Expunging or sealing records

questions & answers

Question: I was convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge and have finished all of my sentencing and have had my charges set aside. What else must I do to restore my gun rights?

Answer: To restore these rights, a person would file a request with the Superior Court in the county where the conviction occurred. For a federal conviction, a person would submit an application to the Superior Court in the county where that person lives. Instructions for setting aside a conviction, restoring civil rights, and restoring gun rights can be found at the following websites:

•Coconino County: http://www.coconino.az.gov/lawlibrary.aspx?id=19434


•Maricopa County: http://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/faxondemand/300.pdf


If the county in which the person was convicted does not have these forms online, contact the Clerk’s Office in the county where the conviction occurred to see which forms could be used. Contact information for County Superior Court Clerks can be found at http://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/CNTYCLKSLSTMASTER2.pdf or at http://www.azsos.gov/business_services/notary/AZClerks.htm .

Remember that the instructions and the legal forms may use the “set-aside” language used in the statutes or it may use the words “vacate the judgment of guilt.” The words in the statute, “set aside judgment,” have the same meaning as the words used in the instructions and on the form “vacate judgment of guilt and dismiss charges”.