Clarksville Expunction Attorney
Expungement Lawyers in Clarksville With 3,000+ Cases Behind Them
A criminal record doesn’t have to follow you forever. Tennessee’s expungement law (called expunction in the statute, T.C.A. § 40-32-101) allows eligible individuals to have arrest and conviction records erased from public view, including records held by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and local courts. Once an expungement is granted, you can legally state that you were never arrested, charged, or convicted of the expunged offense. That matters when you’re applying for a job, renting an apartment, pursuing a professional license, or seeking a security clearance.
At Grimes & Warren PLLC, we’ve handled over 3,000 cases in criminal and family courts across Middle Tennessee, with more than 30 years of combined experience and roots in Clarksville dating back to 1998. We know Montgomery County General Sessions Court, we know the local filing process, and we know how to evaluate a criminal record efficiently to identify every available path to relief. Our free case evaluations give you a clear picture of your eligibility and options before you commit to anything.
Call (931) 398-5308 or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free consultation.
Who Qualifies for Expungement in Tennessee?
Tennessee law creates two separate pathways to expungement: one for non-conviction records and one for certain convictions. Understanding which path applies to your situation is the first step.
Non-Conviction Expungement
If your case didn’t result in a conviction, you may be eligible without any waiting period. Non-conviction records that qualify include dismissed charges, a “no true bill” returned by a grand jury, an arrest where no charge was filed, an acquittal at trial, a nolle prosequi (prosecution declined to proceed), and a protective order that was successfully defended and denied by a court after a hearing. These records can often be cleared without a court appearance or a filing fee.
Conviction Expungement
If you were convicted, eligibility depends on the offense type, sentence length, time elapsed since sentence completion, and the total number of convictions on your record. In general, conviction expungement requires that the offense appears on Tennessee’s eligible list, your full sentence has been completed (including imprisonment, probation, fines, restitution, and any supervised release conditions), and the offense was committed on or after November 1, 1989.
The waiting period depends on the offense class. Under T.C.A. § 40-32-101, at least five years must have passed since sentence completion for misdemeanors and Class E felonies, and at least 10 years for eligible Class C and D felonies. Tennessee also generally permits expungement only for individuals with no more than two convictions: two misdemeanors, or one eligible felony paired with one misdemeanor. Two felony convictions don’t qualify. Judicial diversion and pretrial diversion completions may also qualify, subject to offense-type restrictions.
Tennessee’s eligible offense list has expanded significantly since 2017 and again in 2021, when certain Class C and D felonies were added. If you were told years ago that your record wasn’t eligible, it may be worth a second look.
What Misdemeanors Can’t Be Expunged in Tennessee?
The following misdemeanors are NOT eligible for expunction in Tennessee:
- Assault
- Aggravated assault of a public employee
- Aggravated criminal trespass
- Child abuse
- Child neglect and endangerment (when the child is between seven and 13 years old)
- Coercion involving an abortion
- Disorderly conduct at funerals
- Display for sale or rental of material harmful to minors
- Disseminating smoking paraphernalia to a minor after 3 prior violations
- Domestic violence
- Driving under the influence of an intoxicant
- Enticing a child to buy liquor or purchasing alcohol for a child
- Failure of adult to report a juvenile carrying a gun in school
- Failure to surrender handgun carry permit upon suspension
- Fraud involving a credit or debit card and up to $500
- Harboring or hiding a runaway child
- Importing, preparing, distributing, processing, or appearing in obscene material
- Indecent exposure where the victim is under 13 years old
- Misuse of official information by a public servant
- Nonparent providing a handgun to a juvenile
- Possession of a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
- Possession of a firearm while prohibited by state or federal law
- Possession of a firearm while under a protective order
- Possession of hallucinogenic plant Salvia Divinorum or synthetic cannabinoids
- Possession of or consuming alcoholic beverages on K-12 school premises
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“Thank you, both, for your time and effort.”
I cannot begin to say how much I appreciate Tim and Morgan. Between the two of them, they made an extremely stressful situation very, very easy to deal with. No matter what I needed or the questions I had they were spot on, every time. The customer service part of this was the best I could have asked for. Nobody wants to be in a situation that they have to hire an attorney but if you ever do need to do so, don't hesitate calling Grimes & Associates. Competent, friendly, and will go above and beyond for you. Morgan, I appreciate you and your patience and clear communication. Tim, you're a rockstar. Thank you, both, for your time and effort.- Steve T. -
“Mr. Warren was amazing handling my divorce case”
Mr Warren was amazing handling my divorce case becasue of him and the staff im able to have this nightmare over. Also all the lady's in the office amazing the way they all cared and showed compassion to me through my whole case I couldn't have had a better firm. I highly highly recommend them there all so amazing.- Lynda T. -
“Don't know what I would've done without them.”
Grimes & Warren PLLC was a pleasure to work with. The team is no nonsense and keeps you informed. They help with any questions from start to finish. Thanks to the whole team, it was much easier to deal with the process. I don't know what I would've done without them. 5 Stars!- Robert M. -
“Charges dismissed without costs.”
Tim Warren is awesome! He managed to get the charges dismissed without costs. He is also very outgoing and friendly. I would recommended him anyone. If you're ever in trouble, call Grimes & Warren!- Amir D. -
“We knew we picked the best lawyer for the job.”
We want to thank Jeff Grimes and the entire team for taking on our case. They were able to get the charges dropped and we can breathe again. From the moment we interacted with Jeff and the team, we knew we picked the best lawyer for the job. Friendly, professional, and well-educated. We can't thank them enough and highly recommend the firm!- Stephanie M. -
“I’m so very thankful and also goes as far as to getting it expunged completely off your record.”
The whole team including Edina Sewell , Morgan beaird , and Amberlece are the best. I got caught up in some trouble and they came in with there cape to save the day . I’m so very thankful and also goes as far as to getting it expunged completely off your record . It’s like it never happened.- Tyre C. -
“Jeff Grimes is an absolute rockstar!”
Jeff Grimes is an absolute rockstar! I’ve had some not-so-great experiences with lawyers in the past, but when I found myself in trouble, Jeff was the first person I called. From the very first phone call, he was super open, honest, and set realistic expectations. I was already feeling good about hiring him, but at my arraignment, he did more for me than most lawyers do throughout the entire case. That’s when I knew I made the right decision. Edina (she was amazing and I’m so grateful for her honesty and calmness which helped with my nerves) and Jeff, along with everyone else I’ve worked with, have made me so happy I trusted them. For me it's not only about the resolution (I plead out) but the honesty and openness, so if you prefer that too then Jeff is your guy.- Derek F. -
“They exceeded my expectations and got me everything I needed.”
- Lisa S.I hired their law firm for a legal case and not only were they highly professional but always courteous and respectful. They exceeded my expectations and got me everything I needed. If I ever need legal services again I will definitely be choosing them in the future.
