What to bring to the lawyer
A printable from Penal Code 1473.7. Fill it in by hand. Nothing you write is collected by this website.
What to bring to the lawyer
The case
- Court name, county and case number
- Your California criminal record, and FBI record if you have it
- The full court file, or a letter saying it cannot be found
- Your plea form, if you have it
- Name of your defense lawyer at the time
What you remember (write it down)
- What your lawyer told you about immigration, if anything
- What the judge said before you pleaded
- What mattered most to you in the deal
- Whether a different deal was offered or talked about
Your ties at the time of the plea
- Years in the U.S. and how you came
- Family here, especially children and spouse
- Work, school, church and community
Immigration papers
- Any notice to appear, and the date you got it
- Any removal order, and the date you learned about it
- Any USCIS notice that mentions the conviction
Bring copies, keep the originals safe.
From Penal Code 1473.7. Facts checked October 21, 2026. Free information, not legal or medical advice.