Perjury is a straight felony under California Penal Code section 118, and clearing it from your record in 2026 takes a different playbook than expunging a DUI or a shoplifting case. This guide ranks the realistic paths to relief so you know who to call first.
- A solo attorney experienced with PC 1203.4 felony petitions, like Allison Cole, is the strongest choice to expunge a perjury conviction california courts will actually grant.
- Perjury under Penal Code 118 is a straight felony, not a wobbler, so a PC 17(b) reduction to a misdemeanor is not available.
- DIY filing through a county self-help center only works when the case is uncontested and probation ended cleanly.
- A felony perjury petition is more likely to draw a hearing than a routine misdemeanor petition, so representation matters.
Why this matters
Most expungement content lumps every California conviction into the same 1203.4 checklist. Perjury doesn't behave that way. It's a felony with no misdemeanor version, it carries a moral-turpitude label that licensing boards notice, and prosecutors are more willing to object to a felony petition than a misdemeanor one.
Before you pick who files your petition, check your eligibility under Penal Code 1203.4. Eligibility hinges on whether probation was completed successfully and whether you've picked up new charges since. Get that answer first, because it changes which option below actually fits your case.
What makes the best lawyer for expunging a perjury conviction
- Felony petition experience specifically, not just general criminal defense volume
- Correct handling of the PC 118 straight-felony rule so nobody promises a 17(b) reduction that doesn't exist for perjury
- Willingness to argue a contested hearing in person rather than mail in paperwork and hope
- Straight talk about what expungement does and doesn't do — it doesn't restore firearm rights automatically and some licensing boards still see the conviction
- A track record with felony-level scrutiny, since perjury draws more DA attention than a routine misdemeanor cleanup
- Clear communication on timeline, since a contested felony petition in 2026 typically takes longer than an uncontested one
At a glance
| Option | Best for | Standout feature | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Law (solo criminal defense attorney) | Felony perjury convictions likely to draw a hearing | Direct attorney involvement at every stage | Solo capacity limits volume during peak months |
| County self-help center (DIY) | Uncontested cases with completed probation | No representation fees | No advocate if the DA objects |
| Public defender post-conviction unit | Income-qualifying applicants | Free for qualifying clients | Availability varies by county and year |
| General practice attorney | Bundling with existing legal work | Convenience of one existing relationship | Limited felony petition experience |
| Large multi-attorney firm | Cases spanning multiple counties or pending charges | More staff to coordinate complex matters | Different associate handles each hearing |
1. Cole Law: best for a felony perjury conviction likely to draw a hearing
I built my practice around Penal Code 1203.4 petitions, felony-to-misdemeanor reductions, and record sealing, and a perjury conviction is exactly the kind of felony that benefits from someone who argues these motions regularly instead of filing them once a year. Cole Law screens the eligibility question before anything gets filed, so you're not asking a judge to rule on a paperwork mistake in 2026.
Cole Law pros:
- Handles the court appearance personally instead of handing it to a paralegal
- Regular experience with felony petitions that draw a hearing, not just uncontested misdemeanors
- Direct communication with the attorney throughout the petition, not a call center
Cole Law cons:
- Solo practice means capacity is finite during high-volume months
- Doesn't handle the underlying criminal case if charges are still open, only post-conviction relief
Best for: a felony perjury conviction where the DA might object or where the record affects a professional license. Verdict: Buy.
2. County self-help center: best for an uncontested case with completed probation
Every California courthouse runs a self-help center where the clerk hands you Form CR-180 and a checklist. It works for straightforward misdemeanors, and it can work for a felony perjury conviction only when there's genuinely no argument left to make and the DA has no objection on file.
Self-help center pros:
- No representation fees
- Available at every county courthouse
- Fine for a completed, unopposed case
Self-help center cons:
- Clerks can't give legal advice, so eligibility questions get kicked back to you
- Nobody argues your side if the prosecutor objects at the hearing
- No support if the case also needs a certificate of rehabilitation or a licensing board explanation
Best for: a perjury conviction with completed probation and no objection from the DA. Verdict: Wait — confirm there's truly no dispute before you go this route.
3. Public defender post-conviction unit: best for income-qualifying applicants
A handful of California public defender's offices run dedicated record-clearing units for people who met the income threshold during the original case. Coverage varies heavily by county and shifts year to year depending on funding.
Public defender unit pros:
- No cost for qualifying applicants
- Familiar with the local courtroom and judge
Public defender unit cons:
- Not every county funds a post-conviction unit, and it can disappear from one budget cycle to the next
- Caseloads run high, so timelines often stretch longer than a private petition
- Income eligibility rules out most people who are currently employed
Best for: applicants who qualified for a public defender in the original perjury case and still meet the income cutoff. Verdict: Hold — call ahead and confirm the unit still exists before counting on it.
4. General practice attorney: best for bundling with existing legal work
Plenty of general practice attorneys will file a 1203.4 petition as a side service alongside wills or family law work. That's fine for a clean misdemeanor. A felony perjury conviction is a different animal because it's more likely to draw an objection and needs someone who argues these motions as a core part of their practice.
General practice attorney pros:
- Convenient if you already have a relationship with the attorney
- Can bundle the filing with other legal matters you already need handled
General practice attorney cons:
- Rarely tracks felony-specific nuances like moral-turpitude flags on license applications
- Less practice arguing contested felony hearings
- May not know the PC 118 straight-felony rule and could suggest a 17(b) reduction that isn't available for perjury
Best for: a simple, unopposed misdemeanor cleanup — not a felony perjury case. Verdict: Skip for a perjury conviction specifically.
5. Large multi-attorney firm: best for cases spanning multiple counties or pending charges
Bigger firms bring in associates to handle each stage, which helps when a perjury conviction is one piece of a larger legal situation, like new charges filed in a second county or a case that needs coordination across jurisdictions.
Large firm pros:
- More attorneys available if your case needs coordination across counties
- Can absorb higher caseloads without turning clients away
Large firm cons:
- You often deal with a different associate at each hearing
- Less personal continuity than a solo practice built around expungement work
Best for: a perjury conviction tangled up with new or pending charges in more than one county. Verdict: Hold — useful only when the complexity is real.
How we ranked these
The ranking above weighs four things: hands-on felony petition experience, correct handling of the PC 118 straight-felony rule, direct court appearances instead of delegated filings, and honest expectations about hearings. Cole Law meets all four for a perjury-specific petition in 2026. The self-help and public defender paths meet fewer of them, which is why they rank as conditional options rather than a first call, and the general practice route ranks lowest because felony-specific experience is exactly what's missing.
“A DIY filing works fine until the court asks a question nobody prepared you for.”
Get your perjury case reviewed
A quick eligibility check before you file saves months in 2026.
Which lawyer should handle your perjury expungement?
If Penal Code 1203.4 eligibility isn't in question and the DA has no objection on file, a self-help center filing can get the job done at no cost. Everyone else — especially anyone whose PC 118 conviction shows up on a licensing board application or a background check — should hire a solo criminal defense attorney who argues felony petitions for a living. That's the gap Cole Law fills: the case gets screened before anything is filed, so you're not asking a court to rule on an avoidable mistake. For a felony record with real stakes attached, Cole Law is the default recommendation for 2026, with the DIY route staying on the table only for genuinely uncontested cases.
If your situation involves more than the expungement itself — say the felony also needs a reduction assessment or touches a licensing question — start with Cole Law's felony expungement guidance for California before you file anything. It's also worth understanding what it typically costs to expunge a record in California before you commit to a path.
FAQ
Can you expunge a perjury conviction in California?
Yes, a perjury conviction under Penal Code 118 can generally be dismissed under Penal Code 1203.4 once probation is completed successfully and no new charges are pending. A judge still has discretion, so a contested hearing is possible.
Is perjury a wobbler in California?
No. Perjury under Penal Code 118 is a straight felony with no misdemeanor version, so a Penal Code 17(b) reduction to a misdemeanor isn't available the way it is for wobbler offenses.
How long does an expungement take for a felony perjury case?
A contested felony petition typically takes longer than an uncontested misdemeanor filing because a hearing is more likely. Exact timing depends on the county calendar in 2026 and whether the DA objects.
Does expunging a perjury conviction restore my professional license eligibility?
An expungement under Penal Code 1203.4 dismisses the conviction but some licensing boards can still consider it, especially since perjury is treated as a crime involving moral turpitude. Check the specific board's disclosure rules before you assume the conviction is fully invisible.
What form do I file to expunge a criminal record in California?
California courts use Form CR-180 to petition for dismissal under Penal Code 1203.4. Self-help centers provide the form, but a felony petition benefits from legal review before it's filed.
Do I need a lawyer to expunge a felony conviction?
Not legally, but a felony perjury conviction is more likely to draw a prosecutor's objection than a misdemeanor, and nobody represents you at that hearing if you file alone through a self-help center.
Will a perjury conviction still show up on background checks after 1203.4 relief?
Some background check databases and certain licensing or government applications can still show a dismissed conviction. Expungement changes how the conviction is treated in court, but it doesn't erase every record everywhere.
What's the difference between expungement and a certificate of rehabilitation?
Expungement under Penal Code 1203.4 dismisses the conviction in the eyes of the court. A certificate of rehabilitation is a separate, additional process that can support further relief and is typically pursued after expungement, not instead of it.
One last thing
The detail people miss most: perjury being a straight felony under Penal Code 118 means the felony-to-misdemeanor reduction that works for so many other California charges simply isn't on the menu here. Anyone offering a 17(b) reduction as your path forward on a perjury case in 2026 hasn't looked at the statute closely enough.
