How to file to clear a record in Louisiana

The steps, cost, fee waiver and forms to clear a record in Louisiana.

Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.

Short answer

File a motion to expunge with the clerk of the district court where you were arrested or charged, and serve the district attorney, the arresting agency and the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification; attach a recent background check, DA certification letter, court minutes and the charging document.

Main remedy: Motion to expunge an arrest that did not result in a conviction (La. C.Cr.P. art. 976)
Cost: Up to $550 in total: State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification $250, sheriff $50, district attorney $50, clerk up to $200.
Forms: 4

How to file in Louisiana

Motion to expunge an arrest that did not result in a conviction (La. C.Cr.P. art. 976)

Cost: Up to $550 in total: State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification $250, sheriff $50, district attorney $50, clerk up to $200. No fees if the DA certifies you have no felony convictions or pending felony charges and you were acquitted, or were never prosecuted in time, or the case was dismissed/declined without diversion (with DA consent).
If you can't pay: You may proceed in forma pauperis under Code of Civil Procedure art. 5181; use the Certification of Fee Waiver form from the DA for the no-fee categories.
Forms: La. C.Cr.P. art. 989: Motion for expungement (statutory form)
La. C.Cr.P. art. 988: Certification of fee waiver (statutory form)

Law: art. 983; art. 983(F); art. 983(L); art. 988

Motion to expunge a misdemeanor arrest and conviction (La. C.Cr.P. art. 977)

File the motion with a district attorney certification that you have no felony convictions in the 5-year period and no pending felony charges, and serve it under art. 979. The prosecutor or agencies may object and request a contradictory hearing.

Cost: Up to $550 in total; only one fee if several offenses come from the same arrest. For a first-offense marijuana possession misdemeanor the total is capped at $300. DWI expungements add a $50 Office of Motor Vehicles cost.
If you can't pay: In forma pauperis under Code of Civil Procedure art. 5181. Human trafficking victims pay no fees.
Forms: La. C.Cr.P. art. 989: Motion for expungement (statutory form)

Law: art. 983(A)-(B); art. 983(K); art. 983(M); art. 984; art. 983(L); art. 983(H)(5)

Motion to expunge a felony arrest and conviction (La. C.Cr.P. art. 978)

File the motion with a district attorney certification of no convictions in the 10-year period and no pending charges, plus the documents required by art. 978.1, and serve the DA, arresting agency and State Police. The listed violent offenses always require a contradictory hearing.

Cost: Up to $550 in total; one fee for several offenses from the same arrest. People granted a pardon (other than an automatic first offender pardon) pay no processing fees.
If you can't pay: In forma pauperis under Code of Civil Procedure art. 5181.
Forms: La. C.Cr.P. art. 989: Motion for expungement (statutory form)

Law: art. 983; art. 983(J); art. 983(L)

Immediate expungement after probation or alternative sentencing (La. C.Cr.P. art. 985.3)

The court uses the form in art. 992; the order is served with the bill of information, sentencing minutes and related records.

Court self-help

Checklist: what to gather before you file

Exclusions in Louisiana

Motion to expunge an arrest that did not result in a conviction (La. C.Cr.P. art. 976): You cannot file while serving a hard-labor sentence in state custody.
Motion to expunge a misdemeanor arrest and conviction (La. C.Cr.P. art. 977): Misdemeanors arising from a sex-offense arrest; domestic abuse battery; stalking.
Motion to expunge a felony arrest and conviction (La. C.Cr.P. art. 978): Other crimes of violence; sex offenses and offenses against a minor victim; domestic abuse battery; drug law violations except simple possession, possession with intent to distribute, drug offenses punishable by 5 years or less, and drug convictions set aside under art. 893(E) or eligible for a first offender pardon.

Law: La. C.Cr.P. arts. 975, 976, 978.1, 979, 983; La. C.Cr.P. arts. 977, 983, 984; La. C.Cr.P. arts. 978, 978.1, 983

What you can say afterwards

An expunged record is confidential and not a public record. You do not have to tell anyone (other than law enforcement and the agencies listed in the law) that you were arrested or convicted or that the record was expunged. Exceptions: law enforcement and prosecutors; certain licensing boards (medical, nursing, dental, pharmacy, social work, counselors, insurance, financial institutions, bar admission) on a confidential basis; and use as a prior offense if you are charged again. La. C.Cr.P. art. 973.

Get your own record in Louisiana

Louisiana State Police, Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information

Request a fingerprint-based 'Right to Review' (your certified Louisiana criminal history, La. R.S. 15:588) through the Louisiana Applicant Processing System: schedule a fingerprint appointment online, pay at the appointment, and get the report by mail or email. The State Police recommends this before filing an expungement. Art. 978.1 requires a State Police or sheriff's background check dated within 60 days of filing.

Letter: ask the state records office for a copy of your record

In nearby states

Mississippi: $150 filing fee for each petition under § 99-19-71, collected by the circuit clerk; the statute sets no separate fee for § 99-15-59 applications.
Arkansas: No filing fee: the clerk may not collect a fee for filing a uniform petition to seal.
Alabama: $500 administrative filing fee per arrest, plus court costs or docket fees.

Steps to file in Louisiana

Collect what you need
Collect your case numbers, final court papers and proof of payment. Checklist: what to gather before you file.
Prepare the petition
Official forms and instructions: Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure, Title XXXIV Expungement (official text and statutory forms) and Louisiana State Police: Expungements (what to file, $250 State Police fee, common problems).
File and serve
The clerk takes the petition; the court may set a hearing.
Talk to legal aid
Free help: Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (helps with criminal record expungements).

Free help in Louisiana

Questions about filing in Louisiana

How long do I have to wait in Louisiana?

Dismissal, acquittal, refusal to prosecute: No waiting period, counted from the end of the case; DWI arrest with pretrial diversion: 5 years, counted from the date of arrest; Misdemeanor set aside and dismissed under art. 894(B): No waiting period, counted from the set-aside and dismissal; Misdemeanor conviction: 5 years, counted from completion of any sentence, deferred adjudication, probation or parole.

How much does it cost to clear a record in Louisiana?

Motion to expunge an arrest that did not result in a conviction: Up to $550 in total: State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification $250, sheriff $50, district attorney $50, clerk up to $200. No fees if the DA certifies you have no felony convictions or pending felony charges and you were acquitted, or were never prosecuted in time, or the case was dismissed/declined without diversion (with DA consent). Motion to expunge a misdemeanor arrest and conviction: Up to $550 in total; only one fee if several offenses come from the same arrest. For a first-offense marijuana possession misdemeanor the total is capped at $300. DWI expungements add a $50 Office of Motor Vehicles cost. Motion to expunge a felony arrest and conviction: Up to $550 in total; one fee for several offenses from the same arrest. People granted a pardon (other than an automatic first offender pardon) pay no processing fees.

How do I get a copy of my criminal record in Louisiana?

Is there free help to clear a record in Louisiana?

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (helps with criminal record expungements).