A certificate of disposition is a legal document details the outcome of a criminal case. The document will state the final disposition or a case's current status.

Obtaining a Certificate of Disposition

In order to obtain a certificate of disposition, you must visit the clerk's office in the county where the case was filed. You must bring the following information to the clerk's office in order to obtain a certificate of disposition: picture ID, your full name, date of birth and the docket number. There is also a small fee of $5-$10 to receive the document. It should be known that if you have more than one arrest or court case, you must obtain a certificate of disposition for each case in the court where it was filed. A lawyer can obtain this information for you as well, the cost will be approximately $100 over the fee for the clerk's office.

Why is a Certificate of Disposition Needed?

A certificate of disposition can be needed for a variety of reasons. Essentially it is to prove that you have a clear arrest record. If you have been a defendant in a felony or misdemeanor court case, it is important to have a certificate of documentation in order to prove that the case is over. This document can also be important if you are involved in more than one case to prove that one case is closed, so another case is not impacted. A certificate of disposition can be important when applying of a job or citizenship, in order to prove to your new employer or homeland security that you have a clear arrest record. A certificate of disposition can be important if you posted bail to a bail bondsman in order to get back the collateral that you put up. A Certificate of Disposition is needed in any situation where you must prove a case is closed or that you have a clear arrest record.