Washington Firearm Rights Restoration Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the process take?

Typically, the process takes three to four months, depending on your particular circumstances, the court’s workload at the time of your petition, and whether there are any objections from the government.

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 District Attorney 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 District Attorney 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 serve basis. Therefore, the sooner you sign up, the sooner the case is heard and decided. If you are applying for a job that requires you to use a gun (e.g., law enforcement), we would be glad to write your employer or potential employer a letter letting them know we are in the process of getting your gun rights restored.

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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 than 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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What are my chances of success?

It is difficult to say without researching your case. Whether or not you are eligible will depend on your individual circumstances. We charge a researching fee and we apply that to the cost of any service that you hire us to perform.

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Do I have to go to court?

No. We are licensed attorneys and we go to court for you.

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How does the attorney know 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 allow us to argue your 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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Do I need to hire an attorney or can I do it myself?

Most people hire an attorney to (1) make sure it is done right the first time which lowers chances of rejection and delay, (2) handle objections from the district attorney, and (3) send an attorney to court to argue the case if need be.

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Does it matter if I pled guilty or no contest?

No, it does not matter. The process of petitioning the court to restore your gun rights is the same whether you pled guilty or pled no contest to the crime that resulted in your gun rights being taken away. You just need to satisfy the other requirements for restoring your gun rights.

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What happens after my gun rights are restored?

You will receive a court order restoring your gun rights. The court will update its records and send a copy of the order to the Washington Department of Licensing, so that the restriction on your gun rights is removed.

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

The court is usually the first to update its records. The Department of Licensing and other offices/agencies will only update its records once it receives a copy of the court order (which is usually within 3 business days). It is best to keep a certified copy of the order for your own records in case you need to provide it in the future when you apply for a gun permit.

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Do you have a money back guarantee?

We are unable to offer a money back guarantee and also offer such low prices for our services at the same time, because the process involves a substantial amount of preparation and sometimes several appearances in court by our attorneys.

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Do you have payment plans?

We can create a payment plan that meets your needs. We typically spread payments into equal monthly amounts. Please view the pricing for details regarding 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 and we apply that to the total cost of any service that you hire us to perform.

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Can I restore my gun rights and vacate the conviction at the same time?

Yes, although there is no guarantee that you will be granted one or the other. Restoring your gun rights and vacating your conviction are two entirely different procedures with different requirements. However, we will offer a discount on the gun rights restoration if you sign up for vacating as well.

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What is the main reason that it is denied?

If it is denied, it is usually because of (1) an inaccuracy in the court file, (2) an inaccuracy in your criminal records, or (3) you are otherwise not eligible to restore your gun rights.

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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, which may include refiling or a recommendation that you wait longer to refile.

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Can I restore my firearm rights if I was convicted of a federal crime?

Yes. You can petition a Washington court to restore your gun rights in Washington even if your restriction stems from a federal crime, as long as you satisfy the requirements of the applicable Washington law.

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Does it matter if it was a conviction for domestic violence?

Washington law allows you to petition to restore your gun rights even if you have had a domestic violence conviction. However, to complicate things, there is a lifetime prohibition from the United States government (Lautenberg Amendment), which prohibits firearm ownership of those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence as defined by federal law. The federal definition may be different from Washington’s definition. If you would like us to evaluate your case and determine if the federal ban will apply against you then we can do so for a small researching fee. If you then sign up for firearm rights restoration the fee will be applied to the total cost of the service.

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What if I have multiple felony convictions?

You can still petition to restore your gun rights even if you have had multiple felony convictions. Your eligibility will depend on the nature of your felonies and when you received them.

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What if I have multiple felony convictions in multiple states?

Again, Washington law does not care where you received a particular felony conviction, or even whether you have multiple felony convictions. It only cares about the nature of those felony convictions and when you received them.

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What if I now live in a state other than Washington but I was convicted of a felony offense in Washington?

In order to determine whether the Washington conviction would apply to your current state of residence, and whether restoring your gun rights in Washington would help at all, we must evaluate the laws of each state. If you would like us to evaluate your case and determine if it is possible then we can do so for a researching fee. If you then sign up for firearm rights restoration the researching fee will be applied to the total cost of the service.

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