Aurora Record Sealing Lawyer
A criminal record follows people in ways that courtroom penalties never fully capture. Long after a sentence is served or a case is dismissed, that record shows up on background checks run by landlords, employers, licensing boards, and financial institutions. For residents of Aurora dealing with this reality, Colorado’s record sealing statutes offer a genuine path to relief, but the process involves procedural requirements, waiting periods, and eligibility rules that vary significantly depending on the nature of the underlying offense. Working with an Aurora record sealing lawyer who understands both the state statutes and how local courts handle these petitions can make the difference between a petition that succeeds and one that stalls or gets denied.
Aurora sits at the intersection of multiple counties, with many cases handled through the Arapahoe County District Court and some through Adams County depending on where the arrest occurred. That matters because record sealing petitions are filed in the court where the original case was adjudicated, and the procedural landscape in each courthouse has its own rhythms. Whether your record reflects a DUI, a drug possession charge, a dismissed criminal case, or a conviction that you are now eligible to seal under Colorado’s updated statutes, understanding what is actually achievable under current law is the starting point for any realistic evaluation of your options.
Colorado has expanded its record sealing eligibility criteria in recent years, making relief available to a broader population than many people realize. If you have been told in the past that your record could not be sealed, that answer may no longer be accurate given subsequent legislative changes. What follows is a substantive look at how record sealing works in Colorado, what it can and cannot accomplish for you, and how DeChant Law approaches these cases for Aurora clients.
What Aurora Record Sealing Covers: Common Offense Categories
- Dismissed and Acquitted Cases: When charges are dismissed by the prosecutor or a jury returns a not guilty verdict, Colorado law generally allows the defendant to petition for sealing immediately, though specific waiting periods may apply in certain circumstances and the petition must still be filed and approved by a court.
- Drug Convictions: Colorado law provides sealing pathways for many drug-related convictions, including possession offenses, following applicable waiting periods after the completion of sentence. The substance involved and the classification of the offense affect both eligibility and timing.
- Petty Offenses and Municipal Violations: Certain lower-level convictions adjudicated through Aurora Municipal Court or through county courts may be eligible for sealing under provisions that address minor offenses, though eligibility depends on the specific charge and disposition.
- Misdemeanor Convictions: Many misdemeanor convictions become sealable after waiting periods that depend on the class of the offense. Crimes involving unlawful sexual behavior and certain offenses against children are generally excluded, as are traffic offenses.
- Felony Convictions: Colorado permits sealing of certain felony convictions, though the waiting periods are longer and the categories of eligible offenses are narrower. Not all felonies qualify, and prior convictions can affect eligibility.
- Arrest Records Without Conviction: If an arrest did not lead to charges being filed, or if charges were subsequently dismissed, the arrest record itself may be sealable even if the person has other convictions on their record.
- Cases Involving Deferred Judgments: When a deferred judgment and sentence is successfully completed and the case is subsequently dismissed, the record may be eligible for sealing, often immediately upon dismissal under certain circumstances.
Why DeChant Law Handles Aurora Record Sealing Petitions
Reid DeChant built his practice on the kind of courtroom experience that most private attorneys spend entire careers trying to accumulate. As a former public defender working across Denver, Broomfield, and Adams County courts, Reid handled an enormous volume of criminal cases spanning DUI, drug offenses, assault, felonies, and virtually every charge category that appears on the kinds of records people later seek to seal. That breadth of experience matters for record sealing work because understanding the underlying offense, how it was charged, how it was resolved, and what the statute says about sealing it requires genuine familiarity with Colorado criminal law, not just the sealing statutes in isolation.
Reid is a graduate of the Trial Lawyers College, the nationally recognized program founded by attorney Gerry Spence, which trains lawyers in authentic advocacy and deep client engagement. That training shapes how Reid approaches every case, including record sealing. These petitions are not paperwork exercises to be processed and filed. They represent a meaningful moment in someone’s life, often years after a difficult period, when they are trying to move forward. Reid treats Aurora record sealing clients with the same seriousness and individual attention he brings to jury trials, because the outcome matters just as much to the person sitting across from him. He is recognized by national legal organizations, maintains membership in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, and has earned recognition from peer-reviewed attorney rating services for the quality of his work on behalf of clients.
DeChant Law has achieved case dismissals and not guilty verdicts across Arapahoe County, Adams County, Jefferson County, Douglas County, and other jurisdictions that serve the Aurora metro area. That track record across these specific courthouses reflects institutional familiarity with how local prosecutors and courts operate, which translates directly into more effective advocacy for clients pursuing record sealing in those same venues.
How Record Sealing Petitions Actually Move Through Colorado Courts
The record sealing process in Colorado begins with a careful review of your criminal history across all relevant jurisdictions. A single Aurora arrest might involve records held by the Aurora Police Department, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and potentially the court where the case was filed. Before a petition can be properly drafted and filed, it is necessary to understand the full picture of what records exist and which of those records are covered under the petition you are seeking to file.
Once eligibility is confirmed and the appropriate waiting periods have been satisfied, a petition is filed in the court where the original case was handled. For many Aurora cases, this means the Arapahoe County District Court located in Centennial, though cases from the northern portions of Aurora that fall within Adams County would be filed at the Adams County Justice Center in Brighton. The petition must be served on the prosecution and any relevant law enforcement agencies, which then have an opportunity to object. If an objection is filed, the court may hold a hearing where the petitioner must demonstrate that the sealing is in the interest of justice and does not conflict with public safety. If no objection is filed within the notice period, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
After a sealing order is entered, the next phase involves ensuring that the order actually reaches all of the agencies that maintain the relevant records. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation must be notified, as must local law enforcement agencies and any other repositories identified during the initial records review. A sealing order that sits in a courthouse file without being transmitted to the CBI does not accomplish what the client actually needs. Tracking the implementation of a sealing order through to completion, confirming with each agency that records have been appropriately sealed, is a step that deserves as much attention as the petition itself.
It is also worth understanding what record sealing does and does not accomplish under Colorado law. A sealed record is not destroyed. Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and courts retain the ability to access sealed records for certain official purposes. The sealing statute does not affect records held by the federal government, which means federal background check systems may retain information that state courts cannot touch. For individuals in federally regulated industries or those seeking federal employment, understanding this distinction before relying on a sealing order is critical. An Aurora record sealing attorney can help you understand what the realistic outcome of sealing will be given your specific record and the background check systems that are most likely to affect you.
Questions Aurora Residents Ask About Record Sealing
How long do I have to wait before I can petition to seal a criminal conviction in Colorado?
Waiting periods in Colorado depend on the classification of the offense. Petty offenses and municipal violations generally carry shorter waiting periods than misdemeanors, and misdemeanors carry shorter periods than felonies. The waiting period typically runs from the completion of the sentence, including probation or parole. Because the exact period depends on the specific offense and its classification, it is worth having an attorney review your specific record rather than relying on general estimates.
Can a DUI conviction be sealed in Colorado?
DUI and DWAI convictions are generally not eligible for sealing under Colorado law. The traffic offense exclusion in the record sealing statutes covers most DUI and DWAI convictions. However, if DUI charges were filed and subsequently dismissed, or if you were acquitted at trial, the arrest record and court record related to that charge may be sealable. This is an important distinction, and it is why consulting with an attorney familiar with Colorado’s sealing statutes matters for DUI-adjacent situations.
If my case was dismissed, does my record automatically clear?
No. A dismissal does not automatically seal the arrest or court record. The record of the arrest, the charges filed, and the disposition remain accessible on background checks until a formal sealing petition is filed and approved by the court. Many people are surprised to discover that a dismissed case is still showing up years later on background checks. The petition to seal must be actively pursued even when the underlying case ended favorably.
Does record sealing affect my ability to own a firearm?
This question requires careful analysis of both state and federal law. Colorado record sealing operates under state law, but federal firearms restrictions arise under federal law. A conviction that triggers a federal firearms disability does not lose that disability solely because the state court has sealed the record. Anyone whose underlying conviction affected firearm rights should consult with an attorney about both the sealing question and the firearms question as distinct legal issues.
Can I seal my record if I have multiple convictions?
Having multiple convictions does not automatically disqualify someone from sealing, but it does complicate the analysis. Colorado’s statutes address how prior convictions interact with sealing eligibility, and in some situations a prior conviction can affect waiting periods or eligibility for a subsequent offense. The complete criminal history across all jurisdictions needs to be reviewed before any conclusion about eligibility can be drawn.
What is the difference between record sealing and expungement in Colorado?
These terms are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, but they mean different things in Colorado. Record sealing restricts public access to the record while the underlying records continue to exist and remain accessible to law enforcement and courts for official purposes. True expungement, which results in the physical destruction or deletion of records, is available in Colorado in a narrower set of circumstances, most notably for juvenile records in certain situations. Adult criminal records are generally sealed rather than expunged under Colorado law.
Will record sealing help me qualify for an apartment in Aurora?
For many Aurora residents, housing access is the primary motivation for pursuing record sealing. Private landlords conducting background checks through commercial screening services typically access databases that reflect court records and arrest histories. Once a record is sealed and the sealing order has been transmitted to the relevant agencies including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, those records should no longer appear on standard commercial background checks. However, there can be a lag between the entry of the sealing order and its implementation across all databases, and some screening services update their records on different timelines. The practical impact on housing applications is generally positive, but it may not be instantaneous.
How does record sealing affect professional licensing in Colorado?
Many professional licensing boards ask applicants to disclose criminal history. Once a record is sealed, Colorado law generally permits individuals to respond that they have no criminal record for purposes of applications for employment, housing, and most licenses. However, certain licensing boards, particularly those overseeing law enforcement, healthcare, and other regulated professions, may have specific disclosure requirements that operate differently from the general rule. Anyone pursuing both record sealing and a professional license in a regulated field should confirm how the specific licensing board treats sealed records before relying on the general rule.
Can my Aurora record sealing petition be opposed, and what happens if it is?
Yes. The prosecution and law enforcement agencies served with notice of the petition have the right to object. If an objection is filed, the court schedules a hearing where the petitioner must demonstrate that sealing is in the interest of justice. The strength of any objection, and the persuasiveness of the response, depends heavily on the facts of the original case, the nature of the conviction, and the petitioner’s circumstances since the conviction. Having counsel who can present a compelling narrative at that hearing, drawing on the specific facts of your situation, materially affects the outcome when an objection arises.
Is there a fee to file a record sealing petition in Colorado?
Colorado courts charge a filing fee for record sealing petitions, though the amount can vary and fee waivers may be available based on financial hardship. Individuals who had charges dismissed or who were acquitted at trial may be entitled to sealing without a filing fee in certain circumstances under Colorado law. Beyond the court filing fee, there are costs associated with legal representation and with the practical steps involved in ensuring the sealing order is transmitted to all relevant agencies after entry.
Serving Aurora Record Sealing Clients Across the Metro Area
DeChant Law represents record sealing clients throughout Aurora and the surrounding communities that make up the eastern and southeastern Denver metro area. Aurora itself spans both Arapahoe County and Adams County, and clients come to us from neighborhoods including Buckley, Sable Ridge, Tallyn’s Reach, Saddle Rock, Meadowood, the Central Park corridor near the former Stapleton development, Mission Viejo, Seven Hills, and Aurora Highlands. We also serve clients from the adjacent communities of Centennial, Greenwood Village, and Cherry Hills Village to the south, as well as Parker and Lone Tree further southeast along the E-470 corridor.
To the north and east, we work with clients from Commerce City, Brighton, and communities within Adams County where cases may have been filed at the Adams County Justice Center. The Glendale and Lowry neighborhoods that border Denver proper also generate clients whose cases were handled in Arapahoe County courts. Clients from Englewood, Littleton, and the Highlands Ranch area to the southwest, whose cases may have been filed in Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial, are also well within our regular service area. Wherever your original case was filed within this region, DeChant Law can handle the record sealing petition in that court.
Aurora Record Sealing Attorney at DeChant Law
A criminal record from years past does not have to define what is available to you now. Colorado’s sealing statutes exist precisely because the legislature recognized that people change and that permanent public exposure of old records can obstruct rehabilitation in ways that serve neither the individual nor the community. If you have a Colorado record and want an honest assessment of whether sealing is available to you, what the process would look like, and what the realistic outcome would be for your specific background, contact DeChant Law to speak with an Aurora record sealing attorney who will give you a candid and thorough evaluation of your situation. Call to schedule a consultation and get real answers about what record sealing can do for you.
