Clean Slate Virginia focuses exclusively on expungements, record sealing, and firearm rights restoration. We represent clients throughout Arlington County and Northern Virginia and are actively preparing for the expanded relief available under Virginia’s new record sealing law on July 1, 2026.

Arlington County Circuit Court: What to Know Before You File

The Arlington County Circuit Court is located at 1425 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 6700. The Clerk’s Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The court serves both Arlington County and the City of Falls Church under an interjurisdictional agreement, so charges originating in either jurisdiction are handled here.

A few practical details worth knowing in advance:

• The Walter T. McCarthy Law Library is located within the courthouse complex and has petition forms and relevant Virginia Code sections available for review.
• Remote hearing requests are available for certain matters and can be submitted through the Clerk’s Office.
• The court participates in the Virginia Judiciary E-Filing System (VJEFS) for certain filing types. Confirm with the Clerk’s Office whether your petition qualifies for electronic submission.
• Arlington County holds annual expungement clinics in partnership with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Clerk’s Office, and community organizations. These clinics are designed for straightforward cases and are not a substitute for legal representation in contested or complex matters.

Arlington’s Expungement Process: How It Works

Unlike several other Virginia jurisdictions where uncontested expungements can be resolved without a court appearance, Arlington requires a hearing in every expungement case. Every petition goes before a judge, the Commonwealth’s Attorney participates, and the court makes a determination on the record.

The process works as follows:

• You obtain four copies of the warrant of arrest or charge document and prepare four copies of the Petition for Expungement. The original petition may be signed by a deputy clerk or notarized.
• One copy of the petition and the warrant is served on the Commonwealth’s Attorney. One copy goes to the law enforcement agency handling your fingerprints. Two copies are retained by the petitioner.
• Fingerprinting is handled by the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, located on the 9th floor of 1425 N. Courthouse Road. Fingerprint requests are processed Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A valid driver’s license, government-issued ID, or U.S. passport is required. The cost is $15.00, payable in cash only.
• The law enforcement agency forwards your fingerprint card and a copy of the petition to the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE), which conducts a criminal history search and returns the results to the court.
• Hearings are scheduled twelve weeks out from the date of filing on the Civil Motions docket. Expungement motions are heard on Fridays at 10:00 a.m.

The twelve-week scheduling window is worth factoring in early, particularly for anyone facing a pending employment decision, housing application, or professional licensing review.

Eligibility and the Legal Standard in Arlington

Under Virginia Code 19.2-392.2, a charge may be eligible for expungement when the case resulted in an acquittal, nolle prosequi, dismissal (excluding certain deferred disposition outcomes), absolute pardon, or a case of mistaken identity. The standard the court applies depends on how the charge was classified:

• For misdemeanor charges that were dismissed or nolle prossed, a petitioner with no prior criminal record is generally entitled to expungement. The Commonwealth bears the burden of showing good cause to oppose it.
• For felony charges, the burden is on the petitioner to demonstrate that continued public access to the arrest record causes or may cause a manifest injustice. This requires concrete documentation of harm to employment, housing, professional licensing, or comparable interests. Many Arlington residents work in federal agencies, national security, or other fields where a background check finding can have significant career consequences, which often provides strong factual support for this showing.
• Deferred disposition dismissals under statutes such as Virginia Code 18.2-251 are not eligible for expungement under current law, because they are conditioned on a finding that sufficient evidence of guilt exists.

Expungement vs. Record Sealing in Arlington

Expungement under current Virginia law applies to non-convictions: charges that were dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in acquittal, as well as cases involving identity theft or absolute pardons. Once granted, the records are removed from public court and police files. Virginia Code 19.2-392.4 prohibits employers and state agencies from asking about an expunged charge, and you may lawfully deny that the arrest occurred.

Record sealing, beginning July 1, 2026, extends relief to certain convictions for the first time in Virginia. Eligible offenses include many misdemeanor convictions and certain Class 5 and Class 6 felonies, subject to mandatory waiting periods and eligibility criteria. Sealed records are not destroyed but are removed from the public-facing databases used by most employers, landlords, and licensing agencies.

Arlington County has not yet finalized local procedures for record sealing petitions under the new law. Given the court’s current framework of mandatory hearings and 12-week scheduling windows, petitioners should expect a comparable level of preparation and procedure once the law takes effect.

Preparing Now for Virginia’s New Record Sealing Law (Effective July 1, 2026)

Clean Slate Virginia is already working with Arlington clients to evaluate eligibility and build case files ahead of the July 1, 2026 effective date. The twelve-week hearing schedule may carry over to record sealing petitions, which means starting early matters.

Reach out now if any of the following apply to you:

• You have a prior conviction you believe may qualify for sealing under the new law
• You have a dismissed charge or acquittal that continues to appear on background checks
• You work in a field requiring a security clearance, federal employment eligibility, or professional licensure, and a record is affecting your opportunities
• You have multiple charges from one incident or different cases and are unsure where to begin
• You have questions about waiting periods, restitution, or how recent probation completion affects your eligibility

Speak With an Arlington County Expungement and Record Sealing Lawyer

If you are ready to move forward on clearing your record in Arlington County, working with a lawyer who understands the mandatory hearing requirement, the 12-week docket cycle, and the specific practices of the 17th Judicial Circuit puts you in the strongest position for a successful outcome.

Clean Slate Virginia concentrates exclusively on:

• Expungements
• Record sealing under Virginia’s 2026 law
• Firearm rights restoration

Contact Clean Slate Virginia today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward clearing your record in Arlington County.