MISSOURI
How to Clear Your Criminal Record
in Missouri
A free, plain English guide to Missouri expungement — major 2025 law changes, shorter waiting periods, expanded lifetime limits, and how to file under RSMo § 610.140.
What You Need to Know First
Major 2025 law changes — effective January 1, 2025. Missouri significantly expanded expungement access. Waiting periods were cut dramatically: felonies dropped from 7 years to 3 years, and misdemeanors dropped from 3 years to 1 year. Lifetime limits were expanded to allow up to 2 felonies and 3 misdemeanors. Arrest-only expungements now have an 18-month waiting period. If you were previously ineligible due to the old waiting periods, you may qualify now.
Missouri expungement seals the record. Expunged records are closed to the public and will not appear on most background checks. You can legally deny the conviction in most employment and housing situations. Missouri expungement also restores civil rights including the right to vote, hold public office, and serve as a juror. Records are sealed — not destroyed — and remain accessible to law enforcement and certain agencies.
Over 1,900 offenses qualify. Missouri has an extensive list of eligible offenses. Most non-violent felonies and nearly all misdemeanors can be expunged. However, a specific list of serious offenses — Class A felonies, dangerous felonies, sex offenses, domestic assault, felony assault, and most DWI convictions — are permanently excluded. The full ineligible list is in RSMo § 610.140.3.
What Can — and Can't — Be Expunged
ELIGIBLE FOR EXPUNGEMENT
- Most non-violent felony convictions — after 3 years
- Most misdemeanor convictions — after 1 year
- Municipal violations and infractions — after 1 year
- Arrest records (no charges filed) — after 18 months
- Drug offenses — most qualify, including possession and low-level distribution
- Theft, property crime, fraud, forgery convictions — most qualify
- First misdemeanor DWI — separate pathway, after 10 years (§ 610.130)
- Marijuana offenses — separate constitutional pathway (Art. XIV, § 2)
- Up to 2 felonies and 3 misdemeanors total (lifetime limits)
NOT ELIGIBLE FOR EXPUNGEMENT
- Class A felony convictions
- Dangerous felonies (armed criminal action, robbery, kidnapping, etc.)
- Sex offenses requiring registration
- Any offense involving a death
- Felony assault convictions
- Domestic assault convictions — misdemeanor or felony
- Most DWI convictions (first misdemeanor DWI has separate pathway)
- Commercial driver's license holders — motor vehicle violations
- New conviction during the waiting period
- Unpaid fines or restitution
Domestic assault is permanently ineligible — including misdemeanor domestic assault. This is one of the most common reasons Missouri petitions are denied. If your conviction involved a domestic violence charge, expungement is not available under § 610.140.
Waiting Periods — Updated January 1, 2025
Waiting periods run from the date all sentence conditions are completed — including probation, parole, and payment of all fines and restitution. No new misdemeanor or felony convictions may occur during the waiting period (traffic violations excluded).
Arrest record — no charges filed
18 months
Misdemeanor / municipal violation / infraction conviction
1 year
Eligible felony conviction
3 years
First misdemeanor DWI (§ 610.130 — separate pathway)
10 years
Previously ineligible under old waiting periods? If you completed your sentence more than 1 year ago (misdemeanor) or more than 3 years ago (felony) and stayed conviction-free, you may now qualify under the 2025 law even if the old 3-year or 7-year periods hadn't expired yet.
Lifetime Limits — How Many Expungements You Can Get
As of January 1, 2025, Missouri allows a lifetime maximum of 2 felony expungements and 3 misdemeanor expungements under § 610.140. Multiple offenses from the same case may count as one expungement if they were committed as part of the same course of criminal conduct — but simply being charged in the same case is no longer enough. Courts look at whether the offenses were committed as part of a single continuous criminal episode.
How to File — Step by Step
1
Get Your Missouri Criminal Record
Request your official Missouri criminal history from the Missouri State Highway Patrol at
mshp.dps.missouri.gov. Review every charge, court, date, and disposition. You need this to confirm which offenses are eligible and which court to file in.
2
Download the Petition for Expungement
Get the official Missouri Petition for Expungement from the Missouri Courts at
courts.mo.gov. The form was updated in 2025 to reflect the new law. You can also use the free Clear My Record Missouri tool at
clearmyrecordmo.org to prepare your petition step by step.
3
Name All Defendants in the Petition
Missouri's law requires you to name as defendants every court and agency you believe may hold records related to your case — including the court where you were charged, the arresting law enforcement agency, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Department of Corrections if applicable, and any other relevant agency. The expungement order only affects named defendants — missing an agency means they keep your records.
4
File in the Court Where You Were Charged
File your petition in the Missouri municipal, associate circuit, or circuit court where you were charged or found guilty. Filing fees vary by county. The clerk gives notice to the prosecuting attorney. The prosecutor has 30 days to object in writing. If no objection is filed within 30 days, the court may set a hearing.
5
Attend the Hearing
The court holds a hearing within 60 days of any objection, or may set a hearing even without objection. The court considers whether your habits and conduct show you are not a threat to public safety and whether expungement is consistent with the public welfare. Bring evidence of rehabilitation, employment, and community involvement. A victim may testify but victim testimony alone cannot be the sole basis for denial.
6
Order Issued — Records Sealed
If the court grants expungement, all named defendants must close their records. The record will not appear on most public background checks. You can legally answer "no" when asked about arrests, charges, or convictions — as long as you have no public record of any other crime. Keep a certified copy of your expungement order.
Helpful Resources
FREE LEGAL HELP
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Free civil legal help for low-income Missourians — including expungement assistance in St. Louis area
lsem.org →
FREE LEGAL HELP
Legal Aid of Western Missouri
Free civil legal help for low-income Missourians — including expungement assistance in Kansas City area
lawmo.org →
FREE GUIDED TOOL
Clear My Record Missouri
Free Missouri expungement petition tool from UMKC Law — includes 2025 law updates and eligibility guidance
clearmyrecordmo.org →
HOUSING, FOOD & BENEFITS
findhelp.org
Search thousands of free and reduced-cost programs for housing, food, work, and more in your area
findhelp.org →
JOB SEARCH HELP
American Job Centers
Free job search assistance, resume help, and training — including resources for people with records
careeronestop.org →
INELIGIBLE LIST
RSMo § 610.140 — Full Statute
Read the full text of Missouri's expungement law including the complete list of ineligible offenses
revisor.mo.gov →
Frequently Asked Questions
I was told I couldn't expunge my record before. Do the 2025 changes help me? +
Possibly yes. The two biggest changes as of January 1, 2025 are: (1) waiting periods dropped dramatically — from 7 to 3 years for felonies and from 3 to 1 year for misdemeanors; and (2) lifetime limits increased to 2 felonies and 3 misdemeanors. If you completed your sentence more than 3 years ago (felony) or more than 1 year ago (misdemeanor) and stayed conviction-free, you may now qualify even if you couldn't before. Check your eligibility again using the new rules.
Can a DWI be expunged in Missouri? +
Most DWI convictions cannot be expunged under the general § 610.140 law. However Missouri has a separate pathway under § 610.130 for a first-time misdemeanor DWI — if it was your only alcohol-related offense ever and 10 years have passed with a clean record, you can petition for expungement. This is a one-time-only lifetime expungement under that specific statute. Multiple DWIs cannot be expunged.
How does the "same course of criminal conduct" rule work? +
Missouri allows multiple offenses from the same criminal episode to count as one expungement toward your lifetime limit. But since the 2025 law change, simply being charged in the same case is no longer enough — you must show the offenses were part of the same continuous criminal episode. Courts focus on your actions leading up to the charges. For example, possession of drugs and possession of paraphernalia from a single arrest likely count as one. But separate incidents that happened to be charged together do not. This distinction can significantly affect how many of your lifetime expungements you use up.
Can I legally deny the conviction after expungement? +
Yes — after expungement in Missouri, you can legally answer "no" when any employer, landlord, or other person asks whether you have ever been arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime — as long as you have no public record of any other crime. This is one of the most important practical benefits. Certain disclosures are still required for some licensed professions, law enforcement roles, and government positions — check the specific requirements for your situation.
Does Missouri expungement restore my rights? +
Yes — Missouri expungement restores civil rights including the right to vote, the right to hold public office, and the right to serve as a juror. For firearm rights, expungement of an eligible conviction also restores firearms rights under both Missouri state law and, in most cases, federal law — since the expungement seals the conviction. This is a significant benefit for many people. If firearm rights are important to your situation, consult a Missouri attorney to confirm the effect for your specific conviction.
Do I need an attorney? +
Not required — the Clear My Record Missouri tool at clearmyrecordmo.org walks you through petition preparation for free, and the Missouri Courts provide official forms. For straightforward misdemeanor cases with no objection expected, many people file successfully on their own. For felony expungements, cases with multiple offenses, or where the prosecutor is likely to object, working with a Missouri attorney meaningfully improves your outcome. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and Legal Aid of Western Missouri offer free help for those who qualify.
After Your Record Is Expunged
After expungement in Missouri, your record is sealed from public access. Most background checks will not show it. You can legally deny the conviction on most employment, housing, and financial applications.
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Employment
Expunged records are sealed and will not appear on most background checks. You can legally deny the conviction on most private job applications. Missouri law allows you to answer "no" to questions about arrests, charges, or convictions after expungement as long as you have no other public criminal record. Certain licensed professions and law enforcement positions may still require disclosure.
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Civil Rights Restoration
Missouri expungement restores voting rights, the right to hold public office, and the right to serve as a juror. For eligible convictions, firearm rights are also restored under Missouri law and typically under federal law as well. If firearm rights restoration is important to you, confirm the specific effect with a Missouri attorney.
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Background Check Databases
All named defendants in your expungement order must seal their records. Private background check companies may lag in updating their databases. Keep your expungement order and dispute any records that still appear. Remember — only agencies named in your petition are required to comply, which is why naming all relevant agencies in your petition is critical.
For general information about what changes after expungement — including housing, employment resources, and more — visit our After Expungement page.
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change — always verify current requirements with your county court clerk or a licensed attorney in your state before filing.
