Answers about Arizona record relief

Is Seal My Record Now a law firm?

No. Seal My Record Now is a service of BR Center LLC d/b/a Seal My Record Now. We are a document preparation service, not a law firm. We don't represent you in court, give legal advice, or create attorney-client relationships. If you need legal advice, hire a licensed Arizona attorney.

Who built this?

Michael Tamou — an Arizona and Missouri licensed criminal defense attorney, founder of Tamou Law Group PLLC. Mike built Seal My Record Now after seeing thousands of people who qualified for record relief but couldn't afford the $1,500-$5,000 attorney fees to file. Read his story on the About page.

Are you affiliated with Tamou Law Group?

Mike Tamou is the founder of both. They are separate entities for legal compliance. Tamou Law Group PLLC is a law firm that provides legal representation. Seal My Record Now (BR Center LLC) is a software product that prepares court documents. The two don't share staff, don't share files, and don't refer cases to each other unless you specifically ask.

Where is the company located?

BR Center LLC d/b/a Seal My Record Now
3820 W. Happy Valley Rd., Suite 141-475
Glendale, AZ 85310

How do I contact you?

Email: support@sealmyrecordnow.com (general) · refunds@sealmyrecordnow.com · privacy@sealmyrecordnow.com
Phone: (480) 923-7570

How long does the screening take?

About 3 minutes. The questions adapt to your case so you don't see anything irrelevant.

Do I need to create an account to take the screening?

No. The screening is free, takes no signup, and runs entirely in your browser. You only create an account if you want to save your results or proceed to filing.

When do I have to pay?

You pay only when you submit your case detail form for packet generation. Until that moment, everything is free — including the screening, account creation, and case detail form save-as-you-go.

What payment methods do you accept?

Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) processed by Stripe. We don't store your payment information.

What's your refund policy?

Full refund if your packet fails to generate after payment. No refund on petitions that are filed and denied (the work was done; the court's decision is independent). One complimentary re-screening for denial cures. Full policy: /refund-policy.

Can I file on behalf of someone else?

Generally no — Arizona law requires the affected person to sign the petition. Family members and attorneys can fill out the case detail form, but the petitioner must sign before filing.

How do I know which path applies to my case?

Take the free screening. It evaluates your case against all current Arizona statutes and tells you which paths apply. Most people qualify for more than one — we tell you the optimal filing strategy.

Can I qualify for record relief if I have multiple convictions?

Yes, in many cases. Recent statutory changes (SB 1639 in 2024) softened restrictions on prior convictions. Each case requires its own petition.

Can I qualify if I'm still on probation?

Generally no — most paths require completion of probation. Exceptions: marijuana expungement under § 36-2862 has no sentence-completion requirement. The screening will tell you what applies.

Do I have to live in Arizona?

The conviction must be from Arizona (or you must currently reside in Arizona for some out-of-state conviction paths). If you've moved out of state but were convicted in AZ, you can still file.

Are out-of-state convictions eligible?

For civil rights restoration: yes, file in your AZ county of residence under § 13-908. For sealing, set-aside, and firearm rights: typically no — you'd need to seek relief in the convicting state.

Can I clear a federal conviction?

Civil rights restoration: limited paths under § 13-908. Firearm rights: usually requires a Presidential pardon. Sealing/set-aside: not under Arizona law for federal cases.

How long does it take from filing to a decision?

Depends on the relief and the county. Typical ranges:
· Marijuana expungement: 30-90 days
· Class 6 designation: 30-90 days
· Set-aside: 30-120 days
· Civil rights (auto-restoration confirmation): 30-90 days
· Civil rights (§ 13-908 application): 60-150 days
· Firearm rights (§ 13-910 application): 60-180 days
· Sealing (§ 13-911): 60-150 days
· Admin Per Se expungement: 30-60 days (administrative, not court)

Will I have to go to court?

Most petitions are decided without a hearing by the judge on the papers. If a hearing is set, you'll receive notice by mail. You appear yourself (we don't represent you) or hire an attorney for the hearing.

Do I need to gather documents myself?

Yes. You need to obtain things like the Discharge from Probation, Certificate of Absolute Discharge, payment history from the clerk, and (for Admin Per Se) certified court abstracts from the court. We give you a checklist with exactly what to ask for and where, but the documents themselves come from agencies, not us.

What if my petition is denied?

The judge issues a written order explaining the denial reason. Common reasons (and cures): outstanding restitution → pay, refile; incomplete sentence terms → complete, refile; subsequent conviction → wait, refile.

For sealing under § 13-911, you must wait 3 years from denial before refiling. Other remedies have no statutory wait.

What's the difference between sealing and set-aside?

Sealing under § 13-911 hides your record from public view. Set-aside under § 13-905 vacates the judgment of guilt but the record stays visible (with an annotation). Many people qualify for both and file them together for maximum effect.

What's the difference between sealing and expungement?

Arizona's only true expungement law (§ 36-2862) applies only to qualifying marijuana offenses. For everything else, "expungement" in Arizona means sealing. The terminology is confusing because other states use "expungement" for what AZ calls sealing.

Are DUI convictions eligible?

Set-aside (§ 13-905): No. Excluded by § 13-905(P)(5).
Sealing (§ 13-911): Yes — eligible after the standard waiting period.
Marijuana expungement (§ 36-2862): No — that statute is for marijuana offenses only.
Admin Per Se expungement (§ 28-3004): Yes — if your DUI was dismissed, acquitted, or no charges were ever filed.

Are dangerous offenses eligible?

Generally no. Dangerous offenses (use of deadly weapon or knowing infliction of serious physical injury under § 13-704) are excluded from set-aside, sealing, and firearm rights restoration. Civil rights restoration is sometimes still available under § 13-908 (discretionary).

Are sex offenses eligible?

Sex-registration offenses under § 13-3821 and offenses with a sexual-motivation finding under § 13-118 are excluded from set-aside and sealing. Some other sex-related offenses may be eligible. The screening evaluates your specific offense.

Will you share my information with anyone?

No. We don't sell, rent, or share customer data with third parties for marketing purposes. We use Stripe for payment processing and Resend for email delivery — both are subject to strict data-handling contracts. Full policy: /privacy.

Will my employer find out I used your service?

No. Our service doesn't show up on background checks. The petition you file IS public record (court filings always are), but the petition is what would be public anyway if you filed pro se. Using us doesn't add to your visibility.

How long do you keep my data?

Active accounts: as long as you keep the account. Closed accounts: 7 years for tax/legal record-keeping, then deleted. You can request earlier deletion under our privacy policy.