How to file to clear a record in Minnesota
The steps, cost, fee waiver and forms to clear a record in Minnesota.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.
Short answer
File the petition and a proposed order in district court and mail them to the prosecutor and every agency whose records would be affected. The prosecutor notifies victims.
- Main remedy
- Petition for expungement (Minn. Stat. § 609A.02, subd. 3; § 609A.03)
- Cost
- $310 civil filing fee.
- Forms
- 1
How to file in Minnesota
Petition for expungement (Minn. Stat. § 609A.02, subd. 3; § 609A.03)
File the petition and a proposed order in district court and mail them to the prosecutor and every agency whose records would be affected. The prosecutor notifies victims. A hearing is held at least 60 days after service. For convictions, you must show by clear and convincing evidence that sealing benefits you more than it harms public safety.
- Cost
- $310 civil filing fee.
- If you can't pay
- The fee may be waived if you cannot afford it, and must be waived for cases resolved in your favor.
Law: Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), as referenced by § 609A.03, subd. 1
Expungement through a pardon (Minn. Stat. §§ 638.12, 609A.035)
When a pardon is granted, the Board files it with the district court, which seals the records without a petition.
Court self-help
Get your own record in Minnesota
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Criminal History Access Unit · 651-793-2400
Search public convictions online (Minnesota Public Criminal History; it shows convictions for 15 years after the sentence ends). For your full record, including records sealed under Clean Slate or the cannabis law, submit a notarized request to the BCA by mail or in person at 1430 Maryland Ave. E., St. Paul, MN 55106, with the fee; LawHelpMN's fact sheet lists $8 by mail.
Letter: ask the state records office for a copy of your record
What you can say afterwards
An expunged record is sealed, and its existence may not be disclosed or opened except by court order or law. It can still be used by criminal-justice agencies for investigation, prosecution and sentencing, for hiring by criminal-justice agencies, and for Human Services and teacher-licensing background studies unless the order specifically covers those agencies.
Law: Minn. Stat. § 609A.01; § 609A.03, subd. 7a
Records that are not eligible in Minnesota
- Petition for expungement (Minn. Stat. § 609A.02, subd. 3; § 609A.03): Convictions that require predatory-offender registration can never be expunged. Felonies that are not on the § 609A.02 list (and were not reduced) are not eligible by petition.
Law: Minn. Stat. §§ 609A.02, 609A.03
In nearby states
- Wisconsin: No fee.
- Iowa: You must attach an Iowa DCI criminal history record check, which costs $15.
- North Dakota: No filing fee may be charged.
Your next steps in Minnesota
Get your papers ready
Gather the papers for each case before you start. Checklist: what to gather before you file.
Fill out the forms
The court's self-help pages explain each form: Minnesota Judicial Branch — Criminal Expungement and Minnesota Attorney General — Sealing My Criminal Records.
File and serve
File the petition with the clerk and follow the court's rules for notice to the prosecutor.
Ask for free help
Free help: Volunteer Lawyers Network — expungement help and LawHelpMN — Minnesota legal aid directory and criminal-records fact sheets.
Free help in Minnesota
Questions about filing in Minnesota
When can I ask to clear my record in Minnesota?
Case resolved in your favor (dismissed or acquitted): No waiting period, counted from the resolution; Diversion or stay of adjudication: 1 year, counted from completion of the program or stay; Petty misdemeanor or misdemeanor conviction: 2 years, counted from discharge of the sentence; Gross misdemeanor conviction: 3 years, counted from discharge of the sentence.
Is there a fee to clear a record in Minnesota?
Petition for expungement: $310 civil filing fee.
How can I see my Minnesota record?
Search public convictions online (Minnesota Public Criminal History; it shows convictions for 15 years after the sentence ends). For your full record, including records sealed under Clean Slate or the cannabis law, submit a notarized request to the BCA by mail or in person at 1430 Maryland Ave. E., St. Paul, MN 55106, with the fee; LawHelpMN's fact sheet lists $8 by mail.
Is there free help to clear a record in Minnesota?
Volunteer Lawyers Network — expungement help, LawHelpMN — Minnesota legal aid directory and criminal-records fact sheets and Minnesota Attorney General — list of expungement clinics.