Expungement Cost Calculator — Sealing Criminal Records
Estimate criminal record expungement costs — $400-$5,000 typical. Automatic expungement in 10+ states (Clean Slate laws), DIY vs attorney, state-specific eligibility
How much does expungement cost in 2026? $400-$5,000 with attorney. $50-$500 DIY filing fees. $0 automatic in Clean Slate states (PA, MI, NJ, UT, CT, VA, CA, DE, OK, NY).
⚖ Expungement: $400-$5,000 typical. 10+ states with Clean Slate (automatic) laws: PA/MI/NJ/UT/CT/VA/CA/DE/OK/NY. Misdemeanor easier than felony. Eligibility varies by state.
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Estimated Total Cost
$3,500 — $6,500
Total cost includes attorney fees, court filing fees, and typical case expenses. Contingency cases shift cost to a percentage of recovery (typically 33%).
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Expungement Cost + Process 2026
Expungement (also called record sealing, setting aside, or dismissal) removes a criminal conviction from public records. Cost range: $400-$5,000 typically. Variables: (1) DIY vs attorney, (2) state complexity, (3) number of records, (4) felony vs misdemeanor, (5) whether automatic expungement applies.
Automatic expungement states (Clean Slate laws): PA (2018), MI (2021), NJ (2019), UT (2019), CT (2023), VA (2025), CA (SB 731, 2023), DE (2023), OK (2022), NY (2024). Records automatically sealed after waiting periods (typically 5-10 years from conviction + no new offenses). NO filing fee, NO attorney needed — happens automatically.
Non-automatic states: petition required. Court filing fees $50-$500 + attorney fees $400-$5,000. Waiting periods: 3-10 years for most misdemeanors; 5-15 years for eligible felonies (many excluded: violent crimes, sex offenses, DUI, gun crimes). Federal: NO federal expungement for most offenses (limited relief under 18 USC §844).
Expungement FAQs
How much does expungement cost in 2026?
$400-$5,000 with attorney. $50-$500 DIY filing fees. $0 automatic in Clean Slate states (PA, MI, NJ, UT, CT, VA, CA, DE, OK, NY). Factors: complexity, number of records, felony vs misdemeanor, contested vs uncontested. Most simple misdemeanor expungements: $600-$1,500 with attorney. Complex multi-record felony: $2,500-$5,000+.
What states have automatic expungement?
As of 2026: Pennsylvania (2018, first Clean Slate law), Michigan (2021), New Jersey (2019), Utah (2019), Connecticut (2023), Virginia (2025), California (SB 731, 2023), Delaware (2023), Oklahoma (2022), New York (Clean Slate Act 2024). Records seal automatically after waiting period (typically 5-10 years from completion of sentence + no new offenses). Still need to verify yours sealed — check state criminal record databases.
Can I expunge a DUI?
Varies widely. Some states allow DUI expungement (IL after certain waiting period), most don't. California: DUI NOT eligible under Pen Code §1203.4 (expunged but still appears on records for enhancement purposes). Texas: DUI not expungeable (order of nondisclosure alternative). Florida: DUI not expungeable. Check your state. Even in states allowing it, DUI conviction typically can't be expunged until 7-10 years post-conviction.
How long does expungement take?
3-12 months from petition filing. Phases: file petition ($50-$500 fee), prosecutor has 30-60 days to object, judge reviews + hearing if contested (60-180 days later), written order sealing records (30-60 days). Contested cases: 12-24 months. Automatic (Clean Slate): happens during annual or rolling administrative reviews — no active effort needed.
What does expungement actually do?
Removes conviction from public records for most purposes. You can legally answer 'no' to 'have you been convicted' on most job/housing applications. Exceptions: (1) some professional licenses still require disclosure, (2) subsequent criminal cases (judge sees record for sentencing enhancement), (3) certain government security clearances, (4) immigration (separate analysis — see below). FBI/DOJ records may retain internal copies. Different from 'vacating' or 'setting aside' in legal effect.
Will expungement help my immigration case?
Often NO — federal immigration law uses different analysis. Post-conviction relief via state expungement generally does NOT eliminate conviction for immigration purposes (Matter of Pickering, 23 I&N Dec. 621). Exception: if expungement based on procedural or substantive defect in underlying proceedings. Consult immigration attorney before expunging — may not help for immigration purposes. 'Vacating' conviction for constitutional defect often more effective.
Do I need a lawyer for expungement?
Depends on complexity. Simple misdemeanor + clear eligibility + automatic state: DIY fine. Complex felony + contested prosecutor: attorney strongly recommended. DIY resources: most state court websites have forms + guides. Legal aid societies help low-income filers. Nonprofit organizations (Code for America) offer free expungement help. ROI of attorney: 85-95% success rate with attorney vs 60-75% DIY. Worth cost for employment-impacting records.
What if my expungement is denied?
Options: (1) Appeal to next-level court (usually higher-cost + lower-success). (2) Wait and reapply — many denials are for procedural defects or insufficient waiting period. (3) Alternative relief: Certificate of Rehabilitation (CA), Governor's Pardon (rare), Order of Nondisclosure (TX). (4) Federal clemency (for federal convictions). Check each state's rules. Typical reasons for denial: prosecutor objection, recent offense, ineligible crime category, incomplete paperwork.
How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost, compared with expungement?
Criminal defense lawyer cost is an order of magnitude above expungement, which is part of why clearing a record later feels expensive to people who already paid for a defence. Private defence is usually quoted as a flat fee per stage: a misdemeanour handled without trial commonly runs into the low thousands, a felony considerably more, and taking a case to trial multiplies it because trial preparation is where the hours are. Expungement, by contrast, is a paperwork proceeding — the figures on this page — and in the growing number of Clean Slate states parts of it now happen automatically at no cost at all.