Getting a photo ID, birth certificate, or Social Security card
- To get a new state ID or driver’s license, you generally need proof of identity such as a birth certificate. Contact your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent licensing agency) to find out exactly what they require.
- If you don’t have a birth certificate, you can request one from the vital records office in the state where you were born, usually for a small fee.
- Social Security cards are free to replace. You can apply through the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov or at your local Social Security office.
- Many states have reentry programs that help cover ID costs or speed this process up. Check the Find Resources by State map for a local option once your state is added.
Expungement, record sealing, and your rights
Whether you can clear, seal, or expunge a record, get your voting or firearm rights back, and how a conviction affects jobs and licenses is decided almost entirely by state law, and it changes often. Rather than guess at details that could be wrong or out of date, we point you to the most current source we know of:
- The Restoration of Rights Project (Collateral Consequences Resource Center): a state-by-state guide to record clearing, rights restoration, pardons, and employment/licensing consequences, kept current and cited by legal aid organizations nationwide.
This site is not a law firm and nothing here is legal advice. Laws and programs change; if a decision is time-sensitive, verify current details with a lawyer, legal aid organization, or the agency directly.