Nevada Juvenile Record Sealing Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I want to seal my juvenile adjudication?

Most juvenile records are automatically sealed when the child reaches the age of 21.

However, records that are not sealed automatically include those that pertain to the following crimes that if were committed by someone older than eighteen would have constituted the following: sexual assault pursuant to NRS 200.366; battery with intent to commit sexual assault pursuant to NRS 200.400; lewdness with a child pursuant to NRS 201.230; or a felony which involved the use or threatened use of force or violence. Juvenile records of these offenses may be sealed upon petition when the defendant reaches the age of 30.

If a child is under the age of 21, records can be sealed earlier upon the child or probation officer’s request three years after the child’s last adjudication or referral to juvenile court (whichever is later).

Once your record is sealed, it is as though the charge never occurred. Once sealed, you can treat the incident as though it never occurred; this would open up many more employment, licensing, and other positive life opportunities for you, and prevent the public from finding out about an embarrassing incident you had as a juvenile.

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Will it still show up on my background check?

No. Once the record is sealed, it is treated as if it never happened and you can answer to any inquiry on an application for employment that you have not been arrested or convicted.

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What happens if there is another conviction during the waiting period?

If you are under 21 and you receive another felony conviction or a conviction for a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude during the 3-year waiting period, then you are not eligible to seal the juvenile records. If you are older than 21 and you receive a conviction for any offense (other than a minor moving/standing traffic offense) since you turned 21, then you cannot seal your juvenile records.

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Do I have to disclose it ever?

No. You can answer any inquiry, without limitation, that you were not arrested or convicted.

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Can anyone view the sealed records?

Only in limited circumstances. You may view your own records if you petition the court to permit you to do so. An agency charged with your medical or psychiatric care may petition the court to permit the inspection of the records. The district attorney or an attorney representing a defendant in a criminal action may petition the court to permit inspection of the records to obtain information relating to the persons who were involved in your record. If you are under 21 years old, any court where you are going to be sentenced in a criminal matter may inspect any of your juvenile records that have already been sealed.

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Can I become a schoolteacher, nurse, or other occupation?

The records will be sealed and the employers and state licensing agencies will not be able to view the records. Moreover, you are able to state that you have not been arrested or convicted.

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What if I want to work in a bank?

Section 19 of the FDIA (Federal Deposit Insurance Act) allows banks and other financial institutions to bar prospective employees who have had certain “Breach of Trust” convictions from jobs that they are otherwise qualified for even if they had the conviction expunged. If you have a “breach of trust” conviction and were denied a job with a financial institution because of that conviction, there still is another possible way to obtain that job. It is important to speak with an attorney about your specific circumstances to see if you would qualify for such a waiver from the FDIC.

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What if I join the military?

If you want to join the US military, then it becomes a matter of federal law, not Nevada state law. All branches of the military will want to know about your juvenile offenses, even if they have been expunged. There is still a risk of being discharged from the military if you don’t tell them and they later find out about it. It's always advisable to disclose that you had a conviction, but it was taken before a judge and he deemed it in the interest of justice to expunge/seal the record from public view.

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What if I want to become a police officer?

For Nevada, once your juvenile offenses have been sealed, it is treated as though it never occurred, and you can deny it on any application, including an application to become a police officer. Thus, it is highly unlikely that anyone would be able to know about it.

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What if the new job wants to call the court or my probation officer?

Your probation officer and the court are required to say that they have no record of your arrest.

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Do I need to hire an attorney or can I do it myself?

You have an attorney to (1) make sure it is done right the first time so it does not get rejected or cost you months of delay (2) handle objections from the district attorney (3) send an attorney to court to argue the case if need be and (4) write letters to potential employers letting them know that the case has been reopened and will soon have the conviction off of your record.

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Do I have to go to court?

No, we go for you. If the court requests your presence and you are unable to make it then we will request for your presence to be excused.

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How does the attorney know about my case details?

Once you sign up we have you fill out a questionnaire on your personal online account. The questionnaire asks questions that influence the outcome of the case and allows us to argue the case before a judge. Although some of the questions may seem simple, the more information and detail that you provide in your answers the better we are able to argue the case in your favor.

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How long does the process take?

Typically, the case takes about four to six months.

We base our estimates of how long a case will take on how long the average is for that service in that state. However, some cases can take less or more time depending on the facts of the case, whether the DA is agreeing or objecting, the age of the case, etc. We work on your case as fast as we can and assist the court and DA in anything they need to get your case heard.

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Can it be done faster?

The courts work on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, the sooner you sign up, the sooner it is heard and decided. If it helps, we would be glad to write your employer or potential employer a letter letting them know we have reopened the case and are in the process of having it dismissed.

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How do I know what is going on with my case?

We have an online tracking system that is just for your case or cases. You will have a user name and password for the account and it will have the information specific to the case. Whenever anything happens in your case we post it in your online account so that you can view the status of the case and the progress that is made. If there is no post on your online account then that means that there is no update in the case. For example, once we update your online account to reflect that we have filed the motion with the court we will update the notes when we hear a response from the court or District Attorney. Depending on the court, it can take several weeks to months to hear from the court or District Attorney whether there is an objection, hearing, or anything else. If something is taking longer then usual for the court we will call to obtain status of the case and update your online notes. In addition to posting the status updates in your online account, we will post your case information in the case information so you are aware of the case and future hearings.

Moreover, we post your contract and payment plan information on the online account for you so that you can view all the information and print it.

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Do you have a money back guarantee?

We are unable to offer a money back guarantee because the process involves a substantial amount of preparation and sometimes several appearances in court by our attorneys. We cannot afford to offer this low of a price and a money back guarantee.

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Do you have payment plans?

We can create a payment plan that meets your needs. Please view the pricing for details regarding the payment plans.

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What if I don’t know exactly what is on my record?

We will be glad to work with you to get a copy of your record and to review what can be done. We charge a researching fee to do it and we apply that to the cost of any service that you hire us to perform.

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If I was convicted of a felony, can I have it reduced?

No.

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Does it matter if I pled guilty or no contest?

No.

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Can I seal a DUI?

Yes.

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What is the main reason that a request to seal is denied?

If it is denied, it is usually because of (1) an inaccuracy in the court file, (2) an inaccuracy in the application, (3) the court does not believe it will be in the interest of society, (4) violating probation and (5) not paying fines.

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What if my case is denied?

If the case is denied, we evaluate the reason for the denial and determine the best way to proceed, including refiling.

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What happens after my juvenile record is sealed?

You will receive a court order sealing your juvenile record. Criminal record databases will be updated to reflect that your juvenile record was sealed.

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How do the agencies know it was granted?

Once the judge orders the records sealed, the court notifies the law enforcement arresting agency, the prosecuting attorney, Nevada DPS, FBI, and any other agencies that have records.

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How long does it take for the records to be updated?

The court updates the court records within 48 hours and the Nevada Department of Public Safety has up to 30 days to update their records. However, the DPS typically updates their records before the 30 days expire.

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Can I visit Canada after this?

If you have been convicted of minor offenses (including assault, dangerous driving, DUI, theft, shoplifting, unauthorized possession of firearms, possession of illegal substances, etc.) or indictable criminal offenses (including assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter, etc.) you are prohibited from entrance and further action is required to find out whether you will be allowed entrance. The Canadian government has entered into an information sharing agreement with the United States; so the Canadian government will have whatever information the United States has on record. Therefore, the first thing you should do is clear your criminal record to the fullest extent possible before submitting to a background check. The benefit of this will show the Canadian government that the matter was resolved and no longer considered a conviction and improve the odds of not being denied entry to Canada or being stuck at the border for lengthy interrogation.

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Can I get a Sentri pass?

The Border Patrol has discretion in granting or denying Sentri passes. So the only thing we can say for sure is that it would help; so it would be wise to invest in record clearing before applying for a pass. A modest investment in record sealed could be the difference between having your request accepted or denied. It will show that you have resolved all matters with the court.

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Can I vote after this?

Upon having your records sealed, your civil rights are immediately restored. This includes the right to vote, hold office, and serve on a jury.

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Will it help with immigration?

It may still be viewed and considered when determining your immigration; however, it will appear better and increase your chances during the immigration proceedings.

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Can I own a firearm after sealing my felony?

No. A pardon is the only way to restore your right to possess a firearm. We do not currently offer pardon services.

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