Joshua Mulligan

Criminal Defense Attorney & Certified Criminal Law Specialist

Expungement Lawyers Who Fight for Second Chances and New Beginnings

Top-Rated Expungement Lawyers

Experienced expungement lawyers guiding you toward a fresh start. At Wilkerson & Mulligan, we don’t see criminals—we see people. People who’ve stumbled, been judged too harshly, or are simply ready for a new chapter but are held back by a past that no longer defines them.

We believe in second chances because we’ve seen what happens when good people get them. As experienced expungement lawyers, we know how a criminal record can hold someone back—and how life-changing it is to be given the chance to clear it.

With more than forty years of combined experience in criminal defense and expungement services, we’ve stood beside people from every walk of life—fighting not just for their rights, but for their futures. Whether you’re struggling to find a job, secure housing, or just sleep better at night knowing your past is truly behind you, we’re here. No judgment. Just a team that knows the law, believes in justice, and fights for your right to start again.

Attorney Forest Wilkerson doesn’t just practice law—she defends the people the world would rather forget. In dingy holding cells and crowded courtrooms, she’s stood shoulder to shoulder with those facing the unthinkable: charges so serious, their names alone can ruin a life—rape, child molestation, homicide. She didn’t flinch. Not because the cases were easy, but because she believes something few do anymore: that everyone deserves a voice, and no one is beyond redemption.

Before private practice, Forest served as a Public Defender in Indio, where the stakes were high and the judgment constant. From the smallest code violations to the most severe accusations, she fought. With grit. With compassion. With the kind of strength that doesn’t make headlines, but changes lives. It’s no surprise she’s been named a Top Lawyer by Palm Springs Life again and again—but she’d tell you the real reward is knowing she stood up when it mattered.

Attorney Joshua Mulligan doesn’t just know criminal law—he’s mastered it. He’s one of the rare few in California to earn the title of Certified Criminal Law Specialist from the State Bar. Out of thousands who say they do criminal defense, only a few hundred have proven it with the rigor, experience, and integrity the title demands. Josh is one of them.

Since 2004, he’s walked beside people ready to rebuild. People tired of carrying the weight of a record that no longer defines them. He’s helped hundreds clear their names, reclaim their dignity, and move forward—not just with a clean record, but with hope. With over 100 five-star reviews, his clients say it best: he listens, he fights, and he never forgets that behind every case is a human being worth saving.

Together, Forest and Josh don’t just know the law—they live it. They fight for second chances, for dignity, for justice that doesn’t stop at a conviction. And they’re ready to fight for you.

Take Control of Your Future

A past mistake shouldn’t define your future. Whether you were convicted of a crime or arrested but never charged, that record can still limit your opportunities—jobs, housing, education, and more. Expungement and record sealing offer a legal path to leave the past behind and move forward with confidence.

At Wilkerson & Mulligan, we help people clear their records, reclaim their reputations, and take control of their lives—because everyone deserves a second chance.

Penal Code 1203.4 - Expungement of a conviction

You've been convicted of a crime in California, you may be eligible for a fresh start through expungement under Penal Code 1203.4. At Wilkerson & Mulligan, we help individuals clear their criminal records and reclaim their future.

PC 1203.4 allows certain individuals who have successfully completed probation to petition the court to withdraw their guilty or no contest plea and have their case dismissed. While an expungement doesn’t erase your record entirely, it updates it to show that the conviction was set aside and dismissed.

You may qualify for expungement if you were convicted of a misdemeanor or felony and did not serve time in state prison, you successfully completed probation and did not violate its terms, or you are not currently facing criminal charges or serving a sentence.

Even if you violated probation, you may still be eligible-let us evaluate your case.

For more information read our PC 1203.4 FAQ section.

Penal Code 1203.41 - Expungement After a Prison Term

Maybe it was years ago. Maybe you’ve built a life since then—held a job, raised your kids, kept your head down. But that felony conviction still shadows you. It shows up when you apply for a job, when you try to rent a place, when someone runs a background check and makes a quiet judgment.

Under California law, if you've done what was asked of you—served your time, walked the line, and stayed out of trouble—the court may, in the interest of justice, wipe that felony off your record.

You're eligible if It’s been one to two years since you completed your sentence, you're no longer on probation or parole, you have no new charges pending, and you're not required to register as a sex offender.

If the court grants your petition, your conviction is dismissed, and in most situations, you can legally say you were never convicted. But it’s important to know what this relief does—and doesn’t—do.

It doesn’t restore your firearm rights, and if you're applying for certain professional licenses, you’ll still need to disclose the original conviction. Also, if you’re ever charged with a crime again, the court may still consider your past case.

For more information read our PC 1203.41 FAQ section.

Penal Code 851.91 - Sealing a Criminal Record

A past arrest—even without a conviction—can follow you for years, affecting your job prospects, housing, and reputation. Fortunately, Penal Code 851.91 gives you the right to seal your arrest record in many cases, helping you truly move forward.

Under Penal Code 851.91, individuals who were arrested but not convicted of a crime may petition the court to have the arrest sealed. This means the record will no longer be visible to the public, including most employers and landlords. This law applies whether, no charges were ever filed, charges were filed but later dismissed, or you were acquitted in court.

You may qualify to seal your arrest record if you were arrested but never convicted, and you are not currently facing criminal charges, on probation, or serving time.

Why Seal Your Record?  Sealing your record can protect your privacy and reputation, improve employment and housing opportunities, and prevent discrimination based on an arrest that led nowhere.

An arrest shouldn't define your future—especially when it didn’t result in a conviction. Our team is experienced in navigating the petition process and fighting for our clients’ right to move on.

For more information read our PC 851.91 FAQ section.

Penal Code 851.8 - Sealing and Destroying an Arrest Record

You were arrested for something you didn’t do. Maybe the police got it wrong. Maybe someone pointed a finger without a second thought. Maybe no one ever said, “I’m sorry.”

Even if the charges were dropped—or never filed at all—that arrest still lingers. On paper. In databases. In the eyes of employers and strangers. It follows you into job interviews, background checks, and quiet moments where you wonder if your name will ever be clean again.

But California Penal Code 851.8 gives you a way to fight back—not just to seal your arrest, but to erase it completely. To stand before a judge and say, “I was innocent then, and I am innocent now.” And if the court agrees, your record isn’t just hidden—it’s destroyed. Gone. As if it never happened.

At Wilkerson & Mulligan, we don’t just file papers—we tell your story. We go to court and demand that the truth be acknowledged: that you never should have been in handcuffs, never should have been booked, never should have carried this weight in the first place.

You may be eligible if you were arrested but no charges were filed, charges were filed but later dismissed, you were acquitted at trial, and you can prove that you are factually innocent—that there is no reasonable cause to believe you committed the offense.

For more information read our PC 851.8 FAQ section.

Let Us Guide You

At Wilkerson & Mulligan, we are committed to helping you navigate the legal process and pursue the best outcome for your case. Whether you're looking to expunge a conviction, reduce a felony, or seal your arrest record, we have the expertise to guide you every step of the way.

Forest and Josh will provide a free initial consultation and a FULL REFUND of all money paid if the expungement is not granted and your case is dismissed. (Please note: Refund promise applies only where there were no violations of probation and all fines have been paid.)

Want to get an idea of if you qualify for an expungement and how an expungement might help you move forward with your life, education, or career? Read our detailed FAQ on expungements and background checks.

Forest Wilkerson

Criminal Defense Attorney