How to Regain Your Rights After Losing Child Custody, Employment, Housing, Loans, and More
If you’ve been convicted of a crime, you know what it feels like to lose more than just your freedom. You lose opportunities. You lose dignity. You lose rights that most people take for granted every day. And that sucks.
But here’s the truth: You don’t have to stay stuck. With the help of Findley & Rogers, top expungement attorneys in Washington, you can begin your journey to get your life back. This blog will walk you through what you may have lost, what you can get back, and how clearing your criminal record is the key to unlocking it all.
What You May Have Lost
1. Child Custody
When you have a criminal record, judges may question your stability or your ability to provide a safe environment. That can impact your custody rights. It hurts. Badly. You miss birthdays. You miss the school plays. You miss out on just being a parent. The pain of not being fully present in your child's life is one of the hardest things someone can go through.
But the good news? Clearing your record can make a difference. Judges look at your record when making decisions about visitation and custody. When your record is expunged, you're showing the court that you’ve taken the steps to move forward.
2. Employment Opportunities
Most employers run background checks. Even if you’re qualified, your application might get tossed out because of one mistake from years ago. This can keep you stuck in low-paying jobs or joblessness, no matter how hard you work. That means missed promotions, lack of career growth, and the stress of living paycheck to paycheck.
When you expunge your record, those background checks come back clean. That opens doors to better jobs, higher wages, and a chance to do what you love without judgment.
3. Housing Access
Background checks can disqualify you from decent rentals. That means you may end up stuck in substandard housing or denied altogether. A clean record helps you get a lease in your name and a place you can proudly call home. It's more than just a roof, it's safety, stability, and a place for your kids to thrive.
4. Access to Loans and Financial Services
Criminal records can block you from getting a loan, credit card, or small business financing. Lenders may see you as a risk. But that can change. Expunging your record can improve your access to financial tools that help you get ahead in life. Whether you want to buy a car, start a business, or purchase your first home, clearing your record can be the first step toward financial freedom.
5. The Right to Own a Firearm
Whether it’s for hunting, sport, or personal protection, losing your gun rights feels like losing a part of your identity. Findley & Rogers can help you get those rights restored as part of the record-clearing process. For many, it's about restoring trust and personal safety.
6. The Right to Vote or Serve on a Jury
Civic rights matter. They’re part of being respected and heard in your community. Losing the right to vote or serve on a jury can make you feel invisible. When your voice and your opinion no longer count, it feels like you’ve lost part of your citizenship.
But It Doesn’t Have to Stay This Way
At Findley & Rogers, we believe your past should not define your future. That’s why we help people:
Expunge old convictions
Vacate eligible charges
Seal juvenile and adult records
Restore gun rights
Appeal background check denials (including FBI NICS)
We are among the best expungement lawyers in Washington State, known for:
Flat, affordable pricing
Fast and friendly service
Working directly with you, no court appearance required
Hundreds of successful cases
Our clients call us life-changers. Here’s why:
"Findley and Rogers helped me get a new start in life. After I was denied by several other law firms over the years, these people helped me restore my civil rights. I definitely recommend this company to anyone who is done being denied employment and social opportunities because of simple mistakes made in the past.”
- Dan
“Look no further! If you need your rights restored and just can't seem to navigate the legal system on your own (like me) this is the place for you. I got my rights restored in the most courteous, informative, and professional way possible. For real, I've never had such a pleasant legal experience.”
- Aaron
“I had a criminal charge from nearly 24 years ago still biting me after all this time, and the team at Findley & Rogers got it vacated in less than 3 months! Fletcher was easy to talk to, professional, and right to the point.”
- Nathan
Your Path to Getting Your Rights Back
Step 1: Make Sure All Court Fines Are Paid
If you still owe money to the court, start paying it down. You can’t expunge a record until all financial obligations are met. Start small if you must, but start now. Every payment is progress. You may feel overwhelmed by the interest that has accrued on your case, but in many situations, that interest can be waived; the expungement attorneys at Findley and Rogers can help!
Step 2: Complete All Sentencing Requirements
Finish any probation, community service, classes, or jail time ordered by the court. It’s hard work, but it’s part of proving to the system that you’re serious about moving forward.
Step 3: Wait It Out
There is a mandatory waiting period based on your charge. For example:
Class C Felony: 5 years
Class B Felony: 10 years
Misdemeanor: 3–5 years
That waiting period is tough. It feels like you're in limbo. But remember: it’s not forever. And once it's passed, you're ready for the next step.
Step 4: Stay Out of Trouble
Any new charges during the waiting period can restart the clock. Stay focused and clean. This time is your chance to rebuild, make new memories, and prove that your past doesn’t define your future.
Step 5: Hire a Top Attorney for Expungement
That’s where we come in. We handle all the legal paperwork. We guide you every step of the way. And we fight to make sure the court sees how far you’ve come. We don’t just file papers, we tell your story.
What Life Looks Like After You Clear Your Record
You can get hired more easily. Real jobs, better pay.
You can sign a lease. No more shady landlords.
You can rebuild your credit. You can qualify for a car, a loan, even a home.
You get to be present. At your kids' school, in your community, at the polls.
You can feel whole again.
You Deserve to Be Free From the Past
You are not your record. You are not your worst moment. And you have a right to move forward.
Let Findley & Rogers be your advocate, your guide, and your team. We are the criminal record attorneys who care. We help people all over Washington State seal and expunge their records so they can start again. Clean.
Contact us today for a free consultation. Let’s start clearing your record and restoring your rights.
