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Common Ground News

How much does it cost to expunge your record in Indiana?

Author

Chloe Ramirez

Updated on February 16, 2026

How much does it cost to expunge your record in Indiana?

In most cases, the filing fee for a petition for expungement is equal to the court's civil filing fee (currently $156 for most courts). The court may reduce or waive this fee if the person is indigent. There is no filing fee for a petition for expungement of an arrest record that did not lead to a conviction.

Similarly, you may ask, what felonies can be expunged in Indiana?

Class D Felony Convictions without Bodily Injury. For a conviction on a Class D felony that did not include bodily injury, you qualify for expungement if you have met the terms of your sentence and eight years have passed since the date you were convicted. Felony Convictions With Bodily Injury.

Also Know, who can see expunged records in Indiana? Expunge a ConvictionYou may qualify to expunge conviction records, too. For misdemeanors and Class D (Level 6) felonies, expungement means that only some agencies, such as police, and attorneys can view the records. For more serious felonies, the records remain public, but they are clearly marked as “expunged.”

Regarding this, how do I expunge my driving record in Indiana?

Your Driving Record After the DUI Conviction is ExpungedAlong with ordering the police and court clerk to expunge the DUI conviction records, the order should also include language ordering the Indiana BMV to expunge or remove records relating to the DUI conviction from the petitioner's driving record.

How much does it cost to seal your record?

Typical costs: Hiring an attorney to handle an expungement starts around $400-$1,000 for a single criminal charge but can run $1,000-$4,000 or more depending on the number and nature (misdemeanor or felony) of the charges, prevailing local legal rates and the status and experience of the attorney.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Indiana?

For a misdemeanor or Class D felony reduced to a misdemeanor, you may petition the court for an expungement five years after conviction. For most non-violent felonies the waiting period is eight years. For more serious felonies, the waiting period is ten years and the consent of the prosecuting attorney is required.

How far back do criminal background checks go in Indiana?

Neither the application nor the criminal history report is accessible through or by a public records request except as otherwise provided by law. All applicants are required to submit background checks from every state, county, and city of residence from the past seven (7) years.

What crimes Cannot be expunged?

Types of convictions that are often not eligible for expungement include:
  • Murder.
  • Felonies and first degree misdemeanors in which the victim is under 18 years of age.
  • Rape.
  • Sexual battery.
  • Corruption of a minor.
  • Sexual imposition.
  • Obscenity or pornography involving a minor.
  • Serious weapons charges.

Do expunged records show up on background check?

Expunged records shouldn't show up on a background check because legally they don't exist. But sometimes they do. In these cases, it is even more important to have a reputable background checking agency, with a history of good candidate experience, as your trusted partner.

Can a felon hunt in Indiana?

Under Federal Law, any individual convicted of a felony is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm. Therefore, an individual with an Indiana felony under federal law may be prohibited from possessing certain types of muzzleloaders but it depends on the particular muzzleloader.

When can I file for expungement?

Most arrest records are automatically expunged after a certain period of time. Juvenile records are confidential and not available to the public without a court order. Expungement waiting period is 3 years for misdemeanor convictions and 5 years for felonies.

Can I get a felony off my record?

Expungement. The only way to get rid of a felony record is to have it expunged, which means erasing the record like it never occurred. Requirements for expunging a record vary by state. Many states don't allow violent felony offenders to expunge their records.

Can you get a felony DUI expunged in Indiana?

Instead of five years, a felony OWI conviction will require a wait period of eight years, instead of just five for a misdemeanor. If you are having issues with work due to prior OWI convictions in Indiana, call Suhre & Associates, LLC to see if you qualify for an expungement of your prior OWI conviction.

Can I expunge my driving record?

In most cases, the only way to remove violations from a driving record is by the passage of time. However, each state has a different policy that allows someone to expunge violations from a driving record. In most states, to have a record expunged, it must be a first-time offense, but not always.

How do I get a ticket off my record?

While options to squelch the bad news vary between jurisdictions, here are a few methods drivers can use to keep a ticket off of their record:
  1. Take A Defensive Driving Class.
  2. Get A Deferral.
  3. Simply Delay.
  4. Opt For Mitigation.
  5. Contact the Clerk of the Court.
  6. Contest the Ticket.

How long is a DUI on your record in Indiana?

What's more, once you're convicted of a DUI, your conviction will remain on your record for anywhere between five to ten years, depending on how many DUIs you were charged with over time, and whether you endangered someone in the process.

What is a felony DUI?

Felony drunk driving, or felony DUI, is a criminal charge in states that have expanded their DUI laws. On the other hand, felonies will result in higher monetary fines (possibly greater than $1,000) and a sentence longer than one year in a prison facility rather than a jail facility.

Is a DUI a felony in Indiana?

Under most scenarios and for most people an OWI or DUI charge will lead to a misdemeanor charge. However, there are instances when an OWI can become more than just a misdemeanor. A prior conviction is not the only reason a DUI can become a felony under Indiana law.

How long does a DUI stay on your record?

A DUI conviction does not have to remain on your record permanently. A Record Suspension can eventually be requested for those that wish to have the conviction sealed from public records.

Can a level 6 felony be expunged in Indiana?

Your Felony conviction, other than a Class D or Level 6 Felony MAY be expunged if the court finds: It's been eight (8) years from the date of the conviction; You have no criminal charges pending; You have paid all your fines, fees, court costs, and restitution obligations; and.

How much does a DUI cost in Indiana?

The penalty upon conviction of a first OWI offense in Indiana: Fines: up to $500 fine [up to $5,000 if BAC 0.15% or above] Jail: 30 to 60 days in jail [up to 1 year if BAC 0.15% or above]

How can I see my record?

Go to your local police department where you reside or last resided in the United States, request that the police conduct a local or state criminal records search and provide you with a document reflecting that there is no history of a criminal record.

What happens at an expungement hearing?

At the hearing for expungement, the court has the discretion to determine whether it will grant, or deny, the application for record expungement based upon the evidence and arguments presented to it at the hearing. There are several factors that the court shall consider during the expungement hearing.

Can you get a gun permit in Indiana with a misdemeanor?

Grounds for disqualification include a conviction for a felony or for misdemeanor domestic battery. A license can also be denied if the applicant has been arrested for a violent crime and "a court has found probable cause to believe that the person committed the offense charged".

What does it mean to expunge your criminal record?

An expungement ordinarily means that an arrest or convictions "sealed," or erased from a person's criminal record for most purposes. For example, when filling out an application for a job or apartment, an applicant whose arrest or conviction has been expunged doesn't need to disclose that arrest or conviction.

Can dismissed charges be used against you?

Charges Dismissed: Criminal Record Avoided. Being convicted of a criminal offence can have a long-term impact on your life. If you can get the charges dismissed, your criminal record will remain clean and you will not have a conviction recorded against you.

Is it better to seal or expunge your record?

The key difference between expunging a person's criminal record and sealing it is that a sealed record still “exists” in both a legal and physical sense, while expungement results in the deletion of any record that an arrest or criminal charge ever occurred.

How much is it to get a felony expunged?

Expungement Costs
Attorney's fees to expunge a felony are usually between $1,000 and $2,500, and is inclusive of all costs associated with your expunction including court appearances.

Do you need a lawyer to seal your record?

Applying for Expungement
If your criminal record is eligible for expungement, you may not need to hire an attorney to complete the process. Some states make it easy to apply for expungement, and many court websites offer expungement information and forms you can download for free.

How can I sponge my criminal background?

File a petition for expungement.
Once you've determined that you're eligible, file a petition with the courthouse. You'll have to pay a fee, and you'll have to wait for the court to process your paperwork. In some states, you'll receive a hearing date on which you'll meet with a judge to have your record expunged.

What does it mean for a case to be sealed?

Generally, record sealing can be defined as the process of removing from general review the records pertaining to a court case. In many cases, a person with a sealed record gains the legal right to deny or not acknowledge anything to do with the arrest and the legal proceedings from the case itself.

Can you get your record sealed?

You may be able to seal arrest or conviction records.
A criminal record can create difficult downstream consequences, whether the record is for having been arrested or convicted (or both). The good news is that, in some cases, you may be able to get an arrest or conviction expunged from your record.

How do you get your record expunged in PA?

Record expungement is when all records of your arrest, charge, or conviction are destroyed. In Pennsylvania, you can get your adult criminal record expunged by filing a Petition for Expungement with the Court of Common Pleas in the county in which the offenses occurred.