Areas of Law · Forrest Good PLLC
Expunctions & Nondisclosure in San Antonio
A record can outlast a case by decades, showing up at every job application and apartment search. For many people, clearing or sealing it is the most valuable legal step they will ever take.
Expunction vs. Nondisclosure
An expunction erases an eligible record. Under Texas law, a person arrested for a felony or misdemeanor is entitled to have all records and files relating to the arrest expunged when the statutory conditions are met, such as an acquittal, certain pardons, or the expiration of the limitations period.1 An order of nondisclosure is different: it seals an eligible record from public view rather than destroying it. Texas provides nondisclosure for certain first-time, nonviolent misdemeanors resolved through deferred adjudication,2 and a separate route for some misdemeanor convictions after the required waiting period.3 A key distinction matters: even with an order of nondisclosure, law enforcement and certain state agencies can still access the sealed information, while the general public cannot.4 Which remedy is available depends on what happened in the case and how it ended. Eligibility is technical, and getting it right is the whole game.
What to Expect
An order of nondisclosure is a court order that prohibits public entities, including courts, clerks, and law enforcement, from disclosing certain criminal records to the public.5 Forrest Good checks your eligibility honestly, files the petition correctly under the governing procedure,6 and pursues the relief you actually qualify for, so an old matter stops following you. Straight answers, a clear plan.
- People with a dismissed or acquitted charge
- Those who completed deferred adjudication
- Anyone whose record is costing them jobs or housing
- People unsure whether they qualify to clear or seal a record
Common Questions
Am I eligible to expunge my record?
Eligibility depends on the charge and outcome. Forrest Good checks it honestly before you spend on a petition.
What is the difference between expunction and nondisclosure?
Expunction destroys an eligible record; nondisclosure seals it from the public. Forrest Good pursues whichever you qualify for.
Why does a record matter this much?
Research from the National Institute of Justice reports that nearly one-third of American adults have been arrested by age 23, and that a record can keep qualified people from getting hired.7 Clearing or sealing an eligible record can remove that barrier.
How long does it take?
It varies by court and case. Many petitions move through in a few months, though some take longer; Forrest Good gives you a realistic timeline once he sees your record.
Sources & Authorities
Statutes and figures on this page link to their official sources. Provided for transparency and general information, not as legal advice.
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 55.01, Right to Expunction (a person arrested for a felony or misdemeanor is entitled to have all records and files relating to the arrest expunged when the statutory conditions, such as acquittal, certain pardons, or expiration of the limitations period, are met). statutes.capitol.texas.gov ↩
- Tex. Gov’t Code § 411.072, Order of Nondisclosure for Certain Nonviolent Misdemeanors on deferred adjudication community supervision. statutes.capitol.texas.gov ↩
- Tex. Gov’t Code § 411.0735, Procedure for Conviction; Certain Misdemeanors (order of nondisclosure available after the required waiting period following completion of the sentence). statutes.capitol.texas.gov ↩
- Tex. Gov’t Code § 411.0765, Authorized Disclosure of Criminal History Record Information that is the Subject of an Order of Nondisclosure (lists criminal justice and other agencies that may still receive the information). statutes.capitol.texas.gov ↩
- Texas Office of Court Administration, “An Overview of Orders of Nondisclosure” (rev. Feb. 2024) (an order of nondisclosure is a court order prohibiting public entities, including courts, clerks, law enforcement, and prosecutors, from disclosing certain criminal records; law enforcement and certain state agencies may still obtain the information). txcourts.gov ↩
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 55.02, Procedure for Expunction (petition to the district court and entry of an order of expunction). statutes.capitol.texas.gov ↩
- National Institute of Justice (U.S. Dept. of Justice), “In Search of a Job: Criminal Records as Barriers to Employment” (nearly one-third of American adults have been arrested by age 23; a criminal record keeps many qualified people from obtaining employment). nij.ojp.gov ↩
- State Bar of Texas, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.01 (communications concerning a lawyer’s services). texasbar.com ↩
King William Law Center is a shared office for independent firms. This page is attorney advertising and general information, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Forrest Good PLLC, not King William Law Center, provides the legal services described here. The practice of law in Texas is governed by the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.8 Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.