How to file to clear a record in Ohio

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

Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.

Short answer

File an application with the court that handled the case. The court sets a hearing 45 to 90 days later; the prosecutor may object in writing at least 30 days before the hearing.

Main remedy
Sealing or expungement of dismissed, not-guilty and no-bill cases (R.C. 2953.33)
Cost
No filing fee to seal a dismissal, not-guilty or no-bill case (Ohio Legal Help).

Filing step by step in Ohio

Sealing or expungement of dismissed, not-guilty and no-bill cases (R.C. 2953.33)

File an application with the court that handled the case. The court sets a hearing 45 to 90 days later; the prosecutor may object in writing at least 30 days before the hearing. The judge weighs your interest against any government need to keep the records.

Cost
No filing fee to seal a dismissal, not-guilty or no-bill case (Ohio Legal Help).

Sealing or expungement of convictions (R.C. 2953.32)

Get the application from the court where you were sentenced (forms vary by court) and file it with the clerk. The court sets a hearing 45 to 90 days after filing and notifies the prosecutor at least 60 days ahead; the prosecutor may object at least 30 days before the hearing, and victims may be heard. A probation officer may investigate. You must attend; the judge decides whether you are rehabilitated and whether your interest outweighs the government's need to keep the record. Several cases can go in one application.

Cost
$50 application fee, and the court may also charge a local court fee of up to $50, regardless of how many records are in the application. Ask the clerk for the total.
If you can't pay
No fee if you file a poverty affidavit showing you are indigent.

Law: R.C. 2953.32(D)(3)

Prosecutor-initiated sealing or expungement of low-level drug convictions (R.C. 2953.39)

Only the prosecutor can file. The court notifies the prosecutor, who must notify you; you and any victim may object. The court holds a hearing 45 to 90 days after filing.

Cost
The prosecutor pays a fee of up to $50, including court fees; the court may waive some or all of it. You pay nothing.

Law: R.C. 2953.39(B)(3)

Expungement of marijuana and hashish possession offenses (R.C. 2953.321)

File an application with the sentencing court naming the offense, the date and the court, with proof that it was an eligible possession offense. The court holds a hearing 45 to 90 days after filing; the prosecutor may object. If granted, the records are destroyed, the case is treated as never having happened, and you may answer that no record exists.

Cost
$50.
If you can't pay
No fee if you are indigent.

Law: R.C. 2953.321(G)

Court self-help

Checklist: what to gather before you file

Exclusions in Ohio

  • Sealing or expungement of dismissed, not-guilty and no-bill cases (R.C. 2953.33): Expungement (not sealing) is not available for dismissed or no-billed cases involving traffic and motor vehicle offenses, felony offenses of violence, registrable sex offenses, victims under 13, first- or second-degree felonies, domestic violence or protection-order violations, and some third-degree felonies.
  • Sealing or expungement of convictions (R.C. 2953.32): First- and second-degree felonies; felony offenses of violence (other than sex offenses); sex offenses while you must still register; offenses where the victim was under 13 (except nonsupport); theft in office; first- or second-degree misdemeanor domestic violence; most traffic and motor vehicle offenses (R.C. chapters 4506, 4507, 4510, 4511, 4549). Third-degree felonies are excluded if you have more than one other felony, or if you have two third-degree felonies plus more than two misdemeanors. Third- and fourth-degree misdemeanor domestic violence and protection-order violations can be sealed but not expunged. Bail forfeitures in misdemeanor cases can also be sealed (any time) or expunged (after 1 year, or 6 months for a minor misdemeanor). You cannot be granted relief while a criminal case is pending.

Law: Ohio Rev. Code § 2953.33; Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2953.31, 2953.32, 2953.34

What you can say afterwards

After a conviction is sealed or expunged, you may be asked on job, license and other applications only about convictions that are not sealed, unless the question bears a direct and substantial relationship to the job. For dismissed, not-guilty and no-bill cases sealed or expunged under R.C. 2953.33, you may not be asked about them at all and may answer as if the arrest and case never happened. Exceptions: certain jobs (such as law enforcement and work with children or vulnerable adults) and some licensing boards can see sealed records, and a sealed conviction can be used in sentencing for a later crime.

Law: R.C. 2953.34(N)(2); R.C. 2953.34(L); R.C. 2953.32(D)(2)(b)

Get your own record in Ohio

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI), Ohio Attorney General

Go to a WebCheck fingerprinting location and ask for a 'personal-use' BCI (and, if you want, FBI) background check. You submit fingerprints, personal information and payment; the fee is set by the location and may be about $40 or more (Ohio Legal Help).

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

In nearby states

Your next steps in Ohio

  1. Get your papers ready

    Collect your case numbers, final court papers and proof of payment. Checklist: what to gather before you file.

  3. File with the clerk

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

Free legal help in Ohio

Questions about filing in Ohio

What is the waiting period in Ohio?

Found not guilty or case dismissed: No waiting period, counted from the not-guilty finding or dismissal; Grand jury no bill: 2 years, counted from the date the grand jury reported the no bill; Minor misdemeanor – seal or expunge: 6 months, counted from final discharge (end of jail, probation, parole or post-release control, and payment of fines); Misdemeanor – seal or expunge: 1 year, counted from final discharge.

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

Sealing or expungement of dismissed, not-guilty and no-bill cases: No filing fee to seal a dismissal, not-guilty or no-bill case (Ohio Legal Help). Sealing or expungement of convictions: $50 application fee, and the court may also charge a local court fee of up to $50, regardless of how many records are in the application. Ask the clerk for the total. Prosecutor-initiated sealing or expungement of low-level drug convictions: The prosecutor pays a fee of up to $50, including court fees; the court may waive some or all of it. You pay nothing. Expungement of marijuana and hashish possession offenses: $50.

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

Go to a WebCheck fingerprinting location and ask for a 'personal-use' BCI (and, if you want, FBI) background check. You submit fingerprints, personal information and payment; the fee is set by the location and may be about $40 or more (Ohio Legal Help).

Is there free help to clear a record in Ohio?

Ohio Legal Help – find local legal aid and record-sealing clinics and Ohio Justice & Policy Center – Second Chance program.

Keep reading about Ohio