An old arrest or conviction does not have to follow you forever. Louisiana lets many people clear their record, so it stops showing up on most background checks for jobs, housing, and licenses. The rules are specific, and the timing matters. We will tell you whether you qualify and handle the filing.
A single arrest or conviction can quietly cost you jobs, apartments, and professional licenses years after the case ended. Louisiana expungement law lets you remove many records from public view. In Lafayette, an expungement is filed in the court where the case was handled, Lafayette City Court for city misdemeanors or the 15th Judicial District Court for district cases, and processed through the Louisiana State Police. The Law Office of Heather C. Ford handles that start to finish.
Eligibility depends on what happened and how much time has passed. The table below reflects current Louisiana law under Revised Statute 44:9 and the Code of Criminal Procedure. It is general guidance, not a ruling on your specific record.
| Record type | Can it be expunged? | Waiting period |
| Arrest with no conviction (dismissed, refused, or acquitted) | Usually yes | Often none once the case is closed. |
| Misdemeanor conviction | Yes, if eligible | Five years after completing your sentence, probation, or parole, with no felony convictions since. |
| Felony conviction (non-violent and eligible) | Sometimes | Ten years after completing your sentence, with no convictions since. Some qualify sooner through a first-offender pardon. |
| Charge set aside under Article 894 | Often yes | Once the plea is set aside and dismissed, per the rules. |
| Sex offenses, domestic abuse battery, stalking, violent felonies, drug distribution | Generally not eligible | Not eligible. |
A first-offense DWI resolved under Article 894 can often be expunged once the waiting period is met, which is one reason to fight a DWI the right way the first time. The same goes for many misdemeanor and drug possession cases.
Louisiana caps the total expungement fee at $550, split among the agencies that process it, the State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification, the sheriff, the district attorney, and the clerk of court. Certain cases, such as records set aside after a dismissal or acquittal, may have the fee reduced or waived. We will tell you what your case should cost before you commit to anything.
This is where honest expectations matter. An expungement removes the record from public view, so most employers, landlords, and licensing boards can no longer see it, and Louisiana law lets you truthfully say the arrest or conviction was expunged.
It is not a complete erasure. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and certain licensing boards can still access an expunged record, and an expungement does not restore firearm rights or remove a sex-offender registration requirement. Knowing exactly what it will and will not do for your situation is part of what we walk you through.
Open doors that a background check has been quietly closing, jobs, apartments, and licenses.
Move on from a mistake that is years behind you.
Do it right the first time so a filing error does not cost you months and fees.
The first step is simple and free. Call or text the Law Office of Heather C. Ford and we will check your record and tell you honestly whether an expungement is within reach. Learn more about our Lafayette criminal defense and expungement work generally.
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Between myself and my family, we keep Heather busy! She is very professional and knowledgeable. I have spent a lot of money and ruined my driving record paying off speeding tickets but when I found Heather, I found that she is the best
My experience with the Law Office of Heather C. Ford was outstanding. I would recommend this team to anyone that has received a traffic ticket in the metro New Orleans area....
I found Heather online after searching for a traffic lawyer. Since I am not from the area, I was not 100% sure but went with my gut after reading the positive comments. And I was right! I am really pleased with Heather Ford's...
I was thrilled when Heather was able to get my ticket reduced to a non-moving violation and the judge waived fees. I never thought that was possible. I was certain I'd have to pay something. She's great...
Ms. Ford is all that I could ask for in an advocate.
My experience has been as pleasurable as can be expected when you need a lawyer.
You can try, but expungement filings are technical, the eligibility rules are specific, and a mistake can get the petition denied after you have paid the fees. Having it done right the first time usually saves money and months.
For most misdemeanor convictions, five years after you complete your sentence, probation, or parole, with no felony convictions since. For eligible felonies, ten years. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction can often be expunged right away.
The total fee is capped at $550, divided among the State Police, sheriff, district attorney, and clerk. Some cases, like those dismissed or acquitted, may qualify for a reduced or waived fee.
It removes the record from public view, so most employers and landlords cannot see it, and you can say it was expunged. But law enforcement, prosecutors, and some licensing boards can still access it, and it does not restore gun rights or remove sex-offender registration.
A first-offense DWI handled under Article 894 can often be expunged once the waiting period is met. The details depend on how the case was resolved, which is why how you handle the DWI itself matters.
It is filed in the court where your case was handled, Lafayette City Court for city misdemeanors or the 15th Judicial District Court for district cases. We handle the filing in either one.
