An expungement usually costs somewhere between $400 and $4,000 all in. Simple misdemeanor petitions can come in under that; complicated felony cases with multiple charges can run higher. The biggest variable is whether you hire an attorney. The rest of the bill is filing fees, records requests, and a handful of smaller charges that add up quietly. And in a growing number of states, the answer to “how much does an expungement cost” is nothing at all, because the record clears automatically.
One quick boundary before the numbers. Some states offer true expungement, which destroys the record; others only seal it, which hides it from public view but leaves it accessible to certain agencies. The cost structure is similar either way, so the figures below apply to both.
Court Filing Fees
Every petition starts with a filing fee paid to the court. These generally fall between $100 and $400. A few jurisdictions charge nothing; a few charge more for complex filings. Some courts use one flat fee; others set different amounts for misdemeanors, felonies, and arrests that never led to conviction.
The catch is the multiplier. If you have three old cases you want cleared, that usually means three petitions and three filing fees, not one. This is the cost item that surprises people most.
Getting Your Records
You have to know what’s on your record before you can ask a court to erase it. State agencies that hold criminal history records typically charge $10 to $60 per request, more if you need a certified copy. Some jurisdictions also want records from the arresting agency, which may charge separately.
For federal charges or a national check, an Identity History Summary from the FBI costs $18, whether you request it by mail or electronically. Submitting fingerprints through a participating post office may add a small charge on top.1FBI. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions
Attorney Fees
For most people, the lawyer is the biggest line item. Flat fees are the norm, which at least gives you a fixed number upfront. Expect roughly $400 on the low end for a simple misdemeanor and up to $4,000 or more for cases involving felonies or multiple charges. Ask during the consultation for a full list of expected costs; a good expungement attorney will provide one without being pressed.
Several things push the fee higher:
- Case complexity. A single dismissed misdemeanor is cheap to handle. Multiple convictions across different courts are not.
- Felony versus misdemeanor. Felony eligibility is harder to establish, and prosecutors push back more often, which means more legal work.
- Prosecutor opposition. If the district attorney objects, your lawyer may need to prepare for a contested hearing, negotiate, or gather evidence of rehabilitation.
- Multiple jurisdictions. Records in more than one county or state mean separate filings and more attorney time.
Filing Without a Lawyer
You can file on your own and skip the attorney fee entirely. The tradeoff shows up in outcomes. Research on record-clearing has found that roughly 70% of people represented by an attorney successfully cleared their records, compared with about 13% of those who filed without one. Judges deny petitions over procedural mistakes all the time: wrong form, missed deadline, failure to serve a required party. A lawyer who does this work regularly knows which agencies need notice and what the judge expects to see.
If you’re going to try it yourself anyway, read your jurisdiction’s forms and instructions closely, confirm eligibility before you file, and serve every party the rules identify. Courts don’t forgive technicalities even when the underlying petition is strong.
Smaller Costs That Add Up
A cluster of minor charges tends to sit on top of the big ones:
- Fingerprinting, often required to verify identity, usually runs $10 to $50.
- Notarization for certain documents runs about $5 to $15 per signature.
- Certified mail to serve prosecutors, arresting agencies, and state record repositories runs $5 to $10 per recipient, and most petitions require several recipients.
- Court-ordered prerequisites like community service, substance abuse counseling, or a diversion course must be completed and paid for before the court will consider your petition.
Individually these are small. Together they can add $50 to $200 or more.
Eligibility Problems That Waste Money
The most expensive mistake is filing when you aren’t yet eligible. Most states require all court-ordered fines, fees, and restitution to be paid in full before you can petition. If you still owe $2,000 from the underlying case, a well-prepared petition won’t help you. That old balance is effectively part of the cost.
Waiting periods trip people up too. Most states require a mandatory gap between finishing your sentence and becoming eligible. Misdemeanors commonly require three to seven years; felonies commonly require five to ten or more. File early and the court denies the petition, keeping the filing fee.
Some offenses can’t be expunged in most states no matter how long you wait. Murder, sexual assault, crimes against children, kidnapping, arson, terrorism, and human trafficking are typically excluded everywhere. Some states also exclude DUIs, domestic violence offenses, and any conviction that required sex offender registration. Checking eligibility before you spend a dollar is the most important step, and it’s free. State court websites publish eligibility rules, and a consultation with an attorney will confirm them.
Fee Waivers and Free Legal Help
If cost is the obstacle, there are real ways around it. Most courts allow you to request a fee waiver by filing an “in forma pauperis” application showing you can’t afford the fees.2United States Courts. Fee Waiver Application Forms You generally qualify if your income sits at or below 125% of the federal poverty level, you receive benefits like SNAP or Medicaid, or you can document financial hardship another way. A granted waiver eliminates the filing fees.
Free representation is available in many areas. Legal aid organizations run expungement programs for eligible low-income clients. Law schools operate clinics where supervised students handle these cases at no cost.3Rutgers Law School. Expungement Law Project Local bar associations sometimes keep referral lists of attorneys who take these cases pro bono or at reduced rates.
When Expungement Costs Nothing: Clean Slate Laws
A growing number of states clear certain records automatically, with no petition, no filing fee, and no attorney. As of early 2025, 26 states and Puerto Rico have at least one statutory provision for automatic record clearing. Twelve of those states — California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia — have built automated systems that identify and clear eligible records without any action from the individual.4National Conference of State Legislatures. Automatic and/or Automated Criminal Record Clearing Database
These laws generally cover less serious offenses and kick in only after a conviction-free waiting period. If your state and your record qualify, you may not need to spend anything. Check your state court website before you start a traditional petition.
Costs After the Court Order
Even after a judge grants the expungement, the record can persist on privately operated background check sites, mugshot pages, and data aggregators. A court order aimed at government agencies doesn’t force private companies to update. You’ll usually need to contact each company, provide a copy of the expungement order, and request removal.5Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Frequently Asked Questions
This is generally free, but it takes follow-up. Some attorneys include this cleanup in their flat fee, so ask during the consultation whether it’s covered or billed separately.