If you're trying to get hired for a job, renting an apartment, or applying for something that requires you fill out a form, you will probably have your background checked via a thorough background investigation.  If you have a criminal record, this will likely get uncovered.  However, with Texas Expunctions you can have a lawyer expunge your records in a court proceeding.  The court will order all agencies who have your records to destroy them.

Your expunction is by no means a guaranteed thing.  You must meet eligibility requirements under Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.  Requirements depend on the type of case, your guilt, innocence, or plea, statute of limitations, and other mitigating factors.  In Texas, an expungement proceeding takes place in the same county where the criminal case took place.  For example, your expungement proceeding would have to take place in Bexar County if you were assigned to a criminal court in San Antonio.

A San Antonio criminal lawyer should always educate you on how your criminal trial will effect your criminal record and whether the crime you are charged of could even be sealed or expunged at a later time and date.  Some crimes are deemed by the Texas legislature to be unsealable or not eligible to be wiped clean.  In these instances, a legal defense is of utmost importance because if found guilty, the offense will permanently mark your record and be able to be seen by anybody who accesses your criminal history or background.

A common area of confusion and later frustration is deferred adjudication.  Deferred adjudication means that the final judgment in a criminal proceeding will be deferred until a later time.  The defendant will have the ability to take actions that will result in their record showing something other than guilty for the crime charged.  However, completion of deferred adjudication does not result in your record being clean.  Be absolutely sure when accepting any plea bargains that your lawyer apprises you of what accepting any deals will mean as to not only your punishment but you ability to clear your record down the road.  You may be able to save yourself a headache later.  Sometimes taking a lesser punishment isn't worth forgoing trial because you will later have to deal with expunctions and whether or not you can even wipe your record clean.