Petition for Nondisclosure

Clear Your Record. Reclaim Your Future.

When you’ve completed deferred adjudication for certain criminal offenses in Texas, your case may still show up in background checks, limiting your opportunities in employment, housing, licensing, and beyond. At Looney Smith Conrad & Hefti P.C., our experienced Petition for Nondisclosure attorneys help Texans seal eligible criminal records and move forward without the weight of a public record.

For decades, trial attorney Paul Looney has fought for client rights with unmatched results—60 criminal jury trials and zero final convictions between 1995 and 2024.

Call (281) 597-8818 for a consultation today!

What Is a Petition for Nondisclosure?

A Petition for Nondisclosure allows individuals who have successfully completed deferred adjudication to seal their criminal records from public access. Unlike expunctions, nondisclosure applies when a case was dismissed after probation rather than dropped outright or won at trial.

Without a court-approved nondisclosure, your criminal records—including arrest, plea, and probation—remain available to employers, landlords, licensing boards, and background check agencies.

Eligibility

Not everyone qualifies for a Petition for Nondisclosure. Our first step will be reviewing your case with you to determine if you are eligible for an order of nondisclosure. This entails reviewing the charged offense, reviewing the case disposition, reviewing the applicable waiting periods, and reviewing your record since the charged offense.

The Legal Process: What to Expect

Filing a Petition for Nondisclosure involves more than just paperwork. You must:

  1. File in the same court under the original case number
  2. Prove eligibility, show it is in “the best interest of justice”
  3. Attend a hearing (if required) and present your case
  4. If granted, the court issues an order of nondisclosure
  5. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) distributes the order to applicable agencies

Agencies that receive the order must remove your records from public access, though law enforcement and licensing boards may retain access.

What’s the Difference Between Expunction and Nondisclosure?

Expunction: Erases all record of arrest and charges (usually for dismissed cases or not guilty verdicts)

Nondisclosure: Seals the record from the public (usually after successful deferred adjudication)

Why Choose Looney Smith Conrad & Hefti P.C.?

Rebuild Your Life with Confidence

You deserve a second chance. If your past is following you despite successfully completing probation, let us help seal your record and protect your future. We’re here to offer guidance on your Petition for Nondisclosure.