Designate to Misdemeanor
Designate to Misdemeanor in Arizona ARS 13-604
If your felony was left undesignated as a class 6 felony at sentencing, Arizona law lets you ask the court to designate it as a class 1 misdemeanor under A.R.S. § 13-604. Once granted, the conviction is treated as a misdemeanor going forward, which removes the felony label, restores civil and firearm rights tied to felony status, and strengthens your standing for employment, housing, and licensing.
Designation applies only to undesignated class 6 felonies. It does not apply to designated felonies, higher-class felonies, or dangerous offenses. When your sentencing order left the class undesignated, designation is one of the most powerful ways to undo the felony consequences of your case.
Minimum Required Information:
- Court Name:
- Case Number:
- Charges:
- Month/Day/Year of Crime:
- Anything Else We Should Know About Your Life:
- Full Legal Name:
- Date of Birth:
- Phone Number:
- Email:
- Mailing Address:
The law firm handles the rest of the motions and court appearances.
Legal Benefits:
- Converts a class 6 felony into a class 1 misdemeanor
- Cuts your record sealing wait from five years to three, since a class 1 misdemeanor seals faster than a class 6 felony (see our Sealing Records page)
- Best done at the same time you terminate probation early, so you reduce the felony and start the shorter sealing clock as soon as possible (see our Terminate Probation Early page)
- Removes convicted-felon status going forward
- Restores civil and firearm rights tied to felony status
- Strengthens employment, housing, and professional licensing applications
- Reflected in DPS criminal history once the court orders it
Eligible:
- Class 6 felony left undesignated at sentencing
- Probation or sentence completed
- No new pending charges
Approval Process:
- Application filed with the sentencing court; the judge has discretion to grant or deny
- Reviewed for accuracy before filing and commonly filed within 30 days of hiring the firm
- Decision timelines vary by court, often a few weeks to a couple of months
Legal Factors:
- Nature and circumstances of the offense
- Completion of probation without issues
- Prior criminal history and/or new cases
- Victim input
- Length of time that has passed since completion of sentence
- Age of defendant at the time of the offense
- Any other relevant helpful information (mitigation)
Limitations:
- Does not seal or erase the record (see our Sealing Records page to do that)
- No effect on driving records or insurance
- Does not remove data background companies already saved (sealing limits future access, see our Sealing Records page)
- Applies only to undesignated class 6 felonies
Not Eligible Cases:
- Designated felonies (the class is already set)
- Class 1 through 5 felonies
- Dangerous or serious offenses
- Any case where the court did not leave the class undesignated
Designate Felony to Misdemeanor Attorney
Designating a class 6 felony to a misdemeanor under A.R.S. § 13-604 takes more than a request. The judge has discretion, and a strong application shows your compliance, your completion of probation, and why a misdemeanor is the just result.
Timing matters. Designating at the same time you terminate probation early reduces the felony and starts the shorter three-year sealing clock as soon as possible, so your record-clearing timeline moves up.
If you are ready to reduce your felony, call 602-900-7625 or send us a message to get started at AZ Record Removal today.