What Is an Expungement in New Jersey?

One of the first questions we get from clients is: “What exactly is an expungement?” Understanding this concept is the first step toward reclaiming your future.

In New Jersey, an expungement is the legal process of extracting and isolating your criminal records so that they are no longer accessible to the general public. This does not mean the records are destroyed, but rather that they are removed from public view and placed in a secure, restricted-access location.

What Exactly Gets Expunged?

If your expungement petition is granted, the following records will be extracted and isolated by law enforcement and court agencies:

  • Arrest reports

  • Criminal complaints

  • Warrants

  • Court docket entries

  • Judgments of conviction

  • Sentencing records

  • Fingerprints

  • Mugshots

  • Police reports

  • Probation or supervision records

  • RAP sheets and records held by the NJ State Police and FBI

All of these documents will be segregated from the public record, meaning they will no longer appear in most criminal background checks or be accessible to employers, landlords, or other third parties.

🚫 Who Can Still See Expunged Records?

While your record is no longer available to the public, certain law enforcement and government agencies may still access your expunged file under limited circumstances—for example, if you are applying for employment with the judiciary, law enforcement, corrections, or a bar license, or if you’re being sentenced in a future criminal case.

But for most purposes—employment, housing, loans, education, and social reputation—it’s as if the offense never happened.

🛡️ What Will Background Checks Show?

If your record has been properly expunged, a background check will return “No Record Found.” Employers, landlords, and licensing agencies conducting background screenings through typical consumer reporting agencies or online databases will not be able to see the arrest, charges, or convictions that were expunged.

This can drastically improve your ability to:

  • Get a job

  • Pass a housing background check

  • Apply for loans or financial aid

  • Protect your reputation

  • Rebuild your life without the burden of a public criminal history

📌 Why Expungement Matters

Even if your charges were dismissed or you were found not guilty, those records still exist and are available to the public unless you take action to expunge them. Unfortunately, people often assume that a dropped charge means a clean record—but that’s not the case in New Jersey.

Without an expungement, your criminal record—even if inaccurate or outdated—can follow you forever.

Clear, Honest Pricing

Expungement shouldn’t be confusing—or overpriced. At National Security Law Firm, we keep our pricing simple, transparent, and all-inclusive:

  • $1,500 for your primary offense

  • +$200 for each additional offense

  • +$1,800 for early expungements or drug distribution cases

You’ll know exactly what you’re paying and exactly what you’re getting.

👉 See our full expungement pricing guide.

Payment Plans That Put You in Control

A criminal record can be expensive enough—it shouldn’t cost a fortune to clear it. That’s why we partner with Affirm to offer flexible monthly payment plans. Choose a schedule that fits your budget:

  • 3, 6, 12, or 24-month terms

  • Start with little down

  • Checking eligibility has no impact on your credit score

👉 Learn more about our financing options.

Our Guarantee to You

We back our work with a money-back guarantee: if your expungement is denied for reasons outside of your control, we refund your legal fee in full.

⚠️ Note: The guarantee applies only to our fee, not to the case outcome itself. If your petition is denied due to undisclosed history or missing information provided by you, the guarantee does not apply.

Where Other Firms Stop, We Keep Working

Most lawyers file your petition, serve the order, and walk away. But that’s not enough. Expunged records frequently still appear in government databases and private background check reports.

That’s why NSLF built a proprietary follow-up process:

  • We confirm removal with every government agency.

  • We cross-check compliance with the NJSP and FBI.

  • We notify private background check companies like Checkr, TruthFinder, and Sterling.

  • We provide lifetime backup support—if your record ever resurfaces, we remove it at no extra cost.

👉 Read our guide: Why Expunged Records Still Show Up—and How NSLF Fixes the Problem.

Why NSLF Is the #1 Choice for Expungements

When it comes to clearing records in New Jersey, no one does it better—or more thoroughly—than us.

  • More expungements statewide than any other law firm

  • Attorneys who know every county’s courts and clerks

  • Flat pricing, financing options, and refund guarantee

  • Proprietary follow-up process to ensure your record is erased everywhere

  • Lifetime record cleanup if anything ever resurfaces

👉 Visit our New Jersey Expungement Resource Hub — the most complete library of expungement guides in the state.

We’re Trusted With More Expungements in New Jersey Than Any Other Law Firm.

Don’t Let Your Past Block Another Opportunity

Your record shouldn’t cost you a job, a home, or your peace of mind for one more day. The sooner you begin, the sooner it’s behind you.

👉 Book your free consultation now and take the first step toward your fresh start.

What Our Clients Say

We’re proud to be one of New Jersey’s most highly rated expungement law firms, trusted by thousands across the state.

👉 Read our 5-star Google Reviews.

⚡ NSLF doesn’t just file expungements—we make your record disappear everywhere it matters.