The client had already set aside an older Class 1 misdemeanor conviction years earlier. The record still surfaced on background checks. Future First won a Surprise Sealing Records order under ARS § 13-911 to close the case for good.
At a glance
| Original conviction | Threatening or intimidating (ARS § 13-1202), a Class 1 misdemeanor, 2016 |
| Application filed | Petition to seal criminal case records under ARS § 13-911, 2025 |
| Court | Surprise Municipal Court |
| Result | All arrest, charging, and case records sealed |
| Rights restored | Not applicable, misdemeanor conviction |
| Time from application to grant | 96 days from application filing to granted |
The challenge
The client had previously secured a set aside on this older Class 1 misdemeanor through prior counsel. A set aside changes how a conviction reads, but it does not remove the record. The arrest, the charging documents, and the case file all remained in public and law-enforcement databases, and they still showed up on employment and housing screens.
The client wanted the case sealed, not just set aside, so it would stop reaching into decisions made years after the matter had closed.
What we did
Future First handled the next step: sealing the records under ARS § 13-911 in Surprise Municipal Court. We showed the court that the offense was eligible, that the required time had passed, and that the client had completed every term of the sentence and paid every obligation.
The court granted the petition and ordered the clerk to seal all records relating to the arrest, the charging documents, and the case, and to transmit the order to the Department of Public Safety and the prosecutor. The grant came 96 days after filing. The older case is now closed to public background checks.
What our clients say
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If you have an old conviction in Arizona
Sealing under ARS § 13-911 reaches further than a set aside. A granted petition seals the arrest record, the charging documents, and the court case file, so the offense stops appearing on most background checks. A conviction that was set aside years ago can still be sealed as a separate step.
The wait runs from the completion of the sentence, and the required period depends on the offense class. If you already have a set aside in place, sealing is often the last move that closes the record entirely. The filings are exact, and the prosecutor gets a chance to respond.
Related resources
Call us
Want to clear your record in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-900-7625 or request a free consultation. We have handled hundreds of Arizona record removal applications across every statute path. The cleanup is permanent and the process moves faster when handled by a firm that knows the local court.
Anonymized in line with firm policy. Client name not used. Specific dates approximated to year only. Outcome described reflects this client’s actual results. Past outcomes do not guarantee future results. For more detailed information on Arizona record removal law, visit the Arizona State Legislature website.
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