You came looking for a mugshot — plot twist: RVA Gotcha helps Richmond-area folks clear their record instead. Expungement and Virginia’s new 2026 sealing law, with licensed attorneys. The only gotcha here is a clean slate.
RVA Gotcha is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We are a Virginia-based referral service that connects residents with licensed, independent attorneys who handle expungement and record sealing. Information on this site is general, current as of 2026, and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed Virginia attorney about your specific record.
Old charges can block jobs, housing, and loans — even ones that were dismissed or never led to a conviction. Here’s what can often be cleared in Virginia.
Charges that ended in acquittal, dismissal, nolle prosequi (dropped), or mistaken identity can be petitioned for expungement and removed from public access — with no court filing fee.
Virginia’s new law covers marijuana possession, most non-convictions, and — by petition — some convictions. Far more people now qualify to seal a record.
Once a record is sealed or expunged, we help you get the mugshot sites and background-check databases still showing it to update or take it down.
Not sure if you qualify? Answer a few questions and a licensed Virginia attorney reviews your situation — no cost, no obligation.
Senate Bill 1466 / House Bill 2723 created Virginia’s broadest-ever record-sealing system. The short version:
As of July 2026 you can petition your Circuit Court to seal a wider range of records, including some convictions.
Beginning in late 2026, marijuana possession, most non-convictions, and traffic infractions seal automatically — no filing required.
Acquittals, dismissals, nolle prosequi, and mistaken-identity arrests can be expunged — with no court filing fee for the petition.
Class 1 and Class 2 felonies can’t be sealed; Class 3 and 4 felonies carry a 20-year wait; first-offender-program dismissals aren’t eligible for expungement.
This is general information about Virginia law, not legal advice — whether a specific record qualifies depends on the details. A licensed Virginia attorney can tell you for sure.
Tell us about your charge. A licensed Virginia attorney reviews whether it can be cleared.
Expungement, petition sealing, or automatic — with a plain-English timeline and a flat quote.
They prepare and file the petition in the correct Circuit Court and handle the hearing.
Once granted, the record is removed from public access — and, for expungements, destroyed three years later.
Most people never find out they qualify. We give you a free, honest read on your record and connect you with a licensed Virginia attorney who does this work — no pressure, no obligation.
A charge that was dismissed or ended in acquittal can still show up on background checks for years — until it’s expunged. Virginia charges no filing fee for that petition.
Expungement and sealing are handled by the Circuit Court in each locality. We cover them all.
Gotcha. It’s the opposite. RVA Gotcha helps Richmond-area residents get records OFF the internet and out of public view — expungement and Virginia’s 2026 record sealing, with licensed attorneys. The name’s a wink; the clean slate is real.
Virginia charges no court filing fee for an expungement petition under Va. Code § 19.2-392.2. Attorney fees vary by case complexity and are often a flat fee for straightforward matters. Your free eligibility check comes with a clear quote before you decide anything.
Traditional expungement covers charges that ended in acquittal, dismissal, nolle prosequi (dropped), or mistaken identity. Virginia's 2026 sealing law adds marijuana possession, most non-convictions, and — by petition — some convictions. Class 1 and Class 2 felonies are excluded, and Class 3 and 4 felonies carry a 20-year waiting period.
Most expungements take a few months from filing to the court's order, depending on the Circuit Court and the case. A licensed attorney can give you a realistic timeline for your specific record.
Sealing or expungement removes the record from public access — the key step. Some private mugshot and background-check databases lag behind; once your record is cleared, we help you push those to update or remove it.
Virginia began automatically sealing certain records in late 2026 (marijuana possession, most non-convictions, traffic infractions). Petition-based sealing and expungement still go through the Circuit Court, where mistakes cause delays or denials. A licensed Virginia attorney makes sure it's done right.
Yes. The details you share go only to the attorney reviewing your case. We never sell your information, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Answer a few questions and a licensed Virginia attorney will review whether your record can be cleared — free, and with no obligation.