How to File for Expungement in Colorado
How to apply to clear a criminal record in Colorado: the petition, court, fee and fee waiver, and what happens at the hearing.
Short answer: For a single conviction in county or district court: confirm eligibility, get a criminal history report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (cbirecordscheck.com) and file within 20 days of it, then file the Motion to Seal (JDF 612) with proposed orders JDF 613, 614 and 615 in the… JDF 611 (rev. July 1, 2025); C.R.S. §§ 24-72-706, 24-72-708, 24-72-709
| How to apply | For a single conviction in county or district court: confirm eligibility, get a criminal history report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (cbirecordscheck.com) and file within 20 days of it, then file the Motion to Seal (JDF 612) with proposed orders JDF 613, 614 and 615 in the criminal case and mail a copy to the prosecutor. The court may hold a hearing and weighs the harm to the person's privacy against the public interest. If granted, the court sends the order to the listed agencies, which generally seal records within 30 days. Municipal convictions (JDF 682-686) and multiple convictions (JDF 640-642) are filed as new district court civil cases; no-charge arrests use JDF 416-419. |
|---|---|
| Filing fee | The current court guide says the clerk will tell you the fee, if any, at filing; a person who cannot afford it can file a Motion to Waive Fees (JDF 205) with order JDF 206. A 2025 court training presentation lists $65 for a motion to seal a conviction in the criminal case and $224 for petitions that open a new civil case (no-charge arrests, municipal convictions, multiple convictions); motions to seal non-conviction records, underage alcohol/marijuana records and conduct that is no longer illegal have no fee. The CBI name-based record check costs $4. Confirm current amounts with the clerk. |
| Arrests and dismissed charges | If a case ends in acquittal on all counts, complete dismissal, successful diversion, or a completed deferred judgment with all counts dismissed, the court is required to seal the records, and the process is intended to be automatic; if it did not happen, the person can file a Motion to Seal Non-Conviction Records (JDF 477) in the existing case at no cost. Some charges (for example, many Victim Rights Act offenses and certain traffic offenses) are not automatically sealed and may require a hearing. If no charges were filed, a person may petition the district court in the county of arrest (JDF 417) after completing diversion, after the statute of limitations has run, or when no longer under investigation. A case dismissed as part of a plea deal in another case cannot be sealed until the other case is eligible. |
Where to get help in Colorado
More Colorado expungement & criminal records
- Getting a Copy of Your Colorado Criminal Record
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in Colorado
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in Colorado
- Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in Colorado
- All Colorado expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
How do you file for expungement in Colorado?
For a single conviction in county or district court: confirm eligibility, get a criminal history report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (cbirecordscheck.com) and file within 20 days of it, then file the Motion to Seal (JDF 612) with proposed orders JDF 613, 614 and 615 in the criminal case and mail a copy to the prosecutor. The court may hold a hearing and weighs the harm to the person's privacy against the public interest. If granted, the court sends the order to the listed agencies, which generally seal records within 30 days. Municipal convictions (JDF 682-686) and multiple convictions (JDF 640-642) are filed as new district court civil cases; no-charge arrests use JDF 416-419.
How much does expungement cost in Colorado?
The current court guide says the clerk will tell you the fee, if any, at filing; a person who cannot afford it can file a Motion to Waive Fees (JDF 205) with order JDF 206. A 2025 court training presentation lists $65 for a motion to seal a conviction in the criminal case and $224 for petitions that open a new civil case (no-charge arrests, municipal convictions, multiple convictions); motions to seal non-conviction records, underage alcohol/marijuana records and conduct that is no longer illegal have no fee. The CBI name-based record check costs $4.
Can you clear an arrest or dismissed charge in Colorado?
If a case ends in acquittal on all counts, complete dismissal, successful diversion, or a completed deferred judgment with all counts dismissed, the court is required to seal the records, and the process is intended to be automatic; if it did not happen, the person can file a Motion to Seal Non-Conviction Records (JDF 477) in the existing case at no cost. Some charges (for example, many Victim Rights Act offenses and certain traffic offenses) are not automatically sealed and may require a hearing. If no charges were filed, a person may petition the district court in the county of arrest (JDF 417) after completing diversion, after the statute of limitations has run, or when no longer under investigation. A case dismissed as part of a plea deal in another case cannot be sealed until the other case is eligible.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.