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608 West 12th Street, Suite B Austin, TX 78701
Georgetown Location
706 Rock St, Georgetown, TX 78626
512-369-3737
get directions Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case. Each case depends on its own facts, the applicable law, and the discretion of the prosecutors and courts involved.
In Texas, clearing your arrest record is a legal process called expunction — commonly known as expunction in most other states. At the Law Office of David D. White, expunction and nondisclosure petitions are handled in-house by Kenneth Hines, who leads the firm’s expunction practice. Travis County expunctions start at $1,900. Outside Travis, $2,500.
Starting at $1,900
Covers the petition, the filing fee, the hearing, and the certified copies of the final order. Complex cases may require a higher fee, quoted at the consultation.
Starting at $2,500
Covers the petition, the filing fee, the hearing, and the certified copies of the final order. Applies in Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, and Comal counties. Complex cases may require a higher fee, quoted at the consultation.
Different charges follow different statutory paths to expunction. Two areas where the rules are particularly specific:
DWI expunction in Texas — Texas does not allow deferred adjudication for DWI, which means a DWI plea is a conviction and a conviction cannot be expunged. The expunction path on a DWI runs through dismissal, acquittal, or non-charge after the statute of limitations.
Dismissed charges and what comes next — A dismissal ends the prosecution. It does not destroy the record. Until a judge signs an expunction order under Article 55A.101, the arrest, charge, and disposition remain searchable at DPS, on the court docket, in district attorney files, and across commercial background-check databases.
Expunction vs. non-disclosure in Texas — Different statutes, different remedies. Expunction destroys the record under Article 55A.101; non-disclosure seals it under Government Code Chapter 411, Subchapter E-1. The eligibility rules determine which one your case qualifies for.
Kenneth Hines leads expunction filings at the firm. Flat fee. Travis County: starting at $1,900. Outside Travis: starting at $2,500. Counties we routinely file in: Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bell, Burnet, Gillespie, Blanco, Bastrop, Caldwell, Comal. (512) 369-3737. Available 24 hours.
Chapter 55A of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (renumbered from Chapter 55 in the 2023 re-codification) lists the situations where a person can petition for expunction. The most common qualifying situations at this firm:
Case dismissed. The charge was dismissed and the statute of limitations has passed, or the dismissal was the result of a successful pretrial diversion program.
Not guilty at trial. A judge or jury found you not guilty.
Arrest without charges filed. You were arrested but the prosecutor never filed charges, and the statute of limitations has run.
Acquittal on appeal. You were convicted, then acquitted on appeal.
Pardon. The Governor granted a full pardon based on actual innocence.
Identity theft arrest. Someone used your identity when they were arrested.
Most convictions cannot be expunged. Most deferred adjudications cannot be expunged either. For those situations, a nondisclosure filing is usually the right remedy.
An expunction destroys the record. A nondisclosure seals the record from public view but does not destroy it. The two remedies apply to different situations.
File an expunction when the case ended in your favor. Dismissal, acquittal, no-filed charges, or pardon.
File a nondisclosure when you completed a deferred adjudication successfully, or after a waiting period following certain convictions. Nondisclosure is not available for DWI with a BAC of 0.15 or higher and is not available for most family violence offenses. Texas Government Code Chapter 411, Subchapter E-1 lists the specific eligibility rules.
Kenneth will confirm in the consultation which remedy applies. The two filings are different and the fee structure for a nondisclosure varies by offense class. Ask in the consultation.
The process moves in four steps.
1. Consultation. Free, confidential, and usually 30 minutes. Bring the disposition paperwork if you have it, or the case number. Kenneth confirms eligibility, quotes the fee, and explains the timeline for the county your case was in.
2. Petition drafted and filed. Once you retain the firm, the petition is drafted within one week. It is filed the same day it is ready. The filing triggers a hearing date set by the court.
3. Hearing. Most expunction hearings are uncontested. The firm appears on your behalf. Your presence is usually not required. Some counties hold hearings within 30 to 60 days of filing. Travis County is generally faster than the surrounding counties.
4. Final order and distribution. The court signs the order of expunction. The firm sends certified copies to every law enforcement agency and government database that holds a record of the arrest. Destruction of the records is legally required within a set period after receipt of the order.
Travis County. Most cases move from intake to final order in 3 to 5 months.
Williamson County. Most cases move from intake to final order in 4 to 6 months.
Hays County. Most cases move from intake to final order in 4 to 7 months.
Timelines vary based on court calendars, agency response times, and whether any party contests the petition. Kenneth will estimate based on current court conditions in the consultation.
Kenneth Hines leads the expunction and nondisclosure practice at the firm. He handles each case from intake through final order. You will know the attorney working your case. You will not be routed to a paralegal after the initial consultation.
The firm’s paralegal, Christi, handles the administrative coordination with law enforcement agencies after the order is signed, so that certified copies reach every agency that holds a record of your arrest.
Usually no. Most expunction hearings are uncontested, and the firm appears on your behalf. Kenneth will tell you in advance if your case is one of the exceptions.
After the order is signed and the firm distributes certified copies to the relevant agencies, the arrest is destroyed from the databases those agencies maintain. Legitimate background checks will not return the record. The firm sends the certified copies to every agency listed in the petition, including DPS, the arresting agency, the prosecutor’s office, and the county and district clerks.
No. A DWI conviction cannot be expunged in Texas. A DWI that was dismissed or resulted in acquittal can be expunged. Some DWI deferred adjudications may be eligible for nondisclosure after a waiting period, but most DWI offenses are excluded from nondisclosure entirely. Kenneth will confirm eligibility in the consultation.
Each arrest is evaluated separately. Some may qualify for expunction, some for nondisclosure, and some may not qualify for either. The consultation covers all of them. Fees are quoted per arrest, not per consultation.
Kenneth Hines is a licensed Texas attorney who handles each case personally. You will speak with the attorney working your case. The fee is quoted and agreed at the time of hire, and no fee is owed until you retain the firm. The firm does not add service charges, administrative fees, or retainer top-ups mid-case.
Kenneth Hines meets with every prospective expunction client personally. The consultation is free and confidential. 30 minutes. In-person at the Austin or Georgetown office, or by phone.
Call 512-369-3737
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Wow! Mr. David White is truly AMAZING. He was very professional and focused on every detail. David was honest and straight forward from the very beginning. I felt like the system failed me, and David righted that by taking on this case with an incredible presentation of facts. He was very persistent and determined throughout the whole process. This was a big win for my family and I. We are very grateful to have such an great attorney In our corner.
We Cannot Thank David Enough
I dealt with David around 2011 for a DWI in Austin. He was really effective with my case at hand and guided me through the whole process with ease and Peace of mind. Thank you again.
Strongly Recommend David White
I called David last August after my daughter got a minor in possession while away in college. My wife & I were terrified that this mistake might cost our daughter dearly. Luckily for us, we found David to take care of this for us. He walked us through the process during the initial free consultation. Several months later the case was dismissed and ultimately expunged. We cannot thank David enough for all his help in protecting our daughters future!
Charge: Driving While Intoxicated-2nd
Result: Dismissed after Motion to Suppress Illegally Obtained Evidence Granted.
Allegations: Client pulled over after swerving
several times into adjacent lane. Client had strong odor of alcohol, slurred speech, bloodshot and watery eyes and was swaying…read more
*The results discussed here are not necessarily representative of the results achieved in all cases. The facts and circumstances of each case is different and must be evaluated on its own merit.
This page was written and reviewed by the attorneys at the Law Office of David D. White, PLLC, following our editorial guidelines. The firm has practiced criminal defense exclusively since 2004 across Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell, Lee, Coryell, Bell, Burnet, Milam, and Bastrop County courts. The firm’s three attorneys — David White (managing attorney, practicing criminal defense exclusively since 2004), Kenneth Hines (associate, practicing Caldwell County courts since 2008; former General Counsel to the Texas Senate Jurisprudence Committee, 2010–2012), and Taylor Kacir (associate; former Senior Misdemeanor County Attorney, Bell County Attorney’s Office) — work each case as a team via weekly case reviews and shared Clio notes.
608 West 12th Street, Suite B Austin, TX 78701
706 Rock St, Georgetown, TX 78626
512-369-3737
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