Do I need a lawyer for this?

Not always. Most states let you file for expungement or sealing on your own, and this guide is written for that path. A few states require an attorney, and a lawyer is a good idea when the case involves violence, when you have records in multiple states, or when a denial would cost you a specific job. The eligibility phase tells you early whether your situation is the do-it-yourself kind — that is the moment to decide, before you spend money.

What if my state calls it a set-aside, a vacatur or a dismissal instead?

States use different names — expungement, sealing, set-aside, vacatur or dismissal — for similar but distinct remedies, and filing the wrong one is the most common way to be rejected. The first phase has you read your state's actual statute and write down the exact term and the offenses it covers, so you file the petition that exists in your state. Pardons are a separate executive process this guide does not cover.

Can I clear an arrest that never became a conviction?

Usually yes, and it is often easier than clearing a conviction. Most states allow you to expunge or seal non-conviction arrests, sometimes with no waiting period and a simpler form. The certified disposition you order in Phase 2 is the evidence that no conviction exists, and the eligibility phase confirms which track your state offers.

What if I don't remember the case number or which court handled it?

You only need the county and an approximate date to start. You can rebuild the details by searching your state's public court records by name, or from a background check report — which is exactly why the guide has you pull your own copy early. The clerk's office can confirm the exact court and case number once you know the county.

How long until employers stop seeing the record?

The court order takes effect the day it is signed, but reporting agencies take weeks to months to update their databases. The final phase has you send the certified order to the FBI, your state police, and any reporting company, then re-check your record sixty to ninety days later and dispute any report that still shows the case.

What if my conviction doesn't qualify under my state's rules?

Then the honest answer is that expungement or sealing is not available, and the first phase is designed to tell you that before you spend a dollar. It also points to the alternatives that do exist in some states — a pardon where available, or a motion to reduce or vacate a sentence — so you are not left at a dead end.

Clear an Eligible Criminal Record Through Expungement or Sealing

Check the current state eligibility rules, retrieve case records, file the correct petition, satisfy notice requirements, and obtain a final court order or definitive ineligibility finding.

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Who it's for

US residents held back by an old arrest or conviction — for example in hiring, licensing or housing — who are willing to follow a state-specific court process, gather documents, and pay modest fees. It fits people with one or a few older cases in a single state; complex or multi-jurisdiction histories are better handled with an attorney.

About this playbook

This guide walks you through clearing or sealing an old criminal record, from confirming you qualify under your state's rules to holding the signed court order in hand. You will identify the exact cases on your record, collect certified records and background checks, complete and file the right petition, serve the prosecutor, and follow the case to a decision. Each step names the form, office, portal or fee involved, so you never have to guess what „file the petition“ means. It covers expungement and sealing petitions in any US state, including fee waivers, hearings, and what to do if the court stalls or denies. It does not cover pardons, most juvenile records, federal convictions, or legal defense strategy.

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5 phases · 19 steps

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Phase 1: Confirm Your Record Qualifies
4 steps
Phase 2: Assemble Your Case File
4 steps
Phase 3: Prepare and File the Petition
5 steps
Phase 4: Serve Notice and Track the Case
3 steps
Phase 5: Collect the Order and Clear Your Records
3 steps

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Details

Estimated duration14 hours

Steps19

Estimated budgetUS$150–600 total; most states waive filing fees for low income

What you need first

You know the state and county where the conviction happened and roughly when. You can provide a government photo ID and a mailing address. You are not currently on trial or out on bond for a new case. You have internet access, because the first phase requires reading your state's current statute or the state court's self-help pages.