Expungement and record sealing by state
Whether your state clears criminal records automatically, and how long you must wait before you can clear a misdemeanor or felony conviction.
General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Rules have exceptions; open your state for details and the law it comes from.
| State | Misdemeanor wait | Felony wait | Automatic clearing? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama From a statute-cited table | 3 years from conviction | Not generally available (narrow route after a pardon) | No; you petition the circuit court |
| Alaska From a statute-cited table | No general relief (narrow set-aside only) | No general relief | No |
| Arizona From a statute-cited table | Sealing: 2-3 years (Class 1-3 misdemeanors) | Sealing: 5-10 years (Class 2-6 felonies) | No; petition to set aside or seal |
| Arkansas From a statute-cited table | Most: right after the sentence is finished; some: 5 years | Listed nonviolent felonies: right away; some Class C/D: 5 years | No; uniform sealing petition |
| California From a statute-cited table | About 1 year after judgment (petition), or once probation ends | Automatic after 4 felony-free years past supervision; by petition 1-2 years after completion | Yes; the state grants qualifying relief without a petition |
| Colorado From a statute-cited table | 7 years (automatic); 1-3 years (motion) | 10 years (automatic); 3-5 years (motion) | Yes; quarterly automatic sealing |
| Connecticut From a statute-cited table | 7 years from judgment | 10 years from judgment | Yes; erasure by operation of law for eligible offenses after 2000 |
| Delaware From a statute-cited table | 5 years (mandatory); 3 or 7 years (discretionary) | 10 years for listed felonies; 3 or 7 years (discretionary) | Yes; mandatory expungement by the State Bureau of Identification |
| District of Columbia From a statute-cited table | 5 years by motion; 10 years automatic | 8 years by motion (some serious felonies excluded) | Yes, phasing in (automatic sealing by October 1, 2027) |
| Florida From a statute-cited table | Not available for convictions (only when adjudication was withheld) | Not available for convictions | No |
| Georgia Under review | Some misdemeanors after 4 conviction-free years | Not generally available | No; record restriction by petition |
| Hawaii From a statute-cited table | No general route (targeted programs only) | No general route | No |
| Idaho From a statute-cited table | 5 years after the full sentence | 5 years (eligible drug possession only) | No; petition for shielding |
| Illinois From a statute-cited table | 2 years | 3 years | Phasing in; automatic sealing expected from 2028-2029 |
| Indiana From a statute-cited table | 5 years (some 8 years) | 8 years, or 10 years for higher-level felonies | No; verified petition |
| Iowa From a statute-cited table | More than 8 years | Not available under the general route | No; application |
| Kansas From a statute-cited table | 3 years after the sentence is satisfied | 3 years (lower levels); 5 years (higher levels) | No; petition in the court that convicted you |
| Kentucky From a statute-cited table | 5 years after the sentence is complete | 5 years (Class D and listed felonies) | No; petition |
| Louisiana From a statute-cited table | 5 years after completion | 10 years after completion | No (automation awaits funding) |
| Maine From a statute-cited table | 4 years after the full sentence (Class E crimes only) | Not available | No; motion in the original case |
| Maryland From a statute-cited table | 5 years generally (3 years for some) | 7 years for most eligible felonies; 10 years for some | No; petition |
| Massachusetts From a statute-cited table | 3 years | 7 years | No; request to the Commissioner of Probation |
| Michigan From a statute-cited table | 7 years (automatic); 3-7 years (petition) | 10 years (automatic); 5-7 years (petition) | Yes; automatic set-aside since April 2023 |
| Minnesota From a statute-cited table | 2 years (misdemeanor); 3 years (gross misdemeanor) | 4-5 years for qualifying felonies | Yes; the state grants relief without a petition |
| Mississippi From a statute-cited table | No fixed wait (first offenders) | 5 years after the sentence and payments are complete | No; petition |
| Missouri From a statute-cited table | 1 year after completion | 3 years after completion | No; petition |
| Montana From a statute-cited table | 5 conviction-free years after the sentence | Not available | No; petition |
| Nebraska From a statute-cited table | No fixed wait after completion | No fixed wait (limited to shorter sentences) | No; petition to set aside |
| Nevada From a statute-cited table | 1-10 years by offense class | 1-10 years by offense class | No (reentry-program sealing after 4 years) |
| New Hampshire From a statute-cited table | 2 years (Class B); 3 years (Class A) | 5 years (Class B); 10 years (Class A) | No general automatic route |
| New Jersey From a statute-cited table | 5 years from the latest event | 5 years (petition); 10 years (Clean Slate) | Clean Slate route exists but is by petition |
| New Mexico From a statute-cited table | 2 years for most misdemeanors | 4-10 years by degree | No; petition |
| New York From a statute-cited table | 3 years (automatic) | 8 years (automatic) | Yes; automatic sealing (rolling out through November 2027) |
| North Carolina From a statute-cited table | 3 years for one misdemeanor; 7 years for several | 10 years for one felony; 15-20 years for more | No (automation covers dismissals only) |
| North Dakota From a statute-cited table | 3 conviction-free years | 5 conviction-free years | No; petition |
| Ohio From a statute-cited table | 1 year (6 months for minor misdemeanors) | 1 year for F4/F5; 3 years for one or two F3s | No general automatic route |
| Oklahoma From a statute-cited table | 5 years after the last sentence | 5 years for one nonviolent felony; 10 years for up to two | Yes, subject to funding (starting by November 2027) |
| Oregon From a statute-cited table | 1 year (Class B/C); 3 years (Class A) | 5 years (Class C); 7 years (Class B) | Narrow automatic sealing only |
| Pennsylvania From a statute-cited table | 5 years (summary); 7 years (qualifying misdemeanors) | 10 years for specified lower felonies | Yes; Clean Slate limited access for specified offenses |
| Rhode Island From a statute-cited table | 5 years (one offense); 10 years (more than one) | 10 years (one felony); 15 years (more than one) | No |
| South Carolina From a statute-cited table | 1-10 years depending on the offense | Not generally available | No; application through the solicitor |
| South Dakota From a statute-cited table | 5 years (automatic, minor cases) | No fixed wait (suspended imposition only) | Narrow automatic removal for minor misdemeanors |
| Tennessee From a statute-cited table | 5 years after the sentence | 5 years (Class E); 10 years (Class C/D) | No; petition |
| Texas From a statute-cited table | At completion, or 2-5 years for some routes | Not available | No (orders of nondisclosure, not expungement, for convictions) |
| Utah From a statute-cited table | 3-5 years (petition); 5-7 years (automatic) | 5-7 years | Yes, for some low-level convictions |
| Vermont From a statute-cited table | 3 years after the sentence (10 years for qualifying DUI) | 7 years after the sentence | No; petition |
| Virginia From a statute-cited table | 7 years | 10 years by petition | Yes; automatic sealing for listed misdemeanors |
| Washington From a statute-cited table | 3 years (5 years for domestic violence) | 5 years (Class C); 10 years (Class B) | No; court petition |
| West Virginia From a statute-cited table | 1 year (one offense); 2 years (more than one) | 5 years for a nonviolent felony | No; verified petition |
| Wisconsin From a statute-cited table | No added wait (takes effect when the sentence is completed) | No added wait (eligible Class H and lower felonies) | No; the judge must order it at sentencing |
| Wyoming From a statute-cited table | 5 years after the sentence expires | 10 years after the sentence is complete | No; verified petition |
How we checked this
Waiting periods come from a statute-cited 50-state survey of adult conviction relief updated in 2026, compared with the Collateral Consequences Resource Center's 50-state categories. Rules often have exceptions for violent, sex and traffic offenses. Last checked: November 12, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the state agency or a licensed professional before acting.
Cross-checked sources agree Checked on official source confirmed on a government, court or legislature site From a statute-cited table one detailed source Under review sources disagree; read the note and the law.