How Much Does Expungement Cost?

Cost is the number one reason people delay clearing their record, and it's usually based on a guess. The honest answer is that expungement is far more affordable than most people assume, and in many cases it can even be free. Here's exactly where the money goes.

The total cost of an expungement depends on three things: your state's filing fees, whether you hire help, and how many separate cases you need to clear. For a single eligible charge, most people spend somewhere between $150 and $1,500 all-in, a wide range that we'll break down piece by piece below.

The Short Answer

There is no single national price because expungement is governed entirely by state law. That said, the costs fall into two buckets that every case shares:

• Mandatory court costs, filing fees you pay directly to the court or state repository. These are unavoidable unless a judge waives them.
• Optional help, what you pay an attorney or a filing service to prepare and manage your petition. This is where the biggest price swings happen.

Court and Filing Fees

Every state charges a fee to process an expungement or sealing petition. These are set by statute and typically run from $50 to $500 per case. Some states charge a flat rate; others tack on separate fees for the petition, the fingerprint/background processing, and a certified copy of the final order.

A few important nuances drive this number up or down:

• Per-case, not per-person. If you have three arrests across two counties, you may owe filing fees three times. This is often the single biggest surprise.
• Fingerprint and records fees. Many states require an updated background check as part of the petition, which adds a modest processing charge.
• Certified copies. You'll usually want certified copies of the signed order to send to background check companies and licensing boards later.

Attorney and Service Fees

You are not legally required to hire an attorney to file for expungement, but many people do, because the paperwork is unforgiving and a single mistake can restart the clock. Here is how the options compare:

• Doing it yourself: $0 in service fees. You pay only the court costs above. This works best for straightforward, single-charge dismissals. See our guide on expungement vs. record sealing to confirm which remedy you're filing for.
• Filing service or online platform: often a flat few-hundred-dollar fee to prepare and file the correct forms for your jurisdiction, cheaper than an attorney, faster than DIY.
• Private attorney: typically $1,000–$3,000+ per case, more for contested petitions or complex felony records. Worth it when a prosecutor is likely to object or when eligibility is genuinely uncertain.

Hidden Costs People Forget

The filing fee is rarely the end of it. Budget for these often-overlooked items so you aren't caught off guard:

• Outstanding fines and restitution. Most states will not grant an expungement until every court-ordered fine, fee, and restitution payment is fully paid. Clearing that balance is effectively part of the cost.
• Multiple counties. Charges filed in different counties are handled separately, each with its own filing fee and process.
• Reputation cleanup. Even after a judge signs your order, private data brokers and mugshot sites may still display your record. Forcing those takedowns is a separate step, see how to remove mugshots from Google.

Fee Waivers and Free Options

Cost should never be the reason you stay stuck with a record you're entitled to clear. If you can't afford the court fees, you have real options:

• Indigency fee waivers. Nearly every state lets low-income petitioners apply to have court fees reduced or waived entirely by filing a short financial affidavit.
• Automatic "clean slate" clearing. A growing number of states now clear eligible records automatically at no cost to you, no petition, no fee. Check whether you qualify in our guide to clean slate laws.
• Legal aid and expungement clinics. Nonprofit legal aid organizations and periodic community "expungement clinics" help people file for free or at low cost.

Is It Worth the Cost?

Almost always, yes. A criminal record quietly costs you money every year, in lost jobs, higher-priced housing, denied loans, and blocked professional licenses. Studies of people who clear their records consistently find meaningful wage gains in the years afterward.

Weighed against a one-time cost that's often under a few hundred dollars, expungement is one of the highest-return investments available to anyone carrying a record. And thanks to faster timelines and automatic clearing laws, the barrier keeps getting lower.