Fort Collins Expungement Lawyers — Record Sealing in Larimer County
A criminal record in Fort Collins limits opportunities in ways that many people don’t fully anticipate until they’re living with the consequences — rejected job applications in the region’s technology and clean energy sectors, blocked professional licensing, denied housing in a competitive rental market, and a background check that keeps surfacing when it matters most. Colorado’s expanded record sealing statutes offer real and meaningful relief for many Fort Collins and Larimer County residents — often more relief than people realize is available. Burnham Law’s Fort Collins record sealing attorneys evaluate eligibility across the full record, handle petitions in Larimer County District Court, and follow through on every required step to make sure the sealing actually takes effect across all relevant systems.
Meet our Fort Collins criminal defense team below — attorneys experienced in Colorado record sealing and expungement petitions in Larimer County and throughout Colorado.
Jeremy Wooten, is a seasoned trial attorney who specializes in criminal defense and family law, leveraging a wealth of experience honed over five years at the Colorado State Public Defenders’ Office. Rising to Senior Deputy Public Defender, he successfully managed a diverse caseload, including serious charges like first-degree homicide, drug distribution, and economic crimes, always maintaining an unwavering commitment to client advocacy. Licensed in both Texas and Colorado, Jeremy's legal expertise is defined by strategic planning—meticulously crafting and executing well-thought-out trial strategies—and remarkable resourcefulness in finding innovative solutions to complex legal challenges in both the criminal and family law arenas. His practice is characterized by agile, client-centered advocacy, which relies on adaptability, active listening, and quick thinking essential for effective trial work. Jeremy prioritizes thoroughly understanding his clients' objectives and adapting his strategies dynamically to the evolving nature of trials. His resilience and strategic agility allow him to confidently navigate unexpected developments in the courtroom, ensuring each case is expertly...
Julian Rosielle has been licensed to practice law in Colorado since 2006. Julian is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law, where he was on the Dean’s List and an associate editor of the University of Colorado Law Review. Julian practiced exclusively in the area of criminal law for the first thirteen years of his career and has several notable case outcomes to include not guilty verdicts on charges of homicide and assault. Julian has extensive trial experience, ranging from Death Penalty cases to misdemeanor domestic violence to driving under the influence. Beginning in 2019, Julian’s practice has expanded to include domestic relations litigation and civil protection orders. Julian has lived in Colorado since 2004 and when not in Court enjoys hiking with his family and dogs.
Kate strives to have a client-oriented practice where she can assist her clients in all stages of litigation. Prior to joining Burnham, Kate was an associate at an AmLaw Firm where she worked on various types of complex litigation representing large corporations, municipalities, and individuals. Before going into private practice, Kate was an Assistant Public Defender in Miami-Dade County where she tried over twenty cases. Kate has been able to develop a well-rounded practice by working in both the private and public sectors. Kate has honed her skill sets from her prior experience so she can be a zealous advocate for her clients. In her spare time, Kate enjoys spending time with her husband in the outdoors, traveling, and visiting family.
Miguel C. Mondragon is a tenacious and dedicated attorney who is fiercely committed to his clients and their legal outcomes. Recognizing that clients facing divorce or criminal charges are often in their most vulnerable state, Miguel acts as a passionate advocate, ensuring they have a voice within the legal system. Growing up in southern Colorado, Miguel developed a strong work ethic by working in construction, lumber, and brickyards while attending college. Before becoming an attorney, his interest in law was sparked by his work within the Larimer County Corrections system. While attending the University of South Dakota School of Law, he gained valuable experience working with East River Legal Services, the Colorado State Public Defenders Office, and Samuelson Law. Upon graduation, Miguel honed his skills first as a solo practitioner, then at Weaver & Associates, P.C., before founding Mondragon Law, where he specialized in criminal defense and family law. He brings this deep experience and tenacity to his current role...
Record Sealing in Colorado
Colorado uses “record sealing” rather than “expungement” for most adult criminal records. A sealed record is not destroyed — it is hidden from public view and does not appear in standard background checks that most employers, landlords, and licensing agencies rely on. Law enforcement, courts, and certain government agencies retain access to sealed records. True expungement (record destruction) is available in Colorado primarily for juvenile adjudications and certain civil infractions. For adult criminal records, sealing is the available and effective remedy.
Colorado’s sealing statutes were substantially expanded by House Bill 19-1275 and subsequent legislation, making more offense types and more people eligible than ever before. Arrests that did not result in conviction can generally be sealed immediately. Dismissed charges and acquittals can be sealed immediately. Successfully completed diversion agreements and deferred judgments can be sealed after applicable waiting periods. Convictions — depending on the offense type — can be sealed after waiting periods ranging from one to ten years following completion of the sentence.
Fort Collins’ specific community creates particular record sealing priorities. CSU students or recent graduates with a record from their university years have urgent motivation to seal records before entering the job market or applying to graduate programs. Professionals in Fort Collins’ technology, clean energy, healthcare, and education sectors face specific licensing board inquiries that make sealing particularly valuable. And Fort Collins’ competitive rental housing market means even old records can affect housing access in ways that motivate sealing petitions years after the original case.
What Our Fort Collins Record Sealing Attorneys Handle
Arrests without conviction: If you were arrested but not charged, or charged but the case was dismissed or you were acquitted, you are typically eligible to seal the record immediately. These are often the highest-priority petitions — arrest records without conviction still appear in background checks and affect employment and housing opportunities in Fort Collins’ competitive market.
Diversion and deferred judgment records: Successfully completed diversion agreements and deferred judgments can typically be sealed after applicable waiting periods. We handle the petition process in Larimer County District Court and ensure all timing and procedural requirements are met.
Conviction records: Many Colorado misdemeanor and felony convictions are now sealable after waiting periods following completion of the sentence. We evaluate specific convictions against current Colorado law, identify everything that is sealable, and handle the full petition process.
CSU student and recent graduate records: Young adults with records from their time at or near CSU have urgent reasons to address criminal records before entering the job market, applying to graduate or professional programs, or pursuing licensed careers. We prioritize these cases and move efficiently through the petition process.
Technology and professional sector records: Fort Collins’ technology and clean energy sector employers conduct thorough background checks, and professional licensing boards in engineering, healthcare, and education review criminal records carefully. We approach record sealing for professional clients with specific attention to the licensing and employment consequences they’re trying to address.
How Record Sealing Works in Larimer County
Record sealing petitions for Larimer County cases are filed in Larimer County District Court. The petition must identify the specific case, the legal basis for eligibility, and include required certifications. Once filed, the prosecution has an opportunity to object. For arrests without conviction and older, less serious convictions, the Larimer County DA’s office typically does not object, and the court grants the petition without a hearing.
When the DA does object, a hearing is scheduled and both sides present argument. The court applies Colorado’s interest of justice balancing test — weighing the petitioner’s interest in sealing against any public interest in the record remaining accessible. The strength of the petitioner’s presentation — their rehabilitation evidence, the specific impact of the record on their employment and housing, and the time elapsed since the offense — significantly affects the court’s analysis in Larimer County.
After the sealing order is entered, notification must go to all relevant repositories — the court, the arresting agency, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and any other entity with the record. We follow through on all required notifications to ensure actual sealing across all systems. A sealing order without proper follow-through notifications can result in the record continuing to surface in background checks despite the court’s order.
Why Burnham Law for Record Sealing in Fort Collins
Current Colorado sealing law. Colorado’s sealing statutes continue to evolve, and many people who were not previously eligible are now eligible. We stay current on what current law allows for specific offense types and dispositions, and we know which previously unsealable offenses are now eligible.
Fort Collins professional sector priorities. We understand the specific reasons Fort Collins residents seek record sealing — employment in tech, clean energy, healthcare, and education; professional licensing; competitive housing — and tailor petition presentations to those specific goals.
CSU student and graduate urgency. We understand the timeline pressures facing young adults entering the job market and move efficiently through the petition process for clients with time-sensitive needs.
Complete follow-through. Getting the court order is only the first step. We handle all required notifications to ensure actual sealing across all relevant systems.
Frequently Asked Questions — Fort Collins Expungement and Record Sealing
Can a CSU student get an arrest record sealed in Colorado?
Yes — arrests that did not result in conviction can generally be sealed immediately under Colorado law, regardless of the petitioner’s age at the time of the arrest. CSU students or graduates with arrests that didn’t result in conviction, or charges that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal, are typically immediately eligible for sealing. For convictions from the student years, sealing is available after the applicable waiting period following completion of the sentence. We evaluate the specific record and timeline for each client.
Can a DUI be sealed in Colorado?
No. DUI and DWAI convictions cannot be sealed under current Colorado law, regardless of how old the conviction is or the circumstances of the case. This is the most significant limitation of Colorado’s record sealing framework and one of the strongest arguments for fighting a DUI charge aggressively at the time of arrest rather than accepting a plea to resolve it quickly. A DUI conviction accepted today stays on a Colorado record permanently.
How long are Colorado’s waiting periods for sealing convictions?
Waiting periods run from completion of the sentence — including the end of any probation, parole, or supervision period. Petty offenses: 1 year. Class 2 and 3 misdemeanors: 2 years. Class 1 misdemeanors: 3 years. Level 4 drug felonies and certain other lower felony classes: 3 years. Higher felony classes: up to 10 years, with some serious felony types not sealable at all. The specific waiting period for any conviction requires analysis of the offense classification under current Colorado statutes.
Does sealing a record affect a CSU conduct record?
A Colorado court sealing order applies to the criminal court record only — it does not affect Colorado State University’s own conduct records, which are maintained under FERPA and the university’s own policies. A criminal record seal prevents the criminal record from appearing in public background checks but does not clear or restrict the university’s internal conduct record. If the university conduct record is a separate concern, that requires a separate process through the university distinct from the criminal record sealing petition.
Do I need a lawyer to seal my record in Larimer County?
You are not legally required to have an attorney, but the sealing process involves identifying the correct statutory basis for eligibility, filing in the correct court, serving the correct parties, and completing all required post-sealing notifications. Errors in any step can result in rejection of the petition or incomplete sealing across systems. For clients with multiple records, any complexity in their history, or specific professional or licensing concerns, experienced counsel ensures the process is done correctly and completely — and that every eligible record entry is addressed in a comprehensive strategy.
Schedule a Consultation with a Fort Collins Record Sealing Lawyer
If a criminal record is limiting your employment, housing, or professional opportunities in Fort Collins, Colorado’s expanded sealing statutes may offer more relief than you realize is available. Burnham Law’s Fort Collins attorneys will evaluate your complete record under current law and tell you exactly what can be sealed.
Call (303) 990-5308 or schedule a confidential consultation online. We handle record sealing petitions throughout Larimer County and Colorado.
