How Much Does Expungement Cost? Filing Fees by State

You are ready to clear your record. The first question everyone asks: how much is this going to cost?

The honest answer is: it depends on your state, the type of record, and whether you hire a lawyer. But the range is knowable. Court filing fees run from $0 to about $400. Attorney fees typically land between $1,500 and $3,000. And there are real options in between.

This guide breaks down the actual costs, state by state, so you can budget before you file.

Expungement filing fees by state

Filing fees are what the court charges to process your petition. They vary widely. Some states have eliminated them entirely. Others charge several hundred dollars. Most fall somewhere in the $50 to $200 range.

Here is what you can expect to pay in filing fees alone, based on current court schedules. These are the court's fee for the petition itself and do not include fingerprinting, service costs, or attorney fees.

A few things stand out. States with Clean Slate laws (like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan) often have two tracks: automatic expungement at no cost for qualifying records, and a petition-based process with a filing fee for everything else. If your state has an automatic process, you may not need to file or pay anything at all.

Costs beyond the filing fee

The court filing fee is only part of the picture. Depending on your state, you may also need to pay for:

For a typical case without an attorney, you are looking at roughly $100 to $400 total in most states. In Oregon, where the filing fee is $0, your only required cost is $33 to the Oregon State Police for a fingerprint-based background check if you are petitioning to set aside a conviction.

How much does an expungement lawyer cost?

Attorney fees for expungement typically range from $1,500 to $3,000 for a straightforward case. Complex cases with multiple convictions, out-of-state records, or prior denials may cost $3,000 to $5,000 or more.

These are flat fees in most cases, not hourly billing. You pay once, and the attorney handles everything from the petition through the hearing. Some attorneys offer payment plans.

Is it worth it? For complicated cases, absolutely. If you have felony convictions in multiple counties, prior petitions that were denied, or charges in more than one state, an attorney who handles expungement regularly is worth the investment. They know the local judges, the procedural quirks, and the arguments that work.

For a single misdemeanor or a dismissed charge with a clean record since? Many people handle it themselves. The petition is a form. The hearing, if there is one, usually lasts under ten minutes.

Your four options, compared

Here is a realistic look at your choices, with actual costs and trade-offs.

Legal aid is the right choice if you may be eligible and can wait for an opening. Many legal aid organizations have waitlists of three to six months. If timing matters to you - a job application, a lease renewal, a licensing exam - the wait may be a problem.

Fully DIY works. Thousands of people file their own expungement petitions every year. The challenge is knowing which form to use, how to fill it out, where to file, and what happens at the hearing. The court clerk's office can answer procedural questions, but they cannot give you legal advice about your specific case.

The DIY Kit ($149) fills the gap between free-but-slow and expensive-but-complete. You get pre-filled court forms based on your state, a step-by-step checklist for the entire process, and guidance on what to expect at the hearing. It does not replace a lawyer for complicated cases. It replaces the weeks of research for straightforward ones.

Fee waivers: how to file for free (or close to it)

Most states allow you to request a fee waiver if you cannot afford the filing fee. The standard threshold is typically 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level. For a single person in 2026, that is roughly $19,000 to $30,000 in annual income.

To request a fee waiver, you generally file a separate form (often called an "in forma pauperis" or IFP affidavit) along with your petition. You list your income, expenses, and assets. The judge reviews it and either grants or denies the waiver. If granted, the filing fee is waived entirely.

Why timing matters more than the dollar amount

Research from the University of Michigan found that people who received expungements saw an average 25% increase in wages within two years. At the U.S. median income, that is roughly $14,000 per year in additional earnings. The Sentencing Project estimates the annual wage penalty of a criminal record at approximately $6,800.

Run the math on your own situation. If your filing fee is $175 and the wage benefit is even half what the research suggests, the petition pays for itself within the first month. Every month you wait is money left on the table.

That does not mean you should rush or skip steps. It means the cost of filing is almost always smaller than the cost of not filing.

What to do next

Start by finding out whether you may be eligible. Our free options guide takes about five minutes and tells you the waiting period, the general process, and what to expect in your state. No account required. No information stored.

If you are in Oregon, the filing fee is $0 and the DIY Kit ($149) gives you everything you need to file. Your only other cost is $33 to Oregon State Police for the fingerprint background check if you are petitioning to set aside a conviction.

For other states, start with the options guide. Then decide whether to go fully DIY, wait for legal aid, or talk to an attorney. The right answer depends on your record, your budget, and how quickly you need this done.