1. You can legally and truthfully deny the arrest.

Perhaps the most rewarding part of an expungement is saying that you have never been arrested. It’s a huge relief to live your life as if the whole thing never happened. Everything is restored to the way it was before the arrest, charge, and/or conviction. This brings redemption and closure to those struggling to escape from their criminal past.

2. You can tell employers that you have no criminal history, expanding your job opportunities.

Almost every employer will run a background check before hiring an applicant, specifically to reveal arrest records and probation status. Luckily, employers and even potential employers are not allowed to ask about an expunged conviction. Additionally, an expunged conviction cannot be used against you when deciding whether or not to hire you. Not that they’ll ever know about it, because an expunged record won’t show up on their background check. Those who have been unemployed with an unclean record will tell you that this is the most valuable benefit of an expunction.

3. Finding a suitable home will be much easier.

Landlords routinely run background checks on prospective tenants. If they see a conviction or arrest on your record, they may deny you. And if they accept you with an unclean record, they might still consider you an imperfect resident, which may prompt them to charge you a higher rent or a sizably larger deposit.

4. Your gun rights may be restored.

Federal law prohibits felons from owning guns, but firearm rights may be restored after an expunction. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, “Felons whose convictions have been set aside or expunged, or for which the person has been pardoned or has had civil rights restored” are not considered “convicted.” Without a conviction, there’s nothing prohibiting you from owning a gun.

5. Your finances will be drastically improved across the board.

It may seem redundant to pay for an expungement to help ease financial burdens, but this is a sound investment in your future. Insurance rates can be affected by criminal history, meaning that your rates can significantly increase with a messy record. Certain loan rates can also be higher based on your past. Additionally, most states ban people with convictions from being eligible for funded public assistance and food stamps. Everybody is entitled to this type of help from the State, should they really need it. Having a clean record will ensure you don’t miss out on public assistance.