Arrested in Houston? If your case was dismissed, no-billed, or acquitted, Texas law lets you erase it for good — and we file the entire Harris County expunction so you never appear in court.
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A criminal record from a Harris County arrest follows you through every background check in Houston — even when the case was dismissed and you were never convicted.
Employers run background checks on nearly every hire. A dismissed case still shows up — and still gets offers quietly rescinded.
Corporate landlords and apartment complexes screen every applicant. An old arrest gets applications rejected, even years later.
Nurses, teachers, CDL holders, real estate and finance professionals face board review over a record that was never a conviction.
Colleges and graduate programs run background checks for admission, housing, and clinical placements. A record can cost you a seat.
Certain records restrict your ability to lawfully purchase or possess a firearm — even without a conviction.
Texas records do not expire. A dismissed case stays public and searchable until a court orders it expunged.
In Harris County, expunctions file at the Harris County Civil Courthouse on Caroline Street — a different building from the criminal courts. Choosing the right building and the right docket is the single biggest timing factor for a Houston expunction:
| Where the petition is filed | Harris County District Clerk — Harris County Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77002 |
|---|---|
| Court that hears it | One of Harris County's 20-plus civil district courts — not the 18 criminal district courts at the Criminal Justice Center, 1201 Franklin St. |
| How it is filed | Electronically through eFileTexas (efile.txcourts.gov) |
| Who must be served | The Harris County District Attorney's expunction review, plus every agency holding a record of the arrest |
| Governing law | Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A (the 2026 reorganization of the Texas expunction statute) |
Want the full do-it-yourself walkthrough? Read our in-depth guide: How to Expunge a Record for Free in Harris County.
We built the process so that clearing a Harris County record takes as little of your time as possible.
Tell us your name and county of arrest. We pull the case disposition, confirm which Chapter 55A pathway applies, and tell you exactly what is possible — at no cost.
We draft your petition, e-file it with the Harris County District Clerk, and serve every state and local agency that holds a record of the arrest. You do not chase forms or agencies.
Once the judge signs the order, the agencies are directed to destroy the records. You can legally state the arrest never happened — to employers, landlords, and licensing boards.
Every Harris County expunction is quoted as a single flat fee that covers drafting, filing, agency service, and every court appearance.
Estimated 150–180 days · 4 monthly payments of $400 available
Estimated 60–150 days · for job, lease & licensing deadlines
A Harris County expunction is a court case with strict statutory requirements. Who files it matters.
Led by Dan Wyde, Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization — a credential held by only a small fraction of Texas attorneys.
Our team has worked every side of the Texas courtroom — as judge, as prosecutor, and as defense counsel. We know how expunctions actually move.
One transparent price from $1,395. It covers drafting, filing, agency service, and every court appearance. Payment plans available.
Verified Google reviews from clients we have defended and helped clear their records across Texas.
Straight answers on how a Harris County expunction works, what it costs, and what you have to do.
With the Harris County District Clerk at the Harris County Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline Street, Houston — not the Criminal Justice Center on Franklin Street. The petition is e-filed through eFileTexas and routed to one of Harris County's civil district courts. We handle the filing and every step after.
Harris County runs its civil and criminal courts out of separate buildings six blocks apart. An expunction is a civil case; filing it into a criminal court selection forces the clerk to reroute it, adding 30 to 60 days. Filing it correctly the first time avoids that delay entirely.
Wyde & Associates handles a standard expunction for a flat fee of $1,395, with a rush option at $2,000. Each additional case is +$400, and a 4-payment plan of $400 per month is available. The fee covers drafting, filing, service on every agency, and all court appearances — there are no surprise invoices.
Generally, arrests that ended without a conviction — dismissals, acquittals, no-bills, certain pretrial diversions, Class C deferred disposition, and arrests where charges were never filed (after the statute-of-limitations wait). Cases that ended in a conviction, or in deferred adjudication for most offenses, are not eligible for expunction, though some may qualify for an order of nondisclosure. The free eligibility check tells you which applies to your case.
An expunction destroys the record — the arrest, booking, and court file are erased, and you can legally deny the arrest ever happened. A nondisclosure (sealing) hides the record from most employers and landlords but does not destroy it; law enforcement and some agencies can still see it. Expunction is the stronger remedy; nondisclosure is the fallback when a case does not qualify for expunction.
No. We prepare the petition, file it, serve every agency, and appear at any hearing on your behalf. The vast majority of our clients never set foot in a courtroom.
Most expunctions finish in about 150 to 180 days on the standard track and 60 to 150 days on the rush track. Timing depends on the county's docket and how the case was disposed. Once the judge signs the order, the agencies are given a window to destroy the records.
The firm is led by Dan Wyde — Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, with 35-plus years in Texas courts as a judge, prosecutor, and defense attorney. Board Certification is held by only a small percentage of Texas attorneys. You get flat-fee pricing, a clear timeline, and a team that handles every step.