cases and counties are involved. Rigney Law LLC offers free consultations, which gives you the opportunity to understand the scope of your situation and what it will take before committing to the process.

Indianapolis and Central Indiana Expungement Representation

Rigney Law LLC represents clients seeking record sealing and expungement throughout Indianapolis and the surrounding region. The firm handles cases originating from Marion County courts as well as cases filed in Hamilton County, Hancock County, Hendricks County, Johnson County, Shelby County, Morgan County, Boone County, and Madison County. Within Indianapolis itself, clients come from neighborhoods including Broad Ripple, Fountain Square, Irvington, Lawrence, Beech Grove, Speedway, Southport, Wayne Township, Warren Township, and communities throughout the metro area including Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Greenwood, Plainfield, Avon, Brownsburg, Anderson, Greenfield, and Franklin.

No matter which Indiana county holds your records, the firm can coordinate filings to ensure your petition covers every relevant jurisdiction simultaneously, as Indiana’s expungement law requires. Distance from a courthouse is not a barrier when proper preparation and coordination are handled from the start.

Talk to an Indianapolis Expungement Attorney About Your Options

If a past arrest or conviction is holding you back, the best thing you can do is find out whether you qualify for relief under Indiana law. Rigney Law LLC offers free consultations for people exploring their options under Indiana’s expungement statute. An Indianapolis expungement attorney from the firm will review your history, walk you through eligibility, and give you a clear picture of what relief is available to you. Call Rigney Law LLC to schedule your consultation and get an honest assessment of where you stand.