CERTIFICATE OF REHABILITATION

A certificate of rehabilitation is a court order stating that a person convicted of a felony has been rehabilitated. Generally, if you have been convicted of a felony and still reside in California, you may apply for a certificate of rehabilitation provided that you meet the requirements of demonstrated rehabilitation pursuant to penal code section 4852.06. Among one of the most important requirements is simply time. In most cases, you will not be eligible to apply for a certificate of rehabilitation until seven (7) years has passed since you were released from custody.

Eligibility:

• Those who were sentenced to state prison and were released on parole, thereby making them ineligible for an expungement;
• Those who have a felony conviction and want to apply for a Governor’s Pardon; or
• Those with misdemeanor or felony convictions who are required to register as sex offenders pursuant to Penal Code section 290 and the conviction has previously been expunged under Penal Code section 1203.4.

Requirements:

• You must have continuously lived in California for 3 to 5 years prior to applying for a Certificate and Pardon (Residency requirement is 3 years if released on parole, all other cases 5 year residency is required).
• You must present a satisfactory period of rehabilitation which begins from the date you were released from custody (we recommend 7 years).

Benefits:

• Once granted it becomes an automatic application for a Governor’s pardon (note: receipt by the Governor of a Certificate of Rehabilitation does not guarantee that a pardon will be granted).
• State licensing agencies will take into account that a Certificate of Rehabilitation has been granted when deciding to allow a state licensure (i.e., in fields such as: nursing, real estate, contractor, etc.)
• It relieves certain offenders from sex offender registration pursuant to the requirements of Penal Code section 290.

A Certificate of Rehabilitation is a court order, which declares that a person who has been convicted of a felony or qualified misdemeanor is rehabilitated. If a petition for a Certificate of Rehabilitation is granted, it is forwarded to the Governor by the granting court and constitutes an application for a pardon. WILL & WILL, LLP has the experience you need on your side to ensure you have the best opportunities to get your certificate of rehabilitation motion granted. We will handle all of the legal paperwork involved and be by your side in court to help convince the judge that you truly are rehabilitated. Moreover, we are very familiar with the courts in which we will be arguing your motion, which further increases your odds of success. Call WILL & WILL, LLP or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation about obtaining a certificate of rehabilitation.