How long you wait to clear a record in Maine
When you can ask to clear a record in Maine.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.
Short answer
These are the waiting periods in Maine law. Each one runs from a set event, like the end of your sentence.
- Main remedy
- Post-judgment motion to seal criminal history record (15 M.R.S. ch. 310-A)
- Waiting periods
- Class E crime or eligible pre-2017 marijuana conviction: 4 years, counted from the date you fully satisfied every part of the sentence (jail, probation, fines, restitution, license suspension, community service)
Engaging in prostitution (former § 853-A): 1 year, counted from fully satisfying the sentence
Any conviction linked to trafficking or exploitation: No waiting period, counted from entry of the conviction
Your earliest date in Maine
Pick your kind of case and the date the waiting period runs from. We add the waiting period from the law; nothing else.
Waiting periods: Post-judgment motion to seal criminal history record (15 M.R.S. ch. 310-A)
Convictions for current or former Class E crimes, and certain Class D marijuana cultivation and possession convictions for crimes committed before January 30, 2017.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Class E crime or eligible pre-2017 marijuana conviction | 4 years At least 4 years must pass after you completely finish your sentence. | The date you fully satisfied every part of the sentence (jail, probation, fines, restitution, license suspension, community service) |
- Not eligible
- Class A, B, C and D crimes (other than the listed pre-2017 marijuana offenses); Class E sex offenses. You are not eligible if you have any new conviction in Maine or elsewhere, or a case dismissed after a deferred disposition, since finishing the sentence, or any pending charges.
Law: 15 M.R.S. §§ 2261-2264
Source: Official text
Waiting periods: Sealing of former Class E engaging in prostitution convictions (15 M.R.S. § 2262-A)
Convictions for engaging in prostitution under former 17-A M.R.S. § 853-A (repealed in 2023).
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Engaging in prostitution (former § 853-A) | 1 year The court must seal it once 1 year has passed after you finish the sentence. | Fully satisfying the sentence |
- Not eligible
- Not available if you have been convicted under 17-A M.R.S. § 852, 853, 853-B or 855, or for substantially similar conduct in another jurisdiction.
Law: 15 M.R.S. § 2262-A
Source: Official text
Waiting periods: Sealing for victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation (15 M.R.S. § 2262-B)
Any conviction, if the crime was a substantial result of your being a victim of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Any conviction linked to trafficking or exploitation | No waiting period You can file at any time after the conviction. | Entry of the conviction |
Law: 15 M.R.S. §§ 2262-B, 2264(4-A)
Source: Official text
In nearby states
- Vermont: Qualifying misdemeanor conviction: 3 years, counted from completing the terms and conditions of the sentence
- Massachusetts: Misdemeanor: 3 years, counted from the later of the guilty finding or the end of any jail or prison time
- Rhode Island: Misdemeanor conviction, first offender: 5 years, counted from completion of sentence
What to do now in Maine
Find your dates
Your court papers show when the case ended and when your sentence was done.
Look at the exclusions
Some offenses are never eligible, and a new case can restart or stop the clock.
File when you are ready
Once enough time has passed, see how to file. How to file.
Talk to legal aid
Free help: Pine Tree Legal Assistance.
Free help in Maine
Questions about waiting periods in Maine
Can I clear a conviction in Maine?
Post-judgment motion to seal criminal history record: Convictions for current or former Class E crimes, and certain Class D marijuana cultivation and possession convictions for crimes committed before January 30, 2017. Sealing of former Class E engaging in prostitution convictions: Convictions for engaging in prostitution under former 17-A M.R.S. § 853-A (repealed in 2023). Sealing for victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation: Any conviction, if the crime was a substantial result of your being a victim of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation.
How long do I have to wait in Maine?
Class E crime or eligible pre-2017 marijuana conviction: 4 years, counted from the date you fully satisfied every part of the sentence (jail, probation, fines, restitution, license suspension, community service); Engaging in prostitution: 1 year, counted from fully satisfying the sentence; Any conviction linked to trafficking or exploitation: No waiting period, counted from entry of the conviction.