DC EXPUNGEMENT
Frequently Asked
Questions
Who can help me file a record relief petition?
The organizations listed here will assist you in getting your record sealed or expunged
Can I file on my own to have my record sealed or expunged?
Yes. However, having a lawyer assist you can help with the process and prevent delays in your petition. If you do it wrong, the Court only gives you 30 days to correct the filing. So here is a link to some pro se form motions (maybe work with LSPs). Here is a link that explains the filing procedures.
How much does it cost money to file a record relief motion?
There is no charge for filing a motion to seal in DC. But you might have to pay $3 to get a copy of your record from MPD.
When does the Court start automatically sealing and expunging records?
If you are eligible for automatic expungement or sealing, the court will take action within 90 days of a person’s eligibility beginning January 1, 2026. The court has until October of 2027 to automatically seal and expunge old records.
How long does it take to seal or expunge a record?
The court has 180 days to decide whether to seal or expunge a record, unless there is good cause for the delay. Whether approved or denied, the court will provide a written response to your motion.
Can a person have their record sealed if their case was terminated?
Yes. The Court will automatically seal criminal records for certain citations, arrests, and charges where the prosecutor terminated the case or the case did not result in a conviction. Also, the Court will seal criminal records for citations, arrests, charges, and convictions for misdemeanors.
Who can have their record sealed?
Any person can ask the court to seal a record, but not every record can be sealed. Records of convictions of the most serious felonies (master grid groups 1-3) are excluded. But, if that person has additional cases on their record, those other cases may be eligible.
Who can have their record expunged?
There are two ways to qualify for record expungement:
1. A person must file a written motion and prove that the offense they were cited, arrested, or charged with either did not occur, or was not committed by them.
2. Or a person must show that a prosecutor terminated their case or that their case did not result in a conviction.
What about if a person has charges in other states?
If a person has any charges in other states, those charges cannot be cleared in DC.
If a person has multiple charges, can their record still be sealed or expunged?
If a person has multiple charges in DC, then each charge can be sealed or expunged separately.
Are sealing and expungement different techniques?
Yes. Expungement eliminates a record and restores a person in the eyes of the law to the status they occupied before the arrest, charge, or conviction. Sealing hides the record of arrest, charge, or conviction from public view but it still exists for nonpublic access only for specific purposes.
What types of records are eligible for sealing or expungement under this law?
Many types of records are eligible including those with misdemeanor and felony convictions, non-convictions, arrests, charges, and citations. Learn more here.
When can someone file a petition for record relief?
A person can file a petition for record relief at any time.
What must a person do to get their record sealed or expunged?
They must file a motion with the DC Superior Court. An attorney can file a motion electronically but if a person files without an attorney, they must file their motion in person or by mail.