Papers to gather before you see a lawyer
A printable from Fix Old Conviction. Fill it in by hand. Nothing you write is collected by this website.
Papers to gather before you see a lawyer
Your record
- California criminal record (from the California Department of Justice)
- FBI record, if you can get it
- Records from any other state where you had a case
For each conviction
- Court name, county and case number
- The charge you pleaded to, and the date
- Sentence: jail time, probation, fines, programs
- Proof you finished probation or a program
- The full court file, or a letter saying it cannot be found
- Name of your defense lawyer, if you remember it
Your immigration history
- When and how you came to the U.S.
- Any immigration papers you filed or got, including notices from USCIS or immigration court
- Any notice to appear, and the date you got it
Your life here (helps show what is at stake)
- Family in the U.S., work history, school, church and community ties
Bring copies, keep the originals safe. Do not write your immigration status on this sheet.
From Fix Old Conviction. Facts checked October 21, 2026. Free information, not legal or medical advice.