How to File for Expungement in Vermont
How to apply to clear a criminal record in Vermont: the petition, court, fee and fee waiver, and what happens at the hearing.
Short answer: Get a petition to seal or expunge from the courthouse or the Vermont Judiciary website and file it with the Criminal Division of the Superior Court. 13 V.S.A. §§ 7602(a), 7604, 7605; Vermont Judiciary form 200-00130A (07/2025)
| How to apply | Get a petition to seal or expunge from the courthouse or the Vermont Judiciary website and file it with the Criminal Division of the Superior Court. The office that prosecuted the case (the State's Attorney or Attorney General) is the respondent. If the respondent agrees, the court grants the petition without a hearing. The court cannot act while a new criminal charge is pending. If a petition is denied, the person must generally wait two years before filing again unless the court allows a shorter period. Pay any restitution and surcharges before filing. |
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| Filing fee | There is no fee to file a petition to seal or expunge, except a $90 filing fee to seal a conviction for DUI under 23 V.S.A. § 1201(a). A person who cannot pay that fee can file an Application to Waive Filing Fees. |
| Arrests and dismissed charges | Unless either side objects in the interests of justice, the court must seal the record of a citation or arrest within 60 days after the case ends if: probable cause was not found at arraignment, the charge was dismissed before trial (with or without prejudice), or the person was acquitted. The court can also seal at any time if the prosecutor and defendant agree. If a party objects, the court holds a hearing. A person may also petition at any time, and the court grants the petition if sealing serves the interests of justice or the parties agree. Source: 13 V.S.A. § 7603 |
| Getting a copy of your criminal record | The Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC), part of the Department of Public Safety, provides your own Vermont criminal record. In person at VCIC (8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. weekdays; walk-ins after 3:30 p.m. may wait until the next business day) bring two acceptable forms of ID; the fee is $30 per copy (exact change for cash; no personal checks). By mail, send the Request for Personal Criminal Record Check and a signed Notary form with a raised notary seal, a self-addressed stamped business envelope, and a $30 cashier's check or money order payable to the Department of Public Safety to Criminal Records Section, Vermont Crime Information Center, 45 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-1300. If you don't need a notarized check, use the online Vermont Criminal Conviction Record Internet Service (VCCRIS). VCIC: 802-244-8727. |
Where to get help in Vermont
More Vermont expungement & criminal records
- Getting a Copy of Your Vermont Criminal Record
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in Vermont
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in Vermont
- All Vermont expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
How do you file for expungement in Vermont?
Get a petition to seal or expunge from the courthouse or the Vermont Judiciary website and file it with the Criminal Division of the Superior Court. The office that prosecuted the case (the State's Attorney or Attorney General) is the respondent. If the respondent agrees, the court grants the petition without a hearing. The court cannot act while a new criminal charge is pending. If a petition is denied, the person must generally wait two years before filing again unless the court allows a shorter period. Pay any restitution and surcharges before filing.
How much does expungement cost in Vermont?
There is no fee to file a petition to seal or expunge, except a $90 filing fee to seal a conviction for DUI under 23 V.S.A. § 1201(a). A person who cannot pay that fee can file an Application to Waive Filing Fees.
Can you clear an arrest or dismissed charge in Vermont?
Unless either side objects in the interests of justice, the court must seal the record of a citation or arrest within 60 days after the case ends if: probable cause was not found at arraignment, the charge was dismissed before trial (with or without prejudice), or the person was acquitted. The court can also seal at any time if the prosecutor and defendant agree. If a party objects, the court holds a hearing. A person may also petition at any time, and the court grants the petition if sealing serves the interests of justice or the parties agree.
How do I check my own criminal record in Vermont?
The Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC), part of the Department of Public Safety, provides your own Vermont criminal record. In person at VCIC (8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. weekdays; walk-ins after 3:30 p.m. may wait until the next business day) bring two acceptable forms of ID; the fee is $30 per copy (exact change for cash; no personal checks). By mail, send the Request for Personal Criminal Record Check and a signed Notary form with a raised notary seal, a self-addressed stamped business envelope, and a $30 cashier's check or money order payable to the Department of Public Safety to Criminal Records Section, Vermont Crime Information Center, 45 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-1300. If you don't need a notarized check, use the online Vermont Criminal Conviction Record Internet Service (VCCRIS). VCIC: 802-244-8727.
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.