Does setting aside a conviction remove the criminal record?

A.R.S. § 13-905 explains that a set-aside does not require removal of the record. It is different from the separate sealing process. I review the available relief and its limits with you so that a discussion about a set-aside is not mistaken for a promise of complete erasure.

Does a dismissal automatically mean a record is sealed?

The sealing statute provides a petition process that includes certain dismissed cases, alongside other categories and requirements. I review the actual disposition and the applicable provisions before explaining the next steps. A dismissal and a sealing order should not be treated as identical outcomes based only on a general description.

Are firearm rights covered by every restoration of rights?

Firearm rights have specific statutory limits and may require separate review. A.R.S. § 13-910 addresses restrictions and judicial discretion, while other restoration provisions also refer to firearm rights. I need to examine the conviction and discharge history before explaining how those provisions may apply to the particular question.

Is marijuana expungement available for any drug conviction?

No. A.R.S. § 36-2862 addresses specified marijuana-related offenses and conditions. It does not create a general expungement process for every drug conviction. I compare the original charge, conduct and disposition with the statute before explaining whether that route may be available and what records are needed for review.

Phoenix Record Sealing Attorney | Christopher A. Flores

Record Sealing and Set-Asides in Phoenix, AZ

Christopher A. Flores helps people in Phoenix review options for setting aside convictions, sealing criminal records, restoring rights and expunging eligible marijuana records. These are different legal processes with their own requirements. He examines the case history and applicable statutes before explaining what may be available in a free consultation.

Where do I begin with an old criminal record?

Start with what happened in the case and what you want to understand now. I need to review the charge, the outcome, the court and the sentence or other orders. A set-aside, record sealing, restoration of rights and marijuana expungement do different things. I do not treat them as one general promise to erase a record.

The exact history matters. Records showing the disposition, discharge and completion of sentence conditions may be needed to assess an available route. I will explain what information is missing and which statute needs to be considered. The first call is a place to begin that review, not a determination that an application will be granted.

A.R.S. § 13-905: setting aside a convictionA.R.S. § 13-911: sealing case recordsA.R.S. § 36-2862: marijuana expungement

How are a set-aside and record sealing different?

A.R.S. § 13-905 generally permits an application to set aside a judgment after fulfillment of sentence or probation conditions and discharge, subject to its exclusions. It also states that a set-aside does not require removal of the record. I review both the eligibility rules and the limits of the relief rather than describe it as automatic erasure.

A.R.S. § 13-911 provides a separate petition process for sealing case records. It addresses specified completed convictions, dismissed or acquitted charges and arrests without filed charges, with additional conditions, waiting periods and exclusions. I examine the applicable requirements and the particular case history before explaining whether that process may be available. Sealed records also remain subject to statutory exceptions.

A.R.S. § 13-905: setting aside a convictionA.R.S. § 13-911: sealing case records

A yellow legal pad and a pen under a lamp on a kitchen table at night — Each eligibility statement must be tied to the applicable law and your records.

How do restoring rights and marijuana expungement fit in?

Civil-rights restoration is addressed in A.R.S. §§ 13-906 through 13-908. Some circumstances fall under automatic restoration provisions, while others involve an application. Firearm rights require attention to their own statutory limits, including § 13-910. I review the conviction and discharge history and do not assume that one order resolves every rights question.

A.R.S. § 36-2862 concerns specified marijuana offenses, quantities and conduct within that statute's scope. It is not a general expungement rule for every criminal record. I compare the old allegation and disposition with the provision and explain what needs verification. Each eligibility statement must be tied to the applicable law and your records.

A.R.S. § 13-906: restoration processA.R.S. § 13-907: automatic restorationA.R.S. § 13-908: restoration applicationA.R.S. § 13-910: firearm rightsA.R.S. § 36-2862: marijuana expungement

How I review the available options

I start by identifying the actual court record and the result you are asking about. I compare the facts with the relevant statutory route, including conditions and exclusions, and explain what the process can and cannot do. If more records are needed, I will say so rather than give you a conclusion from an incomplete account.

We can discuss your questions by phone without submitting sensitive case information through a website form. The consultation is free and you speak with me, usually the same day. I take time with that conversation and explain my flat fee. Any assessment of a particular application depends on the law and the case history, not a general assurance.

Chris's confirmed client inputs, October 22, 2026A.R.S. § 13-905: setting aside a convictionA.R.S. § 13-911: sealing case recordsA.R.S. § 36-2862: marijuana expungement

General information only. This practice-page draft requires Chris's review before publication.

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