How to file to clear a record in Massachusetts

Where and how you file in Massachusetts, the fee and the official forms.

Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.

Short answer

Mail or bring the Petition to Seal to the Office of the Commissioner of Probation, One Ashburton Place, Room 405, Boston, MA 02108. No court hearing is needed if you meet the rules; the Commissioner seals the record and tells the courts to seal their files.

Main remedy
Sealing of convictions by the Commissioner of Probation (G.L. c. 276, § 100A)
Cost
No fee (Mass.gov, Request to seal your criminal record).
Forms
7

How to file in Massachusetts

Sealing of convictions by the Commissioner of Probation (G.L. c. 276, § 100A)

Mail or bring the Petition to Seal to the Office of the Commissioner of Probation, One Ashburton Place, Room 405, Boston, MA 02108. No court hearing is needed if you meet the rules; the Commissioner seals the record and tells the courts to seal their files.

Cost
No fee (Mass.gov, Request to seal your criminal record).

Court sealing of not-guilty, no-bill, nolle prosequi and dismissed cases (G.L. c. 276, § 100C)

File the Petition to Seal Criminal Records for Nolle Prosequi or Dismissal at the clerk's office of the court where the case started. The judge reviews it and may hold a hearing. You explain how the open record harms you and what you have done since; the judge weighs that against public access.

Source: notice is posted for at least 7 days

Cost
No fee (Mass.gov, Request to seal your criminal record).

Time-based expungement (G.L. c. 276, §§ 100F-100J)

Mail the Petition to Expunge to the Office of the Commissioner of Probation. Probation checks eligibility and notifies the District Attorney, who has 60 days (30 days for non-conviction records) to object. The petition then goes to the court; if the DA objects, a hearing is held within 21 days. The judge decides based on the interests of justice.

Cost
Free (Mass.gov, Request a time-based expungement).

Non-time-based expungement (G.L. c. 276, § 100K)

File the Petition for Expungement in the clerk's office of the court where the case was heard, and give a copy to the District Attorney's office on or before the filing day. A hearing is held if you or the DA ask for one.

Court self-help

Checklist: what to gather before you file

Records that are not eligible in Massachusetts

  • Sealing of convictions by the Commissioner of Probation (G.L. c. 276, § 100A): Firearms convictions under c. 140 §§ 121-131H; convictions under c. 268 (crimes against public justice, e.g. perjury) except resisting arrest; c. 268A (ethics) convictions; sex offenders ever classified Level 2 or Level 3. Violations of restraining orders count as felonies for the waiting period. Under § 100A(5), the Commissioner seals only if your record has no conviction for one of these excluded offenses.
  • Time-based expungement (G.L. c. 276, §§ 100F-100J): Offenses causing (or meant to cause) death or serious bodily injury; offenses while armed with a dangerous weapon; offenses against an elderly or disabled person; sex offenses; OUI; firearms offenses; violating restraining or harassment orders; assault and battery on a family or household member; any felony under c. 265. You also cannot have any other record in Massachusetts or elsewhere (except minor traffic fines up to $50) or be under active criminal investigation.

Law: G.L. c. 276, § 100A; G.L. c. 276, §§ 100F, 100G, 100H, 100I, 100J

What changes afterwards

With a sealed record you may answer 'no record' to questions about prior arrests, court appearances or convictions on applications for employment, housing, or an occupational or professional license; the Commissioner reports 'no record' to most inquirers, but police, courts and certain agencies or employers allowed by law can still see it, and it can be used for sentencing in a later case. After expungement you can say you have no record and cannot be charged with perjury or a false statement for not acknowledging it (G.L. c.

Law: 276, §§ 100A, 100C, 100Q

Get your own record in Massachusetts

Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) — iCORI; court records held by the Office of the Commissioner of Probation · (617) 660-4640

Create a MyMassGov account and request your Personal CORI online through iCORI ($25 per request; an indigent fee waiver is available at $0). Paper requests by mail are accepted from people who cannot use iCORI. Juvenile records: use the Personal Massachusetts Juvenile Court Activity Record Information Request Form sent to the Probation Service.

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

In nearby states

  • Connecticut: No court fee for any petition under this section.
  • Vermont: No filing fee (Vermont Judiciary; 32 V.S.A. § 1431(e)).
  • New Jersey: No filing fee (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-29; NJ Courts: the eCourts Expungement System is free).

What to do now in Massachusetts

  1. Gather your papers

    Gather the papers for each case before you start. Checklist: what to gather before you file.

  3. Turn in the petition

    The clerk takes the petition; the court may set a hearing.

Where to get free help in Massachusetts

Questions about filing in Massachusetts

What is the waiting period in Massachusetts?

Misdemeanor: 3 years, counted from the later of the guilty finding or the end of any jail or prison time; Felony: 7 years, counted from the later of the guilty finding or the end of any prison time; Eligible sex offense: 15 years, counted from disposition, including end of supervision, probation or incarceration (or longer while you must register); Offense that is no longer a crime: No waiting period, counted from anytime.

What is the filing fee in Massachusetts?

Sealing of convictions by the Commissioner of Probation: No fee (Mass.gov, Request to seal your criminal record). Court sealing of not-guilty, no-bill, nolle prosequi and dismissed cases: No fee (Mass.gov, Request to seal your criminal record). Time-based expungement: Free (Mass.gov, Request a time-based expungement).

Where do I get my own record in Massachusetts?

Create a MyMassGov account and request your Personal CORI online through iCORI ($25 per request; an indigent fee waiver is available at $0). Paper requests by mail are accepted from people who cannot use iCORI. Juvenile records: use the Personal Massachusetts Juvenile Court Activity Record Information Request Form sent to the Probation Service.

Is there free help to clear a record in Massachusetts?

Office of the Commissioner of Probation (questions on sealing and expungement), MassLegalHelp — CORI and criminal records and Greater Boston Legal Services — CORI & Re-Entry Project.

Related Massachusetts pages