How to file to clear a record in Tennessee

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

Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.

Short answer

File with the court in the county where you were arrested. The court sends the order to the arresting agency, jail, Department of Correction and TBI. Expunction is not automatic.

Main remedy
Expunction of dismissed charges (no conviction)
Cost
Free for dismissed, nolle prosequi, no true bill and not-guilty charges. Dismissals after pretrial or judicial diversion: $100 nonrefundable clerk fee (Knox County District Attorney; TBI says clerk fees apply).
Forms
5

How to file in Tennessee

Expunction of dismissed charges (no conviction)

File with the court in the county where you were arrested. The court sends the order to the arresting agency, jail, Department of Correction and TBI. Expunction is not automatic.

Cost
Free for dismissed, nolle prosequi, no true bill and not-guilty charges. Dismissals after pretrial or judicial diversion: $100 nonrefundable clerk fee (Knox County District Attorney; TBI says clerk fees apply).

Expunction of convictions

Get the conviction expungement petition from the District Attorney or court clerk in the county of conviction. All fines, costs and restitution must be paid and all prison, probation and parole completed. The court must get a TBI certificate that the offense is eligible before it signs the order; the DA may oppose.

Cost
$100 nonrefundable fee to the clerk of court (Knox County District Attorney).

Court self-help

Checklist: what to gather before you file

Exclusions in Tennessee

  • Expunction of convictions: Misdemeanors on the statutory exclusion list, including DUI, domestic assault, assault committed before July 1, 2000 and assault by offensive or provocative contact, violating an order of protection, stalking, child abuse or neglect, certain sex and indecency offenses, aggravated criminal trespass, reckless burning, and certain firearm and obscenity offenses. Felonies are eligible only if listed. Drug offenses committed while holding a commercial driver license in a motor vehicle, or any license in a commercial vehicle, are excluded. The offense must have happened before any conviction for an ineligible offense (including federal and out-of-state convictions).

Law: Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-107(a), (b), (d); § 40-32-105 (human trafficking)

What you can say afterwards

After expunction, the charge is removed from your public record and deleted from TBI's record; clerks must keep expunged records confidential, and releasing them except to law enforcement is a Class A misdemeanor. A conviction expunction does not restore voting or other citizenship rights by itself (Davidson County petition).

Law: Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-32-102, 40-32-104, per CTAS

Get your own record in Tennessee

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), CJIS Division

TBI lets anyone get a Tennessee adult criminal history (name-based, no fingerprints) online or by mail for $29; results are sent by email. A fingerprint-based FBI check costs $50 through TBI's contractor (IdentoGO).

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

In nearby states

  • Kentucky: No filing fee (AOC expungement page; Kentucky Justice Online).
  • Alabama: $500 administrative filing fee per arrest, plus court costs or docket fees.
  • Georgia: Arrests before July 1, 2013: arresting agency fee up to $50, plus $25 GCIC processing fee by money order or certified check payable to 'Georgia Bureau of Investigation'.

What to do now in Tennessee

  1. Gather your papers

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

  2. Use the court's forms

    The court's self-help pages explain each form: TBI Frequently Asked Questions - Expungements and Help4tn - Criminal Record (Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services).

  3. File and serve

    After you file, the prosecutor may respond and the court decides.

Free help in Tennessee

Questions about filing in Tennessee

When can I ask to clear my record in Tennessee?

Dismissed, nolle prosequi, no true bill, or not guilty: No waiting period, counted from dismissal or verdict; Dismissed after pretrial or judicial diversion: No waiting period, counted from dismissal after completing diversion; Misdemeanor conviction: 5 years, counted from completion of sentence, including probation and parole; Eligible Class E felony: 5 years, counted from completion of sentence, including probation and parole.

What is the filing fee in Tennessee?

Expunction of dismissed charges (no conviction): Free for dismissed, nolle prosequi, no true bill and not-guilty charges. Dismissals after pretrial or judicial diversion: $100 nonrefundable clerk fee (Knox County District Attorney; TBI says clerk fees apply). Expunction of convictions: $100 nonrefundable fee to the clerk of court (Knox County District Attorney).

Where do I get my own record in Tennessee?

TBI lets anyone get a Tennessee adult criminal history (name-based, no fingerprints) online or by mail for $29; results are sent by email. A fingerprint-based FBI check costs $50 through TBI's contractor (IdentoGO).

Who helps for free in Tennessee?

Help4tn.org (Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services), Tennessee Free Legal Answers and University of Tennessee College of Law Expungement Hotline (listed by Knox County DA).

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