Deciding that you want to apply for a pardon is a big undertaking. There are a lot of forms to fill out, documents to gather, and people to consult. If you chose to apply for a pardon, realize that this is not going to just be a commitment of your time. Also, it will be a money commitment. On this page, I’ll talk about the expenses involved with applying for a pardon in the state of Connecticut.

Obtaining a Copy of Your Criminal History

One document that you will have to acquire in order to properly apply for a pardon is your criminal history. In order to get this form, you will have to pay $50. And, you’ll have to fill out the criminal history request form.

Obtaining a Copy of Your Fingerprints

You will have to submit a copy of your fingerprints, which will cost $15 to obtain.

Obtaining a Copy of Your Police Report(s)

In order to send a copy of state police report(s) in with your application, you will have to pay a $16 fee. Keep in mind that if you were convicted or charged with a crime in another state, that crime probably will not show up on your Connecticut police report. You will have to obtain a copy of these other reports, which will cost additional money.

Hiring a Pardons Lawyer

In many cases, people who apply for a pardon hire a pardons lawyer to help them with this process. A pardon lawyer can keep you organized during the application process, answer your questions, and make sure that you present the best application possible. In addition, a pardons lawyer can help prepare you for your hearing with the board of pardons. This hearing is very important and will be the final piece in the board’s decision-making process.

Should You Spend the Money on a Lawyer?

While lawyers can be expensive, there are many reasonably priced pardons lawyers in the state of Connecticut. While you might be paying more upfront when hiring a lawyer, at least you will have the peace of mind to know that your pardon application will be as good as it can be. Also consider the fact that if your application is denied, you will have to spend more money to reapply. Doing everything right the first time might be in your best interested and might actually save you money and time in the long run.

Luckily, applying for a pardon is not too expensive. There are a few filing fees, but other than these fees, you should be able to easily afford your pardon. If you find that you have a lot of questions about the process, you want to have help filling out the forms, and you want to make sure that your application is done right the first time, you should seriously consider hiring a pardons lawyer. To discuss how I can help you through this process as well as my fees, you can contact me. Our first consultation is always free, so you have nothing to lose by giving me a call.