How long you wait to clear a record in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin waiting periods case by case, with a helper that adds the wait to your date.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.
Short answer
Wisconsin law sets a waiting period for each kind of case. The wait starts from a set event.
- Main remedy
- Expungement for offenders under 25 (Wis. Stat. § 973.015)
- Waiting periods
- Eligible offense, judge ordered expungement at sentencing: No waiting period, counted from successful completion of the sentence
Wisconsin waiting period helper
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: Expungement for offenders under 25 (Wis. Stat. § 973.015)
Misdemeanors, and Class H and Class I felonies (crimes with a maximum prison term of 6 years or less), committed when you were under 25, for sentences imposed on or after July 1, 2009. For sentences imposed before July 1, 2009: misdemeanors committed when you were under 21. Separately, the court must order expungement of certain invasion-of-privacy ("peeping Tom") convictions under § 942.08 committed when you were under 18.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Eligible offense, judge ordered expungement at sentencing | No waiting period No waiting period: once you successfully complete the sentence, the record is expunged. | Successful completion of the sentence |
- Not eligible
- The judge must decide at sentencing; you cannot ask for expungement later (State v. Matasek, 2014; State v. Arberry, 2018). A Class H or Class I felony is not eligible if you have a prior felony conviction or if it is a "violent offense" under § 301.048(2)(bm). Also excluded: Class H felonies of stalking, physical abuse of a child and sexual assault of a student by a school staff person; and the Class I felony of hiding the death of a child. Felonies above Class H, civil forfeitures (such as most traffic and ordinance tickets), dismissed charges and acquittals cannot be expunged by the court.
Law: Wis. Stat. § 973.015(1m)
Source: Official text
In nearby states
- Michigan: Misdemeanor (not a serious misdemeanor, assaultive crime or OWI): 3 years, counted from the last of: sentencing, end of jail, or end of probation
- Minnesota: Case resolved in your favor (dismissed or acquitted): No waiting period, counted from the resolution
- Iowa: Acquittal or dismissal of all charges: At least 180 days must pass after the acquittal or dismissal, unless the court finds good cause (for example, identity theft or mistaken identity), counted from the judgment of acquittal or order of dismissal
What to do now in Wisconsin
Check your dates
The dates on your papers decide when the wait ends.
Look at the exclusions
Exclusions and new offenses can matter more than the wait.
File when you are ready
Once enough time has passed, see how to file. How to file.
Talk to legal aid
Ask for free help: WisLawHelp (Wisconsin legal aid information) and Legal Action of Wisconsin.
Free help in Wisconsin
Questions about waiting periods in Wisconsin
Can I clear a conviction in Wisconsin?
Expungement for offenders under 25: Misdemeanors, and Class H and Class I felonies (crimes with a maximum prison term of 6 years or less), committed when you were under 25, for sentences imposed on or after July 1, 2009. For sentences imposed before July 1, 2009: misdemeanors committed when you were under 21. Separately, the court must order expungement of certain invasion-of-privacy ("peeping Tom") convictions under § 942.08 committed when you were under 18. Expungement for victims of human trafficking: Prostitution convictions for a commercial sex act you committed as a victim of human trafficking. Removal of arrest information from the state repository: Arrests where you were released without charge, no charges were filed, the charges were dismissed, or you were found not guilty, on all charges from that arrest.
What is the waiting period in Wisconsin?
Eligible offense, judge ordered expungement at sentencing: No waiting period, counted from successful completion of the sentence.
Is there free help to clear a record in Wisconsin?
WisLawHelp (Wisconsin legal aid information) and Legal Action of Wisconsin.