Expungement Review Portal

📚 FAQs About Indiana Expungements

⏱ How long does an expungement take?

About 2 - 3 months to get the record cleared after filing.

✅ Who is eligible for expungement?

Most cases are eligible. There is a 5-year waiting period for misdemeanors and an 8-year waiting period for felonies from the date of conviction. There must not be any outstanding court fees or restitution. Any outstanding amounts must be paid prior to filing.

🔫 Can I get my gun rights restored?

Yes. After expungement in Indiana, you are allowed to legally purchase and own a firearm. Some counties require filing additional paperwork/petition to restore gun rights. An additional petition for gun rights is only necessary for violent offense convictions. You are restored as a "proper person".

⚖️ Do I have to go to court?

Usually no. The client typically does not have to appear in court — Attorney Semko will be representing them in court. The order is just signed by the Judge.

🔒 What happens after expungement?

The record is sealed from public view including background checks by employers or landlords. You may legally state you have not been convicted of the crime.

📝 The Expungement Process

Lawyer files expungement in the county of arrest
Prosecutor has 30 days to respond — usually they don't object
Judge sets court date/hearing for the expungement. The client usually doesn't have to appear.
Judge issues order of expungement which seals criminal case(s) from public view, shielding it from background checks on the individual. Criminal records must by law be sealed within 60 days of the Judge's expungement order.

💡 Key Point: The expungement isn't filed until the client has paid in full. The sooner they pay, the sooner we file, and the sooner their record is cleared.

⚖️ Higher Level vs. Lower Level Felonies

Not every felony gets the same result from an expungement. Indiana splits felonies into two groups, and what you can promise the client depends entirely on which group their charges fall in. Check the level on every felony before you explain the outcome.

✅ Lower Level — the "good felonies"

Completely removed

F6 FD any D-level felony

Result: the conviction is removed entirely. It will not show up on background checks for jobs, housing, student loans, financial checks, etc.

You can tell the client this plainly and confidently.

⚠️ Higher Level — everything else

Expunged, but marked — not erased

F5 F4 F3 F2 F1 FA FB FC CF

Result: the case is still expunged, but "expunged" means something different here. The record can still be seen, marked "expunged."

That is still much better than doing nothing.

Reading the codes: Indiana changed its felony designations a while ago. Older cases use letters (FA, FB, FC, FD); newer cases almost always use numbers (F1 through F6). You may also see a higher-level felony written as CF. The easy rule to remember: F6 and FD are the good felonies. Any other felony is higher level.

🗣 How to Explain It to the Client

If their felonies are all F6 / FD:

Say it like this"Your felony is a lower-level felony, so once the judge signs the expungement order it is completely removed. It won't show up on background checks for jobs, housing, student loans, or financial checks."

If they have an F1–F5 / FA–FC: explain the level, then set the expectation honestly.

Say it like this"That charge is a higher-level felony. It still gets expunged, but for higher-level felonies 'expunged' works a little differently: the case can still show up, but it's marked as expunged on your record. That's still a big improvement over doing nothing."

💡 Important — the county-error upside: Counties often make administrative mistakes on higher-level felonies and process them with the lower-level (F6/FD) treatment. When that happens the higher-level felony is removed completely and is not seen at all. Tell the client this happens so they know the potential upside — but make clear it is not a guarantee that it always happens.

Say it like this"One more thing worth knowing: counties frequently make administrative errors on higher-level felonies and give them the lower-level treatment, which means the felony gets removed completely. We see it happen often. I can't guarantee it, but it's a real possibility."

🔒 What You Can and Can't Guarantee

✅ Misdemeanors — GUARANTEED by law. As long as the conviction is past the 5-year waiting period and there are no outstanding fees, misdemeanors are guaranteed to be removed. If a client's charges are all misdemeanors, you can tell them it's guaranteed.

Careful Felonies — essentially certain, but never say "guarantee." Prosecutors almost never object to eligible felony expungements, so you can say "99% certainty." The line to use:

Say it like this"We have never seen an eligible case — even a felony case — be denied an expungement when it's past the waiting period and there are no outstanding fees."

All misdemeanors → "Guaranteed" (past 5 years, no outstanding fees)
F6 / FD felonies → "99% certain" and "completely removed"
F1–F5 / FA–FC felonies → "99% certain" and "expunged but marked" — plus the county-error upside

💰 Sales Tips & Best Practices

Be upbeat but not phony. Congratulate them for being eligible and taking this step.

Ask them why they want the expungement — then listen. Their form answer is in the details panel; use it to affirm, not to recite.

Confirm what they were arrested for — builds credibility that we're expunging the right thing.

Tell them the sooner they start, the sooner it's over. Usually 2 - 3 months after filing.

Critical

HIGHLY ENCOURAGE people with a job to start today. Close rate should be high for employed clients. The expungement isn't filed until paid in full.

Important Rule

ALWAYS attempt to get a payment at setup to verify the card works. Doesn't have to be the full recurring amount — let the client decide what they're comfortable with based on the 3, 6 or 9 month plan they choose (weekly or biweekly). Sales commission time period is based on when the first actual payment over $50 is made. You must charge a Payment Plan Fee for every person on a payment plan — the fee is based on how long the plan runs: $100 (6 months or less), $175 (over 6, up to 9), $275 (over 9, up to 12), $375 (over 12 months). Use the sidebar Payment Plan Calculator to quote it, and inform the client of the fee just before you charge their card. Also, ALWAYS tell clients that the charge will show up on their credit card as "Hypenow Expungements" and that we are the third-party payment processor and agency for Semko Law Office.

📝 After every connected sales call, add a note. Open the client's Details Panel, scroll to the bottom to the Add Note section, click Expand, type what happened on the call, then click Send to Lawmatics. This keeps the file current for the next caller and for Attorney Semko.

✅ Winning Formula: Be genuine → Ask why they want it & listen → Confirm what's being expunged → Full pay or payment plan — either is a win → Get them started today

🎧 Call Coaching Guide — Winning Each Phase of the Call

Lessons from reviewing real closing calls, organized in the order a call flows — from the opening through the close. The fundamentals of professionalism and solid case review are the foundation; these notes are about the finer points that separate a good call from a closed deal.

📞 Top of the Call — Where the Deal Is Won or Lost

The most crucial part of the call. There are two goals at the top of every call:

Establish that the client is eligible and that the goal of the call is to "get started today."
Establish likeability and rapport. People only buy from people they feel are credible and likeable.

💡 Set the frame up front. Tell them early: "we are going to get you started today." The caller must never think you are "just explaining how the process works." Knowing their employment status gives you an easy bridge into this.

Ask about their job — even though we already know the answer. Ask if they’re employed, then "what kind of work do you do?" to get them talking (and to gauge income). A few follow-ups — how long they’ve been there, do they like it — show interest and get them relaxed and comfortable with you.

Then segue to pay frequency: "Do you get paid weekly or biweekly?" This is critical — it tells you how to seed the payment plan dollar amount at the end of the call (weekly amount vs. biweekly amount).

Add a little humor. Being professional is great — but these calls represent a dark period in people’s lives, so clients come in uptight. If you can land something light and get a laugh — or even detect a smile over the phone — EARLY, the rest of the call gets much easier. Example, for someone with a lot of cases:

Say it like this"Boy [Mr. Last Name] you were a bad boy in your younger days!! But I bet you had a good time. We deal with clients with a lot of cases like this all the time and they always get their expungement approved."

📂 Case Review — Stay High Level, Lead With Felonies

Always start with the felonies — anything with an "F" in it (F6, F5, CF, FA, etc.). Felonies are what peak people’s interest; they’re what clients are most anxious to get rid of and the main reason they’re calling.

Keep it high level. Summarize by county and category rather than case-by-case detail:

Say it like this"I see you have 2 felonies for drugs in Elkhart County and 4 misdemeanors in [County] County and we are going to take care of getting all of those expunged since they are all eligible."

"Drug charges" is enough — don’t go into schedule 1, schedule 2, paraphernalia, etc. unless they inquire further. OWI is "operating a vehicle while intoxicated" (drunk driving); you definitely don’t need to read out alcohol content. Listing every case in detail is risky because the record may be listed differently than the client remembers the charge, and you get caught in the minutiae.

Confirm, don’t debate. You want to confirm the cases, not get stuck in a back-and-forth. If they ask about a specific case, confirm what they say:

Say it like this"Yes, we have the 2012 cocaine charge in Marion County. That will be expunged."

💡 Why high level is safe — two reasons: (1) The clients selected their own cases. If a case wasn’t listed, the entry form let them flag missing cases. You can also try to find missing cases yourself on MyCase Indiana (public.courts.in.gov/mycase) — sometimes they’re there and the client just missed them. If not, add it to the notes; Attorney Semko/staff have other means to find them. (2) Prosecutors will often identify other cases in the respective county if one isn’t on the petition. This call is not the final case review — there’s another one at the time of filing.

🔑 "You can only expunge once." Many people say they only want to get rid of their felony. Remind them that in Indiana you can only expunge once — so if they’re going to do it, they should do it right and get rid of everything.

💵 Pricing Discussion — Only Two Numbers

The riskiest part of the call — and the part that requires the most skill and cleverness.

Only two numbers. Quoting too many numbers gets confusing. The caller should really only hear:

Total Amount (e.g., $1,395.87)
The 6-month payment plan amount on their pay period (e.g., $122.12 biweekly)

Always present Full Pay and the Payment Plan together — so they hear the full amount and the small dollar amount side by side. And tell them you’re going to get them started "today."

Anchor on the 6-month plan and get a definitive answer. If they’re paid biweekly:

Say it like this"A 6 month plan would be $[Amount] biweekly — can you afford that? If so we can get you started today. When is your next pay period?"

Most people can afford the 6-month amount. If it’s too steep, there’s always the 9-month option. Save the 3-month option until they ask — that dollar amount can seem high.

Do not

Don’t say "locking it in" — it sounds too car-salesman.

💡 Simplify the "payment today" discussion. Review all of Section 6 (Cost & Payment) in the Sales Script tab — especially steps 2b and 2c, which lay out the best way to handle the payment-today part and its chronology.

📅 Set Up the Plan Now — Don’t Schedule a Callback

We can delay the first payment to their payday, so there’s no reason to call back. If a client says they could start their plan on Friday (or any future payday), set the plan up on the current call instead of scheduling another meeting — a scheduled callback is a second chance for them to not answer.

A "call me back on payday" request can be a stall tactic. Call their bluff:

Say it like this"Oh we can set it up now and the payment will not come out until you tell us what day it should come out on. That way we don’t have to set up another call."

🎙️ Own the Call — Pace & Control

No dead air. You own the call and control the messaging — think infomercial. Uncomfortable pauses, as if waiting for the client to say something when no question was asked, make the call choppy and create a weird vibe. Don’t pause unless you’ve asked a question or expect a response. (Pausing right after you tell them they’re eligible at the top of the call is fine.)

Keep it tight. The whole script and the most relevant selling should fit within about 5 - 7 minutes.

You drive the call — don’t let them. Control the call from the first minute. If callers start asking questions immediately, steer it back: we’re going to go through everything in the full script. The script — and the order of the script — is designed to get the customer talking about their goals and reasons for expungement, which sets up the close.

📞 The Closing Call Script

Purpose: Outbound closing call to a lead confirmed eligible by Attorney Semko. Tone: Upbeat, warm, confident — never pushy. You are the bearer of good news.

🎯 Goal of the call: Get the client to pay in full or start the payment plan today. Either one is a win. Full pay = no plan fee + fastest filing. Payment plan = second win. Either way, take a payment today.

1️⃣ Opening — Congratulate & Build Rapport

You say"Hi, this is [Your First Name] with Semko Law Office calling to get started on the Expungement for [Client First Name]. I have some great news for you today! Attorney Semko personally reviewed your case(s) and you are eligible for an Indiana expungement for your case(s) and we can get you started today."

(Pause — let them react. Match their energy.)

💡 Say "Expungement" right away: Lead with what the call is about so the client doesn't think you're a bill collector. An unknown caller from a "law office" sounds like debt collection — the word Expungement instantly flips it to good news.

Do not

Do not ask "Is this…" or "Am I speaking to…". The client set this call up and is expecting it — the person answering is the client almost 100% of the time. Asking permission to talk sounds like a telemarketer and burns momentum.

💡 If they sound skeptical: "I know — a lot of folks assume this is going to be complicated or that they don't qualify. The good news is Attorney Semko has already done the legwork and confirmed you're good to go."

2️⃣ Get Expungement Reason & Employment Status

Your goal: Ask them why they want the expungement — then listen. You already know their answer from the details panel, but this is where they start talking and get invested. Use their form answer to affirm, not to recite. Then get their employment status and pay frequency while it still feels like small talk.

You say"So [Client First Name], let me ask you — why do you want to get an expungement? We ask this because we want to make sure the reasons you are looking to get an expungement align with what an expungement can actually do for you."

(STOP and LISTEN. This is the most important listening moment of the call. Affirm as they go — "absolutely," "that makes total sense.")

Then cheerlead based on what they say:

Job"Getting this off your record means you walk into that next background check with nothing holding you back. Employers will never even see it. That's a game-changer for your career."

Housing"Smart move. Landlords run background checks too, and once this is sealed, it simply won't show up. You'll be able to apply anywhere with total confidence."

Fresh start"Honestly, that might be the best reason of all. This is about closing that chapter for good so you never have to think about it again."

💡 Tip: If their answer matches the form — affirm it big. If they mention something new — even better, that's your close lever later in the call.

Then ask"Are you currently working right now? … Great — what kind of work do you do? How long have you been there?" (a follow-up or two shows interest and gets them relaxed) "And do you get paid weekly or biweekly?"

💡 Why ask job & pay frequency here: Ask about their job even though we already know the answer — it gets them talking and helps you gauge income. Their payday rhythm is exactly what you’ll need at pricing — you can quote the plan in their pay cycle without fumbling. Collect it now while it feels like small talk, not negotiation.

3️⃣ Call Agenda — Tell Them Where We’re Going

You say"Here’s what we’re going to cover together on this quick call:

The Expungement Process
Expungement Timing / Timeframe
Expungement Pricing — you can pay in full or get on a payment plan; we have flexible payment options for you
Getting Started Today

Do not give the price yet

If they ask about cost here: "Great question — I'm going to explain the whole process to you first, and then we'll get right to the pricing." Getting sidetracked on price before they've heard the process kills calls. The agenda buys you permission to hold price until the end.

4️⃣ Case Confirmation — Show You Know the File

Lead with the felonies — anything with an "F" in it (F6, F5, CF, FA). Felonies are what peak people’s interest and the main reason they’re calling. Summarize high level by county and category — never case-by-case detail.

You say"Let me confirm what we're getting cleared for you. I'm showing [# Felonies] felon(y/ies) and [# Misdemeanors] out of [County] County — does that line up with what you remember? And these were related to [Arrested For] — is that right? … Perfect. That's exactly what Attorney Semko reviewed, and all of it is eligible to be expunged and sealed."

💡 Keep it high level: "Drug charges" is enough — no schedule 1 / schedule 2 / paraphernalia detail unless they ask. OWI is "operating a vehicle while intoxicated" — don’t read out alcohol content. Listing every case in detail is risky: the record may be listed differently than the client remembers, and you get caught in the minutiae.

Confirm, don’t debate. If they ask about a specific case, confirm what they say — don’t get stuck in a back-and-forth:

Say it like this"Yes, we have the 2012 cocaine charge in Marion County. That will be expunged."

💡 Why high level is safe: (1) The clients selected their own cases — the entry form let them flag missing ones, and you can check MyCase Indiana yourself (public.courts.in.gov/mycase); if a case truly isn’t there, add it to the notes and Attorney Semko/staff have other means to find it. (2) Prosecutors will often identify other cases in the county if one isn’t on the petition. This call is not the final case review — there’s another one at the time of filing.

🔑 If they say they only want the felony gone: Remind them that in Indiana you can only expunge once — so if they’re going to do it, they should do it right and get rid of everything.

💡 Reassurance line: "Whatever happened, that's in the past. Our whole job is to make sure it stays there — sealed and out of sight."

5️⃣ Process & Timing — Walk Them Through It

You say"Let me walk you through exactly how this works — it's really straightforward, and the best part is Attorney Semko handles everything."

Attorney Semko files a petition for expungement in [County] County
By law the County Prosecutor has 30 days to respond — they don't get to drag it out
Your case is eligible, so we don't expect the prosecutor to object
The judge sets a court date — you do not have to show up. Attorney Semko represents you at that hearing
The judge issues an Order of Expungement for [Client Full Name]
The order goes to the Indiana State Police and the county — all Indiana authorities must expunge and seal within 60 days
It will not show up on job, housing, or loan background checks — and you get copies of the court order
After you are granted the expungement, you are legally allowed to answer "no" if someone asks you have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime

You say"Start to finish, most folks are completely cleared in about 2 - 3 months after filing. Pretty smooth, right?"

6️⃣ Cost & Payment — The Close

Most sensitive part of the call — only two numbers

The pricing discussion is the riskiest part of the call and requires the most skill. Quoting too many numbers gets confusing — the client should only ever hear two numbers: (1) the Total Amount (e.g., $1,395.87) and (2) the 6-month payment plan amount in their pay period (e.g., $122.12 biweekly). Always present Full Pay and the Payment Plan together — so they hear the full amount and the small dollar amount side by side — and tell them you’re getting them started today. The plan fee is already baked into the payment amount; it comes at the end, almost as an afterthought. And don’t say "locking it in" — it sounds too car-salesman.

Step 1 — Present both options with the 6-month anchor, and ask which:

You say"The total cost of your expungement is $[Price] if you pay up front today, and we can get this filed for you within 7 - 10 business days. Alternatively, as you probably saw on our website, we have a payment plan option which allows you to pay over 3, 6 or 9 months. Your payment would be $[Amount] [weekly/biweekly] on the 6-month payment plan. Which would you like to do — pay in full or get on the payment plan?"

💡 Anchor on the 6-month plan — it’s the middle/starting option, quoted in their pay cycle (weekly or biweekly, collected back in Section 2). Most people can afford the 6-month amount. If it’s too steep, there’s always the 9-month option. Save the 3-month option until they ask — that dollar amount can seem high.

🎯 Be Intentionally Presumptive. Ask "Would you like to pay in full or get on the payment plan?" — never "So what do you think?" or "How does this sound to you?" Most people already know what they want to do; directly asking which option gets right to the point, and if they have questions they'll ask. Sometimes they'll just say "I'm ready" — in that case, get right to it. Every extra open-ended question adds risk to the close.

Weekly & biweekly only

When quoting the plan, only offer weekly or biweekly payments — matched to the pay frequency you collected earlier in the call. Do not bring up monthly: a monthly amount sounds huge and scares people away. Rare exception: if the client is only paid once a month (disability or other fixed income), monthly is fine — and let them choose a smaller amount over a longer period since they're on fixed income. A few clients pay monthly, but it's rare.

Important — the commitment cue

Once the client commits in any way to either the Payment Plan or Full Pay — "I can do that," "ok that sounds good," "that’s affordable" — that is your cue that they are committed. Move immediately to collecting their petition information (2a below): home address, driver’s license number, and SSN. Once committed, we want to move the client into the "formal" stage of filing the expungement — this takes them away from thinking about the payment and toward "being in process" with their expungement.

Step 2 — Set up the plan & take the first payment (in this order):

2a — The moment they commit, collect the petition information:

You say"Ok [Mr./Ms. Last Name], I’m now going to get the information from you that’s necessary to file your expungement. I am going to need four pieces of information that must be put on the expungement petition: 1.) your home address, 2.) your driver’s license number, 3.) your SSN, and 4.) another address you’ve lived at since your last arrest."

(Collect all four. This is the formal filing stage — they’re "in process" now, and the payment becomes just the last detail.)

2b — Definitively Declare The Setup:

You say"[Mr./Mrs. Last Name], what is your debit/credit card number? … And what day do you get paid? We’ll line your [weekly/biweekly] payments of $[Amount] up with your paydays."

(You do NOT need to ask their permission — you already got it at the commitment cue. Proceed straight to setting the payment up: enter their card number, put in their weekly/biweekly amount, ask what day they get paid, and set the frequency to match. Quote the amount with the sidebar Payment Plan Calculator — it already includes the plan fee; don’t itemize it here. Once their card info is in, they are far less likely to back out. Do NOT bring up a payment today yet. Full pay? Same move — get the card and use Full Pay Now.)

2c — THEN the payment-today ask:

You say"Ok [Mr./Mrs. Last Name], in order to get started with your payment plan we need to take a payment today to make sure your credit card goes through. How much would you like to pay today?"

💡 This is the "attempt a payment at setup" moment. They choose the amount. The whole point is to make sure their debit/credit card works. Work down this ladder depending on what they say:

① They name a number — "Ok, I’ll do $X": Accept whatever they say. Often people who have something to pay will just tell you an amount — take it.

② They ask "How much do I have to pay?":

Say it like this"We can do $50 today?"

(Don’t ask if they can afford that — let them tell you if they can’t.)

③ They say "I don’t have anything today": That usually isn’t true. Come down a rung:

Say it like this"Can you at least do $20? We just need to make sure the debit/credit card works."

(Usually people will agree to that.)

④ They still say they have nothing: That’s ok — don’t fight it. Just make sure you set the first payment amount to their weekly/biweekly payment amount so the plan starts clean on their payday.

2d — Fee & descriptor, as an afterthought (still BEFORE charging):

You say"And just so there are no surprises — there is a one-time payment plan fee for your plan of [Plan Fee], and that's already included in the payments we just set up, so it's nothing extra on top. Your charges will show up on your statement as 'Hypenow Expungements' — that's us, the payment processor and agency that works with Semko Law Office."

State clearly

"Your petition gets filed once the plan is paid in full — so the faster you pay it down, the faster Attorney Semko files and the faster your record is sealed."

🛡️ Objection Handling — Quick Reference

If they say…	You say…
"I need to think about it."	"Totally fair. The only thing I'd say is — you're already approved, and nothing happens until you start. We can start with just $50 today and you'll be on your way."
"That's more than I expected."	"I hear you — that's exactly why we built the payment plan. You're not paying it all today. We break it into payments that fit your payday."
"How do I know this is legit?"	"Attorney Semko is a former Lake County prosecutor — he knows Indiana criminal law inside and out. You're welcome to call our office directly at 219.802.5720 to get comfortable first."
"Can I call you back?"	"Absolutely — reach us right back at 317.620.8433. But if you've got two minutes now, I can get you started so you don't lose your spot in line."
"Will this really come off everything?"	"Once the judge issues the order, Indiana authorities are required to seal it. It won't show on jobs, housing, or loans. You'll also get copies of the order."

📌 Agent Reminders (Not Read Aloud)

Full pay or plan — either is a win. Full pay = no plan fee + fastest filing.

Ask, then listen in Section 2 (Reason & Employment). The form answer is your affirmation tool, not your opener.

Always attempt to get a payment at setup. The client chooses the amount based on the 3, 6 or 9 month plan they pick (weekly or biweekly). Commission period is based on when the first actual payment over $50 is made.

Card info first, payment-today ask second. Disclose the plan fee at the end, as an afterthought — it's already included in their payment amount — plus the "Hypenow Expungements" descriptor. Both still land before charging.

Payment Plan Fee — quote it with the sidebar Payment Plan Calculator:

Payoff length	One-time fee
6 months or less	$100
Over 6, up to 9 months	$175
Over 9, up to 12 months	$275
Over 12 months	$375

🏆 Expert Closers — Mary Kay Ash & Zig Ziglar

Two of the greatest closers in sales history. Each phrase shows the original, why it works, then a Semko version customized to our expungement calls — with a note on where in the script to use it. Click each expert to expand.

💄 Mary Kay Ash — Close Without Ever Pressuring

Built a $1.2 billion empire from $5,000 · 7 phrases

▼

1"What matters most to you in making this decision?"

This makes the buyer feel respected, not pitched. Most reps push their priorities. Mary Kay led with theirs. Mary Kay believed every person wears an invisible sign that says: make me feel important.

Semko version"Let me ask you — what matters most to you about getting this off your record?"

Where: Reason Validation (§3) — a sharper version of our "why do you want to get an expungement" ask.

2"I can tell you've already done more thinking on this than most people I talk to."

This validates the buyer before they ever say yes. Praise lowers walls faster than logic ever will. Mary Kay sandwiched every criticism between two layers of praise. She closed the same way.

Semko version"I can tell you've already done more thinking on this than most people I talk to — you reached out, you got Attorney Semko to review your case, you're ahead of the game."

Where: Right after they share their reason (§3) — affirm before you ever mention money.

3"Tell me what you'd want a year from now to feel proud of saying yes today."

This elevates the decision from transaction to identity. Buyers don't buy products, they buy who they get to become. Mary Kay didn't sell cosmetics. She sold who women wanted to become.

Semko version"Picture a year from now — a background check comes back completely clean. What does that open up for you?"

Where: Bridge from Reason Validation into the close — sell the person they become with a clean record, not paperwork.

4"I'd rather lose this deal than sell you something that won't actually work for you."

This kills the buyer's defenses on the spot. Trust is the only real shortcut to a yes. Mary Kay built her empire on the Golden Rule. Treat them how you'd want to be treated.

Semko version"Honestly, Attorney Semko would rather turn a case away than file something that won't actually clear your record. He personally reviewed yours — that's exactly why I can tell you you're eligible."

Where: Skeptical clients ("how do I know this is legit?") — pairs with the former-prosecutor line.

5"What's the part of this you're most excited about?"

This pulls the buyer toward yes by making them name the win. The brain commits to whatever you let it focus on. Mary Kay praised people to success. You can praise buyers right into a yes.

Semko version"So what part are you most excited about — the clean background checks for jobs, the housing applications, or just finally closing that chapter?"

Where: Right before Cost & Payment (§6) — they name the win, then you present the price while they're focused on it.

6"I'm going to tell you what I'd want someone to tell me if I were in your seat."

This drops the sales mask and replaces it with honesty. Buyers buy from humans, not pitches. Mary Kay's motto was God first, family second, career third. The sale always came after the person.

Semko version"Let me tell you what I'd want someone to tell me if I were in your seat: you're already approved, the hard part is done, and the only thing left is picking how you want to pay."

Where: Hesitation at the close — human-to-human honesty right before re-asking full pay vs. plan.

7"Whatever you decide, you're going to handle this well."

This hands the buyer back their power right before the close. People say yes faster when they don't feel cornered. Mary Kay believed in women before they believed in themselves. That's how she built an army of 800,000.

Semko version"Whatever you decide today, you're going to handle this well. And you're approved right now — so my job is just to make getting started easy for you."

Where: "I need to think about it" — release the pressure, then hold the door open.

💡 Her secret: She didn't close buyers. She elevated them. She made every person on the other end of the conversation feel like the most important one in the room. Most reps lean on pressure and urgency — they lose buyers who would have bought from someone who actually saw them. These phrases only work if you can deliver them on a real call without sounding rehearsed.

🎯 Zig Ziglar — Urgency Without Pressure

Trained more commission reps than anyone in history · 7 phrases

▼

1"What is it costing you to not have this right now?"

Most reps talk about the price of yes. Ziglar taught reps to talk about the price of no. Every day a buyer waits is a day the problem stays. Make the cost of waiting more visible than the cost of buying and urgency creates itself.

Semko version"Let me ask you the other side of that — what's it costing you to keep this on your record? Every application, every background check, every apartment you don't even apply for."

Where: "I need to think about it" / price hesitation — flip the frame from the cost of yes to the cost of no.

2"The timing is never perfect. The question is whether this problem is costing you right now."

Ziglar said it plainly: if you wait for all lights to be green you'll never leave the house. Your buyer will always find a reason to wait. Your job is to make staying still feel more expensive than moving forward.

Semko version"The timing's never perfect — there's always a bill, always next month. The real question is whether this record is costing you something right now. And if it shows up on background checks, it is."

Where: "Can I call you back?" and other delay objections.

3"How does this problem make you feel every day?"

Ziglar's core truth: logic justifies. Emotion decides. When a buyer connects the problem to a feeling — frustration, stress, wasted money — urgency stops being your tactic. It becomes their idea.

Semko version"Can I ask — how does it feel every time an application asks about your record?" (use gently; then listen)

Where: Reason Validation (§3), for clients giving flat, logical answers — connect the record to a feeling, then let them talk.

4"Would you like to take it with you or should we get it sent out?"

The assumptive close Ziglar taught for 50 years straight. It doesn't ask if they want it. It assumes they do and asks about the logistics. Buyers who haven't said no often just need someone to move them forward.

Semko version"Which would you like to do — pay in full or get on the payment plan?"

Where: This IS our Cost & Payment close (§6). "Intentionally Presumptive" is Ziglar's assumptive close — you're not asking if, you're asking which.

5"Here's what you stand to lose by waiting."

Ziglar wrote this in 1984. Neuroscience proved him right in 2003. Buyers are twice as motivated by what they might lose as by what they might gain. Stop selling the benefit. Start naming the loss. That's where urgency lives.

Semko version"Here's what waiting actually costs: nothing gets filed until you start, and every month unfiled is another month this record shows up on every job and housing check you go through."

Where: Close reinforcement — pairs with our "filed once paid in full" line.

6"When you pay too much you lose a little money. When you pay too little you sometimes lose everything."

Ziglar's price reframe still works word for word today. Shift their eyes from what it costs to buy to what it costs to buy wrong. That's a very different conversation.

Semko version"When you pay too much, you lose a little money. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything — a botched filing can burn your shot. That's why a former Lake County prosecutor handles your case, not a fill-in-the-blank website."

Where: "That's more than I expected" / comparing us to cheap DIY expungement sites.

7"You haven't said no yet."

The word "yet" does all the work. It acknowledges hesitation without accepting it as final. It keeps the door open without forcing it. And it signals the rep is still there — calm, confident, not going anywhere.

Semko version"Hey, you never said no — you just hadn't started yet. Good news is you're still approved. Want to knock this out today?"

Where: Callback and follow-up calls (Call List / missed appointments) — reopens without pressure.

🖥️ Portal Guide — Details Panel

When you click on a case, the Details Panel opens showing all the client's information. Here's what each section contains:

📋 Client Details Panel

Name: First, Middle, Last Name

Date of Birth: DOB with calculated age

💡 Reason Client Wants Expungement: Use this to connect with the client on the call

Currently Employed: Yes / No job / No job, but can pay $75

Phone Number + Call button: Client's phone in (xxx) xxx-xxxx format — click Call to dial through CallRail; recent call history appears just below

📅 Book Appointment: Schedule follow-up appointments directly to the Lawmatics calendar (date, time, time zone, host)

Client Time Zone: Shown when known — schedule calls and appointments around it

Documents: Email documents to the client or upload documents to their file

Case Numbers / County(s) / Court Cases: The specific cases being expunged and which counties they're in

Intake Notes: Notes from the intake process + Refresh button

📝 Add Note: At the very bottom of the panel — click Expand, type your note, then Send to Lawmatics. Add a note after every connected sales call.

💡 Pro Tip: Before calling a client, review their "Reason Client Wants Expungement" field and Intake Notes. This lets you personalize the conversation and build trust immediately.

📊 Dashboard Cards

The dashboard shows key metrics at a glance:

Fully Paid

Clients who paid in full

Payment Plan

Active payment plans with scheduled charges

Filed

Cases filed with the court

💡 Date Filter: Use the date picker above the Paid Clients cards to filter by time period. Click any card to see the clients for that filtered range.

💳 Customer Payments — How It Works

Access Customer Payments from the sidebar. Your portal login is all you need — no PIN required.

💵 Full Pay Now

Use this when a client wants to pay their entire balance today. No payment plan fee applies to full pay — a great close lever.

Search for the client by name — their fee auto-populates
Verify/update their email, phone, address, SSN, and driver license
Confirm the payment amount
Enter their card information
Click "Charge Now" — card is charged immediately
Client is automatically moved to "Semko Paid In Full" stage in Lawmatics

✅ After Charge: Address, SSN, Driver License, and other details are pushed to Lawmatics automatically. A receipt email is sent to the client.

📅 New Payment Plan

Use this for clients who want to pay over time.

Search for the client — fee auto-populates as the Expungement Fee
Add the Payment Plan Fee — based on payoff length: $100 (6 mo or less) · $175 (over 6–9 mo) · $275 (over 9–12 mo) · $375 (over 12 mo). Quote it with the sidebar Payment Plan Calculator
Enter First Payment Amount and First Payment Date (usually today)
Enter Each Payment Amount and set Recurring Payments Start date
Choose Payment Frequency — Weekly, Bi-weekly, Monthly, Twice Monthly, or Custom
Fill in address, SSN, driver license, and card info
Review the payment schedule preview before submitting
Click "Activate Payment Plan"

💡 Save for Later: Client not ready to finish? Click Save for Later at the top of the payment window to keep everything you've typed (name, contact, plan setup) and pick it up on your next call. For security, the SSN and card number are never saved — re-enter those when you resume. Drafts are saved in your own browser only.

📊 Payment Schedule Preview

#1 May 7, 2026 CHARGES TODAY$50.00

#2 May 16, 2026$75.00

#3 May 30, 2026$75.00

#4 Jun 13, 2026$75.00

Total$275.00

⚙️ Managing Active Plans

Click "Manage Active Plans" to view all existing payment plans. From each plan you can:

✏️ Edit Plan

Change amount, frequency, dates, card

💵 Record Payment

Cash, check, Zelle, etc.

⚡ Extra Payment

Charge custom amount to card on file

🔄 Retry

Retry failed payments

⏸️ Pause/Resume

Temporarily halt payments

❌ Cancel

Cancel the plan entirely

💡 Extra Payment = full payoff shortcut: If a client wants to pay off their remaining balance, use Extra Payment for the full remaining amount — the portal automatically removes the remaining schedule, completes the plan, and moves them to Fully Paid in Lawmatics. No manual cleanup needed.

💡 Refunds: Refunds are processed in the Stripe Dashboard, then recorded in the portal — click the client's "✓ Paid" badge to mark the refund. The portal records it for the books only; it never moves money itself.

💡 Automatic Charges: Payments are automatically charged at 1:00 PM Chicago time daily. If a payment fails, you'll see it in the "Fails" count on the Payment Plan card — click it to see which clients need attention. Staff who opted in under Admin → "Receive Payment Fails Texts" also get a text alert shortly after a charge fails, even on weekends.

💳 Payment Declines

What to do when an over-the-phone payment fails — Full Pay or Payment Plan, first-time setup. Start with the rule, learn the three doors, walk the five scenarios (tap the gold dots), then use the decline-code reference to understand exactly why a card bounced.

The Golden Rule

Same card → Fails → Retry (re-type nothing).
New card, or the card was never accepted → red Failed draft (re-type only the card).
The card is stored the moment Stripe accepts it — which happens before the charge is attempted. Where the failure happened decides which door you use.

1Right here, same screen

The form is still live and the button still says Charge Now / Activate. Fix the problem (usually a card typo) and press it again.

When: card-setup errors, form still open

2Saved Drafts — red card

You left the screen or the charge itself declined. Every failure gets a red card here; the card tells you if it reopens the form or jumps to the plan.

When: any failure, any time later

3Fails list

Same clients as the red pointer cards, money-first view with the decline reason. Both routes end at the plan's red row → Retry / Swap Card.

When: a plan exists with a failed payment

The Five Scenarios

Full Pay — charge declined, retrying the SAME card

Card accepted; the bank refused the money. The payment record and card are already saved.

▼ Tap the dots

✗ Payment Declined

Your card was declined.

Client info auto-saved to Saved Drafts — reopen it to retry with a new card. Same card? Use the Fails list → Retry (no re-entry).

Fails 1

#1Aug 26$2,995.87✗ FailedRetry

The decline box names both doors. For a same-card retry, the Fails path — the card is already stored, nothing gets re-typed.

Click the red Fails chip in the Customer Payments weekly bar — everyone with an uncured failed payment, with the decline reason and what it means.

Open the client, hit Retry on the red row — re-charges the stored card instantly. On success the client leaves Fails automatically.

Steps: Decline box → Fails chip → client → red row → Retry. Total re-typing: none.

Full Pay — client gives a DIFFERENT card

Retry only re-runs the stored card — a new card goes through the red Failed draft.

▼ Tap the dot

FailedFull PayRex Lewis

Auto-saved Aug 26, 2:31 PM · SSN & card not stored

✗ Your card was declined. (do_not_honor)

Visa · credit · •••• 4242 · US

▶ Click to reopen the form — re-enter card only

Auto-saved the moment the charge declined — everything except card and SSN. Click to reopen the form fully restored; type the new card + SSN and charge. Deletes itself once a charge succeeds.

Steps: Red draft → enter NEW card + SSN → Charge Now. Total re-typing: card + SSN only.

Payment Plan — first charge declined, SAME card

The plan was created and the card stored; only payment #1 bounced.

▼ Tap the dot

✗ Payment Declined

Your card was declined. Plan created but first payment failed.

The plan and card are saved — use the Fails list → Retry to re-run payment #1 (no re-entry needed). No form draft is created here: redoing setup would make a duplicate plan.

Key difference: the plan already exists with the full schedule. NEVER redo the setup — that creates a duplicate plan. Fails → client → red row #1 → Retry. The rest of the schedule is untouched.

Steps: Fails chip → client → payment #1 red row → Retry. Total re-typing: none.

Payment Plan — first charge declined, DIFFERENT card

The stored card is dead. Swap Card puts the new card on the SAME plan — no re-typing, no duplicate plan.

▼ Tap the dots

Laura Wesley — Payment Plan

💳 Mastercard •••• 8210 Swap Card

#1Aug 26$350.00✗ FailedRetry

#2Sep 2$150.00○ Upcoming

Swap Card sits next to the card on file inside the plan. Blank Stripe field, secures the new card to the SAME plan and customer — same schedule, same amounts, nothing retyped, no duplicate plan.

After the swap, Retry on the red row charges the NEW card. On success: row turns green, client leaves Fails, red pointer card disappears from Saved Drafts.

Steps: Open the plan (red pointer card or Fails) → Swap Card → enter new card → Retry. Total re-typing: the card only.

Card never accepted — Full Pay OR Payment Plan

Bad number, failed CVC/zip check, or an error during "Securing card…". Nothing was created — no plan, no stored card. These clients are NOT in Fails.

▼ Tap the dot

FailedPlanLaura Wesley

Auto-saved Aug 26, 4:02 PM · SSN & card not stored

✗ Your card's security code is incorrect.

▶ Click to reopen the form — re-enter card only

Everything typed — including the whole plan structure — auto-saved on failure. Often you don't even need the draft: if the form is still open, fix the card and press the button again (Door 1). The draft is the safety net if the client hangs up and you close the screen.

Steps: Fix in place if the form is still open; otherwise red draft → verify card details with the client → enter card + SSN → submit.

Decline Codes — What the Bank Is Actually Saying

Every failed payment carries a decline code from Stripe. It shows on the Fails card, the red draft, and the Attempt History. Four codes make up most of our declines — know these cold.

Most Frequent Declines

1Insufficient Fundsinsufficient_funds

The bank says there isn't enough available balance — but this doesn't always mean the customer has no money. People often keep their cards locked in their banking app and unlock them only when they're about to spend; a locked card frequently comes back as insufficient funds. It can also mean a low balance on this card while their money sits elsewhere.

Remedy — Don't assume, ask. "It looks like the card came back as insufficient funds — some banks show that when the card is locked. Can you check your banking app and unlock it, or is there another card you'd like to use?" Unlocked / funds moved → Fails → Retry. Different card → red draft (Full Pay) or Swap Card (Plan).

2Do Not Honordo_not_honor✓ A "Good" Decline

The customer's bank refused the charge without giving a reason — and that's usually fraud protection doing its job, not a problem with the customer or their money. We're a new merchant to their bank, and the amount is larger than their typical purchase, so the bank taps the brakes. The customer usually receives an immediate text and/or email from their bank asking "Do you authorize this transaction?" Once they reply yes, the same card goes through on retry.

Remedy — act immediately, while they're on the phone — "Your bank flagged the charge for your protection — totally normal. Check your texts or email right now for a message from your bank asking you to approve it. Reply yes, or call the number on the back of your card and tell them to authorize the charge from Semko Law Office." Then Fails → Retry with the same card. Speed matters: the authorization window and the customer's motivation are both highest in the first few minutes.

3Card Not Supportedcard_not_supported✓ A "Good" Decline

The card type blocks this kind of purchase by default — common with prepaid, government-benefit, HSA/FSA and some debit cards. Often this is the bank's fraud protection, not a problem with the customer or their money. The card itself may be fine for groceries and still refuse us.

Remedy — reassure, then act — "Your card type blocked this purchase category — it's a bank setting, not you, and usually just fraud protection. Call the number on the back of the card, ask them to allow charges from Hypenow Expungements, then tap Retry in your text link." If the bank won't allow it → different card: red draft (Full Pay) or Swap Card (Plan).

4Transaction Not Allowedtransaction_not_allowed✓ A "Good" Decline

The bank has a restriction on the card that blocks this kind of transaction — a merchant-category or online-purchase block, a spending control the customer set, or an international/currency rule. Often this is the bank's fraud protection. It's a hard decline: retrying without the customer doing anything fails again. Card details are correct and this is not a money problem.

Remedy — reassure, then act while they're on the phone — "Your bank has a restriction on the card that's blocking this type of charge — usually just fraud protection, nothing wrong on your end. Call the number on the back, ask them to enable it for Hypenow Expungements, then tap Retry in your text link. Takes a couple of minutes." If the bank won't lift it → different card (red draft / Swap Card).

5Card Velocity Exceededcard_velocity_exceeded

The customer hit a limit on the card — balance, credit limit, daily spending limit, or number of transactions in a window. Our charge is often the biggest transaction of their week, so daily-limit trips are common even when the money is there.

Remedy — The customer contacts their card issuer to raise or reset the limit (many banking apps let them do it themselves in minutes), or waits until the limit window resets (often the next day), or uses a different card. Same card later → Fails → Retry. Different card → red draft / Swap Card.

All Decline Codes, A–Z

The complete reference — same definitions and next steps the Fails cards show. Codes not listed fall back to the raw reason from Stripe.

Code	What it means	Resolution
authentication_required	Card requires authentication (3D Secure)	Ask client to retry or contact their card issuer.
approve_with_id	Payment can't be authorized	Retry the payment. If still failing, client contacts card issuer.
call_issuer	Card declined for unknown reason	Client needs to call their card issuer.
card_not_supported	Card doesn't support this type of purchase	Client contacts card issuer or uses a different card. See Most Frequent #3.
card_velocity_exceeded	Exceeded balance, credit limit, or transaction limit	Client contacts card issuer. See Most Frequent #4.
do_not_honor	Card declined for unknown reason — usually the bank's fraud protection	Client authorizes the charge with their bank, then Retry. See Most Frequent #2.
duplicate_transaction	Identical transaction submitted recently	Check if a recent payment already exists before retrying.
expired_card	Card has expired	Client needs to provide a new card.
fraudulent	Payment declined	Client should contact their card issuer.
generic_decline	Card declined	Client needs to contact their card issuer.
incorrect_cvc	CVC number is incorrect	Client provides the correct CVC — usually fixable in the same screen.
incorrect_number	Card number is incorrect	Client provides the correct card number — usually fixable in the same screen.
incorrect_zip	Billing zip code is incorrect	Client provides the correct billing zip.
insufficient_funds	Insufficient funds — or a locked card	Ask about a locked card first; unlock or fund, then Retry. See Most Frequent #1.
invalid_account	Card or account is invalid	Client contacts card issuer to check the card.
invalid_amount	Payment amount invalid or exceeds limit	Client checks with card issuer about purchase limits.
invalid_cvc	CVC number is incorrect	Client retries with the correct CVC.
invalid_expiry_month	Expiration month is invalid	Client retries with correct expiration date.
invalid_expiry_year	Expiration year is invalid	Client retries with correct expiration date.
invalid_number	Card number is incorrect	Client retries with correct card number.
issuer_not_available	Card issuer couldn't be reached	Retry the payment. If still failing, client contacts card issuer.
lost_card	Card reported lost	Client needs to use a different card.
new_account_information_available	Card or account is invalid	Client contacts card issuer.
not_permitted	Payment isn't permitted	Client contacts card issuer.
pickup_card	Card can't be used (possibly lost/stolen)	Client contacts card issuer.
processing_error	Error processing the card	Retry the payment. If still failing, try again later.
restricted_card	Card can't be used (possibly lost/stolen)	Client contacts card issuer.
stolen_card	Card reported stolen	Client needs to use a different card.
withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded	Exceeded balance or credit limit	Client needs to use a different payment method.

The whole playbook in one breath:
Button still active? → fix and press it again.
Otherwise → Saved Drafts, find the red card, do what it says: "Reopen the form" → card + SSN only · "Open the plan" → Retry (same card) or Swap Card → Retry (new card).
do_not_honor? Good decline — customer authorizes with their bank right now, then Retry. insufficient_funds? Ask about a locked card before assuming no money.

⚖️ About the Attorney

Attorney Jeff Semko

Attorney Jeff Semko is a licensed attorney in Indiana who has been practicing law for over 17 years. He is a former Lake County, Indiana prosecutor who is very familiar with Indiana criminal law and expungements.

🏢 Office Direct Line

219.802.5720

If clients want to call the office to get comfortable

📞 Expungement Phone Line

317.620.8433

Have people call us back at this number

💡 Tip: If a client is hesitant, let them know they can call the office directly at 219.802.5720 to speak with someone and get comfortable before moving forward. This builds trust and often closes the deal.

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💄 Mary Kay Ash — Close Without Ever Pressuring

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Payout Breakdown

Actual Payouts — Totals

Client Detail

🔑 Change Password

🔐 Admin

📋 Instructions & Tips

📚 FAQs About Indiana Expungements

📝 The Expungement Process

⚖️ Higher Level vs. Lower Level Felonies

✅ Lower Level — the "good felonies"

⚠️ Higher Level — everything else

🗣 How to Explain It to the Client

🔒 What You Can and Can't Guarantee

💰 Sales Tips & Best Practices

🎧 Call Coaching Guide — Winning Each Phase of the Call

📞 Top of the Call — Where the Deal Is Won or Lost

📂 Case Review — Stay High Level, Lead With Felonies

💵 Pricing Discussion — Only Two Numbers

📅 Set Up the Plan Now — Don’t Schedule a Callback

🎙️ Own the Call — Pace & Control

📞 The Closing Call Script

1️⃣ Opening — Congratulate & Build Rapport

2️⃣ Get Expungement Reason & Employment Status

3️⃣ Call Agenda — Tell Them Where We’re Going

4️⃣ Case Confirmation — Show You Know the File

5️⃣ Process & Timing — Walk Them Through It

6️⃣ Cost & Payment — The Close

🛡️ Objection Handling — Quick Reference

📌 Agent Reminders (Not Read Aloud)

🏆 Expert Closers — Mary Kay Ash & Zig Ziglar

💄 Mary Kay Ash — Close Without Ever Pressuring

🎯 Zig Ziglar — Urgency Without Pressure

🖥️ Portal Guide — Details Panel

📊 Dashboard Cards

💳 Customer Payments — How It Works

💵 Full Pay Now

📅 New Payment Plan

⚙️ Managing Active Plans

💳 Payment Declines

The Five Scenarios

✗ Payment Declined

✗ Payment Declined

Decline Codes — What the Bank Is Actually Saying

All Decline Codes, A–Z

⚖️ About the Attorney

Attorney Jeff Semko

🤖 AI Q&A — Website Assistant

Go live

Model & limits

Instructions & Tips tabs the AI reads

Website FAQ & approved public copy

What the AI actually reads

Payment Plan Setup