Seal or Expunge Your
Massachusetts Criminal Record (CORI)
You Already Did the Hard Part. We Handle the Rest.
We Get You Safely Through the Storm.
A criminal record doesn't have to follow you for the rest of your life.
For over 30 years, we've helped good people protect what matters most. We can help you seal or expunge your Massachusetts record.
Over 30 Years Helping People Seal Their Massachusetts Criminal Records
A criminal record does not have to follow you forever. Sealing your record is your fresh start. It means employers, landlords, and licensing boards can no longer see your past. You get to move forward as who you are today. We help people seal and expunge their Massachusetts records throughout Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts.
Record Sealing in Massachusetts
You have already been through the hard part. Now it is time for a fresh start. We have helped people seal their Massachusetts records for over 30 years. We know how to get it done right so you can move on with confidence.
Call (978) 969-2890 for a free consultation.
Call (978) 969-2890 for a free consultation.
Understanding Your Record Sealing Options in Massachusetts
Massachusetts gives you two ways to clear your record: sealing and expungement. Most people qualify for at least one of them. Even if you cannot fully expunge your record, sealing usually works just as well for the things that matter most -- getting a job, renting an apartment, or keeping a license.
Each one has different rules and different results. Here is how they work.
Each one has different rules and different results. Here is how they work.
Sealing Your Criminal Record
When your record is sealed, most people can no longer see it. Employers, landlords, and licensing boards will not find it on a background check. On most job and housing applications, you can legally check "no record."
● Misdemeanor conviction (less serious offense): You must wait 3 years after your guilty finding or after you got out of jail, whichever came later. Time on probation no longer adds to this wait. You submit paperwork -- no court date needed in most cases.
● Felony conviction (more serious offense): You must wait 7 years after your guilty finding or after you got out of jail, whichever came later. Also handled by submitting paperwork in most cases.
● Case that was dismissed or found not guilty: A not-guilty finding, a no bill from the grand jury, and a finding of no probable cause are sealed automatically by the Commissioner of Probation. You do not file anything and there is no hearing, unless you ask in writing that it not be sealed. A dismissal or a nolle prosequi works differently -- you ask the court, and a judge decides whether sealing serves substantial justice. There is no waiting period for that.
● CWOF (Continued Without a Finding): A CWOF means you were not convicted. Once the case is dismissed you have two routes. You can ask the court to seal it right away, with no waiting period, and a judge decides whether sealing serves substantial justice. Or you can wait out the standard period -- 3 years for a misdemeanor, 7 for a felony -- and seal it by paperwork.
● Cases that can never be sealed: Massachusetts law excludes firearms licensing violations under chapter 140, and offenses under chapters 268 and 268A -- perjury, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and conflict of interest -- except resisting arrest. Sex offenses are handled separately: they cannot be sealed for 15 years, or for as long as you are required to register, whichever is longer, and anyone ever classified level 2 or level 3 cannot seal a sex offense at all. Contrary to what many sites say, murder and manslaughter are not on the excluded list; the 7-year felony rule applies to them.
● Misdemeanor conviction (less serious offense): You must wait 3 years after your guilty finding or after you got out of jail, whichever came later. Time on probation no longer adds to this wait. You submit paperwork -- no court date needed in most cases.
● Felony conviction (more serious offense): You must wait 7 years after your guilty finding or after you got out of jail, whichever came later. Also handled by submitting paperwork in most cases.
● Case that was dismissed or found not guilty: A not-guilty finding, a no bill from the grand jury, and a finding of no probable cause are sealed automatically by the Commissioner of Probation. You do not file anything and there is no hearing, unless you ask in writing that it not be sealed. A dismissal or a nolle prosequi works differently -- you ask the court, and a judge decides whether sealing serves substantial justice. There is no waiting period for that.
● CWOF (Continued Without a Finding): A CWOF means you were not convicted. Once the case is dismissed you have two routes. You can ask the court to seal it right away, with no waiting period, and a judge decides whether sealing serves substantial justice. Or you can wait out the standard period -- 3 years for a misdemeanor, 7 for a felony -- and seal it by paperwork.
● Cases that can never be sealed: Massachusetts law excludes firearms licensing violations under chapter 140, and offenses under chapters 268 and 268A -- perjury, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and conflict of interest -- except resisting arrest. Sex offenses are handled separately: they cannot be sealed for 15 years, or for as long as you are required to register, whichever is longer, and anyone ever classified level 2 or level 3 cannot seal a sex offense at all. Contrary to what many sites say, murder and manslaughter are not on the excluded list; the 7-year felony rule applies to them.
Expungement
Expungement is stronger than sealing. With expungement, the record is destroyed completely. It legally never happened. But the rules are much stricter -- not everyone qualifies.
● Age: The offense must have happened before you turned 21.
● Number of cases: You can only expunge up to two cases total.
● Wait time: 3 years for a misdemeanor, 7 years for a felony -- from the date the case ended or the date you got out of jail, whichever came later.
● Offenses that cannot be expunged: The list is long. It includes any felony under chapter 265, the crimes against the person chapter, along with OUI and other chapter 90 section 24 offenses, crimes that caused death or serious injury, crimes committed while armed with a dangerous weapon, crimes against elderly or disabled people, sex offenses, domestic assault and battery, violations of restraining and harassment prevention orders, and gun offenses.
● What if you do not qualify for expungement: Sealing still works for most practical purposes. Most employers, landlords, and licensing boards cannot see a sealed record. We look at both options for every client and tell you which one makes sense.
● Age: The offense must have happened before you turned 21.
● Number of cases: You can only expunge up to two cases total.
● Wait time: 3 years for a misdemeanor, 7 years for a felony -- from the date the case ended or the date you got out of jail, whichever came later.
● Offenses that cannot be expunged: The list is long. It includes any felony under chapter 265, the crimes against the person chapter, along with OUI and other chapter 90 section 24 offenses, crimes that caused death or serious injury, crimes committed while armed with a dangerous weapon, crimes against elderly or disabled people, sex offenses, domestic assault and battery, violations of restraining and harassment prevention orders, and gun offenses.
● What if you do not qualify for expungement: Sealing still works for most practical purposes. Most employers, landlords, and licensing boards cannot see a sealed record. We look at both options for every client and tell you which one makes sense.
What Sealing Actually Does for You
● Jobs: Most employers will not see your sealed record on a background check. You can legally say "no record" on most job applications.
● Professional licenses: A sealed record cannot be used to disqualify you from an examination, appointment, or application for public service with the Commonwealth or any city or town, and licensing boards running an ordinary background check will not see it. This matters for nurses, teachers, financial advisors, and others in licensed fields.
● Housing: Landlords running background checks will not see your sealed record. This removes one of the biggest barriers people with a past record face.
● What sealing does NOT do: Police and courts can still see your sealed record. If you are convicted of something new, a judge can see your past at sentencing. Sealing also does not clear your record for immigration purposes -- if you are not a U.S. citizen, talk to an immigration attorney before and after sealing.
● Professional licenses: A sealed record cannot be used to disqualify you from an examination, appointment, or application for public service with the Commonwealth or any city or town, and licensing boards running an ordinary background check will not see it. This matters for nurses, teachers, financial advisors, and others in licensed fields.
● Housing: Landlords running background checks will not see your sealed record. This removes one of the biggest barriers people with a past record face.
● What sealing does NOT do: Police and courts can still see your sealed record. If you are convicted of something new, a judge can see your past at sentencing. Sealing also does not clear your record for immigration purposes -- if you are not a U.S. citizen, talk to an immigration attorney before and after sealing.
Why Getting This Right Matters
Sealing petitions can be denied. When that happens, you have to wait and start over. The most common reasons people get denied: the paperwork was incomplete, they filed too early, or the offense turned out to be one that cannot be sealed.
Some rules also trip people up. A restraining order violation looks like a misdemeanor, and by its maximum sentence it is one. But the sealing statute says a violation of a 209A or 258E order is treated as a felony, which means a 7-year wait, not 3. The same rule applies to expungement. If you have one of these on your record, call us before you file -- this is exactly the kind of thing that gets a petition denied and sends you back to the start. And if you picked up any new conviction after the one you want sealed, the clock restarts from scratch. A later case that ended in a not guilty, a dismissal, or a nolle prosequi does not.
Getting your CORI report, checking your eligibility, and filing a complete petition the first time is what produces a clean result. Getting it wrong means delays and denials. We make sure it is done right the first time.
Some rules also trip people up. A restraining order violation looks like a misdemeanor, and by its maximum sentence it is one. But the sealing statute says a violation of a 209A or 258E order is treated as a felony, which means a 7-year wait, not 3. The same rule applies to expungement. If you have one of these on your record, call us before you file -- this is exactly the kind of thing that gets a petition denied and sends you back to the start. And if you picked up any new conviction after the one you want sealed, the clock restarts from scratch. A later case that ended in a not guilty, a dismissal, or a nolle prosequi does not.
Getting your CORI report, checking your eligibility, and filing a complete petition the first time is what produces a clean result. Getting it wrong means delays and denials. We make sure it is done right the first time.
Why Work with an Attorney on Your Record Sealing
You can file a sealing petition yourself. The forms are free online. But there are real reasons people come to us instead.
● We pull your actual CORI first: Many people are surprised by what is on their record -- or by errors they did not know about. We get your complete CORI report and review it carefully before we file anything.
● We check your eligibility before filing: The rules are more complicated than they look. We check waiting periods, look for excluded offenses, and confirm the right process for each case on your record. No surprises after the petition goes in.
● We handle all the paperwork: We prepare and submit everything. If the Probation Department or court asks questions or wants more information, we handle it. We stay on the case until it is done and your record is actually clean in the system.
● We show up to court when needed: Some cases require a court hearing. We go with you and speak on your behalf.
● Flat fees, no surprises: We charge a flat fee so you know the cost before we start. Payment plans are available. The price depends on how many cases are on your record.
● We have done this for over 30 years: Our team knows the Massachusetts CORI system, the Probation Service, and what it takes to get a petition approved. Janice Levesque manages every sealing and expungement case in our office and has built working relationships with the agencies involved.
Call (978) 969-2890 to find out if you are eligible and what the process looks like for you.
● We pull your actual CORI first: Many people are surprised by what is on their record -- or by errors they did not know about. We get your complete CORI report and review it carefully before we file anything.
● We check your eligibility before filing: The rules are more complicated than they look. We check waiting periods, look for excluded offenses, and confirm the right process for each case on your record. No surprises after the petition goes in.
● We handle all the paperwork: We prepare and submit everything. If the Probation Department or court asks questions or wants more information, we handle it. We stay on the case until it is done and your record is actually clean in the system.
● We show up to court when needed: Some cases require a court hearing. We go with you and speak on your behalf.
● Flat fees, no surprises: We charge a flat fee so you know the cost before we start. Payment plans are available. The price depends on how many cases are on your record.
● We have done this for over 30 years: Our team knows the Massachusetts CORI system, the Probation Service, and what it takes to get a petition approved. Janice Levesque manages every sealing and expungement case in our office and has built working relationships with the agencies involved.
Call (978) 969-2890 to find out if you are eligible and what the process looks like for you.
Want to see how this works for a real person? Read one client's record sealing story on our Case Results page.
Ready to Start? Here Is What Comes Next
Getting started is easy. Here is what to do.
● Call us for a free consultation: (978) 969-2890. We will go over your record and tell you if sealing or expungement is available to you.
● Gather what you know: Write down the case names, the courts where they happened, and how they ended. Do not worry if you do not have everything -- we can get your CORI report.
● We take it from there: Once we know your record and confirm you are eligible, we handle the rest. Petitions, paperwork, follow-up, court dates if needed, and final confirmation that your record is clean.
● Timeline: Administrative sealing through the Commissioner of Probation is usually the faster route. Cases that need a court hearing take longer. We will tell you what to expect for your own record when we review it.
Call (978) 969-2890 for a free consultation 24/7.
You have already done the hard work of moving forward. Let us take care of the paperwork so your record reflects who you are now.
● Call us for a free consultation: (978) 969-2890. We will go over your record and tell you if sealing or expungement is available to you.
● Gather what you know: Write down the case names, the courts where they happened, and how they ended. Do not worry if you do not have everything -- we can get your CORI report.
● We take it from there: Once we know your record and confirm you are eligible, we handle the rest. Petitions, paperwork, follow-up, court dates if needed, and final confirmation that your record is clean.
● Timeline: Administrative sealing through the Commissioner of Probation is usually the faster route. Cases that need a court hearing take longer. We will tell you what to expect for your own record when we review it.
Call (978) 969-2890 for a free consultation 24/7.
You have already done the hard work of moving forward. Let us take care of the paperwork so your record reflects who you are now.
I knew the moment I spoke to Ernie on the phone he was the real deal... We won our case because of his perseverance and professionalism. He's just a really good person who's in your corner fighting for you.
C.A.
So utterly magnificent . . . vastly knowledgeable in the law . . . I feel like he was an angel put into my life at the exact right time.
Dr. T.N.
Ernie did an amazing job helping me through one of the most difficult experiencesI've been through. I would recommend Ernie to anyone in need of high quality counsel from an attorney who sincerely cares about his clients and their families.
J.L.
What to Expect When You Call
A record sealing call is not like calling about a criminal charge. There is no emergency, no pressure, and no judgment. You are taking a step toward something better. Here is what we will go over:
● We will look at your record and explain what you have and what can be done
● We will tell you whether you are eligible to seal or expunge, and which one makes sense
● We will explain how long you have to wait, if at all
● We will walk you through our process -- what we do and what we need from you
● We will give you a flat fee quote before anything starts -- no surprises
● Everything you tell us is private and confidential
● There is no obligation to hire us
● Most people leave that first call knowing exactly where they stand.
Phones answered 24/7 by a real person. Free, confidential consultation.
Call (978) 969-2890 -- phones answered 24/7 by a real person.
● We will look at your record and explain what you have and what can be done
● We will tell you whether you are eligible to seal or expunge, and which one makes sense
● We will explain how long you have to wait, if at all
● We will walk you through our process -- what we do and what we need from you
● We will give you a flat fee quote before anything starts -- no surprises
● Everything you tell us is private and confidential
● There is no obligation to hire us
● Most people leave that first call knowing exactly where they stand.
Phones answered 24/7 by a real person. Free, confidential consultation.
Call (978) 969-2890 -- phones answered 24/7 by a real person.
We'll Get You Through the Storm
Your past does not have to define your future. We can help you seal your Massachusetts record and open the doors that have been closed.
Call (978) 969-2890 for a free consultation.
Over 30 years of Massachusetts criminal defense experience. Affordable flat fees for record sealing. Serving Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts including Beverly, Salem, Lynn, Peabody, Gloucester, Newburyport, Lawrence, and Haverhill.
Call (978) 969-2890 for a free consultation.
Over 30 years of Massachusetts criminal defense experience. Affordable flat fees for record sealing. Serving Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts including Beverly, Salem, Lynn, Peabody, Gloucester, Newburyport, Lawrence, and Haverhill.
We'll Get You Through the Storm
Contact our team today for a free consultation. We are available 24/7.
