Picture this. It’s been years since that arrest. Maybe you were young. Maybe you made a mistake. Maybe you were in a rough stretch of life. Whatever happened, you did your time, paid your fines, and moved on the best you could.
But that record? It didn’t move on with you.
It shows up when you apply for jobs. It comes up when you try to rent an apartment. It sits there, quietly, making everything harder than it should be — long after you’ve already paid your debt to society.
Here’s what a lot of people in Greensboro and High Point don’t know: North Carolina law may already let you erase it. And thanks to changes made to the state’s Second Chance Act between 2020 and 2024 — with additional updates signed into law in 2025 — more people qualify for expungement today than at any point in North Carolina history.
The problem is, nobody’s out there telling people that. The court system doesn’t send you a letter when you become eligible. The background check companies don’t take records down on their own. And some of the changes are complicated enough that even people who should qualify don’t realize it.
That’s what this page is for. Attorney Micah Huggins has spent over a decade in Guilford County courts helping clients move their lives forward — and expungement is one of the most powerful tools available to do that. Let’s walk through exactly who qualifies, what the process looks like, and why having the right advocate changes the outcome.
★ Key Takeaways — What You Need to Know About NC Expungement in 2026
- More than 2 million North Carolinians — 1 in every 4 adults in the state — carry a criminal record of some kind (NC Second Chance Alliance).
- In 2024 alone, North Carolina courts issued nearly 50,000 expunctions — more than any previous year on record.
- The NC Second Chance Act (2020) dramatically expanded who qualifies for expungement, allowing up to 3 nonviolent felony convictions to be cleared.
- As of July 8, 2024, automatic expunctions of dismissed charges and not-guilty verdicts have resumed — meaning some records are already being cleared without anyone having to file a petition.
- NC’s 2025 legislative session (S.L. 2025-71) made additional expansions effective July 9, 2025 — making this the most favorable expungement environment the state has ever offered.
- Waiting periods range from 5 years (single misdemeanor) to 20 years (multiple nonviolent felonies) — and those clocks start after your sentence is fully complete, including probation and court costs.
- DWI convictions, violent felonies, Class A–G felonies, and sex offenses cannot be expunged in North Carolina.
- Expungement petitions are filed in the court where the conviction or charge originated — which for most Greensboro and High Point residents means Guilford County Superior or District Court.
- Expungement filing fees are $175 — but may be waived for low-income petitioners.
- Attorney Huggins handles expungement cases across the Triad and can evaluate your full record for eligibility at no cost during your consultation.
Why Does a Criminal Record in Greensboro or High Point Still Hurt You Long After the Sentence Ends?
Updated: 2024–2026 Law Changes Included
According to the NC Second Chance Alliance, more than 2 million North Carolinians — roughly 1 in every 4 adults in the state — have some kind of criminal record. That’s not 1 in 4 people who went to prison. That’s 1 in 4 people who have an arrest, a charge, a conviction, or even a dismissed case sitting in a public database somewhere.
| STATISTIC | DETAIL | SOURCE |
| 2M+ | North Carolinians with a criminal record of some kind | NC Second Chance Alliance |
| 1 in 4 | NC adults affected — the highest proportion in state history | NC Second Chance Alliance |
| ~50,000 | Expunctions issued by NC courts in 2024 alone | NC courts / lawsmith.net, 2024 |
| $175 | Standard filing fee for an NC expungement petition (may be waived) | NC court system, 2025 |
| 562,234 | Estimated 2025 population of Guilford County — thousands carrying records | U.S. Census estimate, 2025 |
| 30 days | Time the DA has to object after your expungement petition is filed | N.C.G.S. § 15A-145.5 |
Those collateral consequences that a criminal record creates are — in the words of the NC Second Chance Alliance — “potentially more severe than the criminal punishment itself.” That’s not hyperbole. That’s what researchers and policymakers studying this for decades have concluded.
Here’s a snapshot of what a record actually costs people in Greensboro and High Point every single day:
- Employment: Employers run background checks. The North Carolina Criminal Record Reporting Act gives employers access to all convictions and many dismissed charges. Most never call you back once they see it.
- Housing: Most private landlords screen for criminal history. A single felony conviction can disqualify you from most apartment complexes in Greensboro.
- Professional Licenses: Nursing, teaching, real estate, contracting, financial services — all subject to license review based on criminal history. One conviction can block a career entirely.
- Public Housing: Federal public housing programs restrict eligibility based on criminal records, often permanently for drug-related felonies.
- Child Custody: In family court, a criminal record is fair game. It gets brought up in custody hearings and can affect parenting time arrangements.
The NC Second Chance Act was passed precisely because the General Assembly — in a 119-0 bipartisan vote — recognized this reality. People who have served their time deserve a real path forward. Expungement is that path. But you have to know it exists, know if you qualify, and know how to actually file it correctly.
What Has Actually Changed in North Carolina Expungement Law Between 2020 and 2026?
The short version: a lot. And most of it is good news for people who’ve been waiting for a second chance.
The Second Chance Act — June 2020 (S.L. 2020-35)
This was the watershed moment. North Carolina’s General Assembly passed Senate Bill 562 with overwhelming bipartisan support, and Governor Roy Cooper signed it into law. The major changes included:
- For the first time, up to three nonviolent felony convictions became eligible for expungement
- Expanded eligibility for multiple nonviolent misdemeanors
- Created automatic expunction of dismissed charges and not-guilty verdicts for cases occurring on or after December 1, 2021
- Removed the prior felony conviction disqualifier that had previously blocked many people from expunging misdemeanor records
What this meant in practice: People who had been shut out of expungement entirely — because of a prior felony on their record — suddenly became eligible for the first time. This single change opened the door for tens of thousands of North Carolinians who had no path forward before.
The Pause and Resumption — 2022 to 2024
The automatic expunction provision — where dismissed and not-guilty cases get cleared without a petition — was paused in August 2022 after prosecutors raised concerns about access to records. The courts took two years to work through implementation issues.
As of July 8, 2024, under revised rules established by Senate Bill 565, automatic expunctions have fully resumed. The new system requires expunction to occur between 180 and 210 days after the final disposition of the case, and prosecutors retain access for legitimate law enforcement purposes. The process is working — and if you have a dismissed charge from December 1, 2021 or later, your case may already have been automatically cleared.
The 2025 Expansion (S.L. 2025-71, effective July 9, 2025)
The most recent legislative session added additional expansions to N.C.G.S. § 15A-145.5. These changes took effect July 9, 2025 and apply to petitions filed on or after that date. The UNC School of Government’s Relief from Criminal Convictions resource — the authoritative reference for NC practitioners — has been updated to reflect these changes.
The bottom line: if you looked at your eligibility a couple of years ago and were told you didn’t qualify, it’s worth checking again. The law has changed multiple times, and it has changed in your favor.
Who Qualifies for Expungement in North Carolina in 2026 — A Practical Guide
Here’s where people get tripped up most. Expungement law in North Carolina isn’t one single rule — it’s a collection of statutes that cover different situations. Whether you qualify depends on what type of record you have, when it happened, and what’s been on your record since.
Category 1: Dismissed Charges and Not-Guilty Verdicts
This is the biggest opportunity most people don’t know about. If your charge was dismissed — for any reason, including deferred prosecution — or if a jury found you not guilty, that charge is potentially expungeable under N.C.G.S. § 15A-146.
For cases with dispositions on or after December 1, 2021, the process may now happen automatically (180–210 days post-disposition). For older dismissed cases, you file a petition. There is no waiting period for dismissed charges. There are no limits on how many dismissed charges you can expunge.
Real talk: A lot of people in Greensboro and High Point have old dismissed charges sitting on background check reports — from drug stops that went nowhere, from charges that got pleaded down, from arrests that never resulted in conviction. Those are exactly the kinds of records that get people rejected from jobs and apartments. And many of them are erasable right now.
Category 2: Single Nonviolent Misdemeanor Conviction
One nonviolent misdemeanor conviction? You may be eligible to expunge it after a 5-year waiting period from the date your sentence was fully completed — including the last dollar of court costs and the last day of any probation. Under the updated law, there is no limit on how many times a person can expunge misdemeanor convictions, and having a prior felony expunged no longer blocks you.
Category 3: Multiple Nonviolent Misdemeanor Convictions
Multiple nonviolent misdemeanors from separate court dates? The waiting period extends to 7 years from the completion of your last sentence. You must also have had no new convictions during that waiting period (other than traffic violations).
Category 4: Nonviolent Felony Convictions (The Game-Changer)
This is what the Second Chance Act opened up that didn’t exist before. You can now expunge up to three nonviolent felony convictions under N.C.G.S. § 15A-145.5 — something that was flatly impossible before 2020.
| RECORD TYPE | WAIT PERIOD | NOTES |
| Single Misdemeanor | 5 Years | After full sentence completion (including probation + court costs) |
| Multiple Misdemeanors | 7 Years | After the last sentence is fully completed |
| 1 Nonviolent Felony | 10 Years | After sentence completion (15 years for felony B&E under G.S. 14-54(a)) |
| 2–3 Nonviolent Felonies | 20 Years | Must have occurred within a 24-month window; filed in each county of conviction |
| Dismissed / Not Guilty | No Wait | May happen automatically (180–210 days post-disposition) for post-12/1/2021 cases |
| Juvenile / Under-18 Offenses | Varies | Separate rules apply — often more favorable waiting periods |
What CANNOT Be Expunged in North Carolina?
Important — these record types are permanently ineligible: DWI/DUI convictions (no exceptions), Class A through G felony convictions, violent misdemeanors (those with assault as an essential element), any offense requiring sex offender registration, and crimes involving minors. Having a conviction in one of these categories can also block you from expunging otherwise eligible charges — which is exactly why a full record review by an attorney matters before you file anything.
| RECORD TYPE | ELIGIBLE? | WAITING PERIOD / NOTES |
| Dismissed charge (any class) | Yes | No waiting period; may be automatic for post-12/1/2021 dispositions |
| Not-guilty verdict | Yes | No waiting period; same automatic rules apply |
| Single nonviolent misdemeanor | Yes | 5 years after sentence fully complete |
| Multiple nonviolent misdemeanors | Yes | 7 years after last sentence fully complete |
| 1 nonviolent felony (Class H or I) | Yes | 10 years; 15 years for felony B&E under G.S. 14-54(a) |
| 2–3 nonviolent felonies (within 24 months) | Yes | 20 years; petition filed in each county of conviction |
| Juvenile/under-18 offenses | Often yes | Separate statutes; consult an attorney |
| DWI conviction | No | Permanently ineligible under NC law |
| Violent felony (Class A–G) | No | Permanently ineligible |
| Sex offense requiring registration | No | Permanently ineligible |
| Assault as an essential element | No | Includes simple assault; permanently ineligible |
| More than 3 felony convictions after age 18 | No | Exceeds statutory maximum; none are eligible |
How Does the Expungement Process Actually Work in Guilford County Courts?
Okay. You’ve read through the eligibility rules. You think you might qualify. What happens next?
In Guilford County, expungement petitions are filed at the Guilford County Courthouse — the main location at 201 South Eugene Street in Greensboro, or the High Point branch at 505 East Green Drive. Guilford County is in the 24th Judicial District, and cases here follow the standard NC petition process.
Step 1 — Pull your full record — not just what you remember
You need to know exactly what’s on your record before you do anything else. The NC State Bureau of Investigation maintains the official criminal record database. You can request your own record through the NC SBI. An attorney can also pull a full record analysis, which often reveals charges people forgot about — including dismissed charges that may already qualify for expungement.
Step 2 — Get a professional eligibility evaluation
The rules around eligibility are layered. A single ineligible conviction on your record can block you from expunging other charges that would otherwise qualify. Getting this analysis right before filing saves time, money, and disappointment. Attorney Huggins offers a free consultation specifically to evaluate your record and tell you plainly what you can and can’t clear.
Step 3 — Prepare the petition and supporting documents
North Carolina has specific petition forms for each type of expungement — and using the wrong form, or missing required documentation, gets your petition rejected. Required materials typically include: the completed petition form for your specific expungement type, an affidavit of good moral character from you, two character reference affidavits from unrelated community members, and proof that all restitution has been paid.
Step 4 — File the petition with the Clerk of Court
Your petition is filed in the county where the original conviction or charge occurred — for most Greensboro and High Point clients, that’s Guilford County. The filing fee is $175. If you have convictions in multiple counties, you file a separate petition in each county within a 120-day window (with exceptions for good cause).
Step 5 — The DA reviews — and may object
Once filed, the district attorney’s office is served with your petition. Under N.C.G.S. § 15A-145.5, the DA has 30 days to file an objection (with the possibility of a 30-day extension for good cause). The DA is also required to make reasonable efforts to notify any victims. An experienced attorney can often address potential DA objections proactively before filing, which significantly improves outcomes.
Step 6 — Court review and hearing
Some expungements require a hearing before a judge. Others are reviewed on the papers without a formal hearing. In Guilford County, the process varies by type of expungement and by which courthouse location handles your case. If a hearing is required, your attorney presents your case — your rehabilitation, your clean record since the conviction, your community ties — to the judge.
Step 7 — Order granted — and what happens next
If the expungement is granted, the Clerk is required to provide you a copy of the order. The record is then removed from public access — meaning it won’t show up on background checks done by employers, landlords, or licensing boards. Law enforcement retains limited access for specific purposes. You are then legally allowed to state that you were not charged with or convicted of that offense on job applications and housing applications.
Step 8 — Notify private background check companies
This is the step most people miss. Court orders clear the official state records, but private background check companies — the ones employers actually use — often maintain their own databases. After your expungement is granted, your attorney should help you identify and notify those companies to ensure the record is actually removed from the databases employers search.
One thing people miss constantly: The waiting period doesn’t start at the date of your conviction. It starts when your sentence is fully complete — meaning the last day of probation, the last dollar of court costs, and the last dollar of restitution owed. If you have unpaid court costs from a decade ago, your clock may not have started yet. This is one of the first things to verify.
Why Does Having an Experienced Greensboro Attorney Make Such a Difference in Getting an Expungement Granted?
Some people ask this. They see the forms online and think they can handle it themselves. And sometimes they can — for simple, clean situations with a single dismissed charge.
But for most people reading this page, the situation isn’t that simple. There’s a prior conviction somewhere. There are charges from multiple counties. The record is complicated and has been accumulating for years. And the cost of filing an expungement petition incorrectly isn’t just $175 wasted — it’s months of additional waiting, or a denied petition that shows up as a red flag on your record.
Knowing Exactly Which Statute Applies
The NC Justice Center’s 2024 Summary of North Carolina Expunctions is a 100-page resource used by practicing attorneys — because the law is that detailed and that nuanced. Different statutes apply to different situations: N.C.G.S. § 15A-146 for dismissed charges, § 15A-147 for identity theft dismissals, § 15A-148 for DNA issues, § 15A-145.5 for nonviolent convictions — and each has its own procedural requirements, timing rules, and eligibility thresholds. Getting this right matters.
Proactive Communication With the DA’s Office
In Guilford County, an attorney who has worked in the local court system knows the District Attorney’s office and understands what kinds of petitions typically draw objections. Proactively addressing those concerns before filing — demonstrating rehabilitation, showing community ties, documenting the years of clean record — can be the difference between a petition that goes through cleanly and one that gets contested.
A Complete Record Analysis
Attorney Huggins and his team don’t just look at the one charge you’re asking about. They review your entire criminal history — from every county, including cases you may have forgotten — to identify everything that qualifies and everything that could block you. That full-picture approach prevents costly surprises after filing.
The Life Context Only an Attorney Can Provide to the Court
When a hearing is required, you’re not just submitting a form — you’re presenting your case to a judge. That means telling your story: who you are today, what you’ve done since that conviction, why granting this expungement serves the interests of justice. Attorney Huggins understands how to present that case in a Guilford County courtroom. Not as a document. As a person.
“Every client deserves clarity, compassion, and a champion in their corner. We don’t just file motions. We fight — with strategy and with heart — to restore what’s been lost: dignity, stability, and peace of mind.”
— Attorney Micah E. Huggins, Huggins Law Firm, P.C.
10 Questions North Carolinians Ask About Expungement in 2026
1. Can I get a felony expunged in North Carolina in 2026?
Yes — with important limitations. Thanks to the Second Chance Act, North Carolina now allows expungement of up to three nonviolent felony convictions under N.C.G.S. § 15A-145.5. A single nonviolent felony requires a 10-year waiting period (15 years for certain breaking and entering charges). Two or three qualifying felonies — which must have occurred within a 24-month period — require a 20-year waiting period. Class A through G felonies, violent felonies, and sex offenses cannot be expunged under any circumstances.
2. Does a dismissed charge in North Carolina still show up on a background check?
It can — and this surprises a lot of people. Many private background check companies include dismissed charges and not-guilty verdicts in their reports. A court-ordered expungement clears the official state record, but you may need to separately notify private data aggregators. Automatic expunction of post-December 1, 2021 dismissals has resumed as of July 2024, but older dismissed cases still require a petition. Until a record is formally expunged, it may continue to appear.
3. Can I get a DWI expunged in North Carolina?
No. DWI convictions are permanently ineligible for expungement in North Carolina — no exceptions, no waiting period that makes them eligible. This applies to both misdemeanor DWI convictions and DWI-related felonies. If you were charged with DWI but the charge was dismissed or you were found not guilty, that dismissed charge may be expungeable. But an actual conviction cannot be cleared under any current North Carolina law.
4. How long does the expungement process take in Guilford County?
It varies. After filing your petition, the DA has 30 days to object (with the possibility of a 30-day extension). If no objection is filed and no hearing is required, the process can move relatively quickly. If a hearing is scheduled, you’re working with Guilford County’s court calendar. Realistically, most petitions resolve within 3 to 6 months from filing — sometimes faster, sometimes longer depending on the court’s docket and whether the DA’s office raises any issues.
5. Do I have to disclose an expunged record on a job application in North Carolina?
Generally, no. Once a record is expunged in North Carolina, you are legally permitted to state on job applications, housing applications, and most other contexts that you have not been charged with or convicted of that offense. There are limited exceptions — certain professional license applications and some governmental security clearances may have different disclosure requirements. An attorney can advise you on what applies to your specific profession and situation.
6. What happens to expunged records in North Carolina — are they completely gone?
From public access, yes. An expunged record is removed from the public court records, the NC SBI criminal history database, and is not accessible to employers or landlords conducting standard background checks. Law enforcement agencies retain access for limited purposes — for instance, in future criminal proceedings, courts can consider an expunged record. But for the purposes that affect most people’s daily lives — jobs, housing, professional licenses — the record is effectively gone.
7. Can I file for expungement myself without an attorney in North Carolina?
You can — the state allows pro se (self-represented) expungement petitions. Legal Aid of NC and the NC Second Chance Alliance provide some self-help resources. However, errors in which form you use, which county you file in, whether you owe unreported restitution, or whether an ineligible conviction on your record blocks your petition are all common and costly mistakes. For complicated records or felony expungements, having an experienced attorney significantly improves your chances of a granted petition.
8. Does North Carolina have “Ban the Box” — and does expungement make it irrelevant?
North Carolina has a partial Ban the Box law that applies to state government agencies, preventing them from asking about criminal history on initial job applications before a first interview. Private employers are not covered by this law. Expungement, however, goes further than Ban the Box for the records it covers — once expunged, you can legally answer “no” to criminal history questions on any application. For ineligible records, Ban the Box only delays the question; expungement eliminates it entirely for qualifying records.
9. I have convictions in multiple counties including Guilford County — how does expungement work?
You must file a separate petition in each county where a conviction occurred, and all petitions must be filed within a 120-day window (with exceptions for good cause). For a Greensboro resident with convictions in both Guilford County and, say, Forsyth or Alamance County, that means filings in each courthouse. The fees apply per filing. An attorney who practices across the Triad region — like Huggins Law Firm — can coordinate the multi-county process so nothing falls through the cracks and the timing requirements are met.
10. How does an expungement affect a custody or family law case in North Carolina?
This is an important and underappreciated question. In family court, a criminal record can be used as evidence in custody determinations. Once a record is expunged, the law treats it as if the charge or conviction never occurred — which means it should no longer be usable against you in custody proceedings. If you have a pending family law matter and a criminal record that may be affecting it, expediting your expungement can have real, practical benefits for your custody situation. Attorney Huggins handles both criminal defense and family law, and can advise you on how these two areas of your life intersect.
Ready to Find Out If Your Record Can Be Cleared?
Don’t spend another year letting an old mistake define what’s possible for your future. Attorney Micah Huggins will review your record, tell you exactly what qualifies, and fight to get it done right.
Call Huggins Law Firm Today
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This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Expungement eligibility depends on the specific facts of your situation. Contact Attorney Micah Huggins for advice specific to your record.
