VERMONT
How to Clear Your Criminal Record
in Vermont
A free, plain English guide to Vermont expungement and sealing — the major July 2025 overhaul expanding sealing to most felonies, expungement for decriminalized conduct, DUI sealing after 10 years, automatic marijuana expungement, and the 2-year refile bar under 13 V.S.A. § 7601 et seq.
LEGAL TERMS
Expungement / Sealing
STANDARD WAIT
5 years (sealing) / 10 years (enhanced)
GOVERNING LAW
13 V.S.A. §§ 7601–7610 (Act 60, 2025)
What You Need to Know First

Major overhaul effective July 1, 2025 (Act 60 / S12). Vermont's expungement and sealing law was dramatically expanded. "Sealing" now covers most misdemeanors and a much broader range of felonies including burglary of unoccupied dwellings, property crimes, drug trafficking, and pardoned convictions. "Expungement" (physical destruction of records) is now reserved for conduct that is no longer a crime. This is a significant expansion — many Vermonters who previously couldn't qualify now can.

Vermont distinguishes expungement from sealing. Expungement means records are physically destroyed — paper files shredded, electronic records removed. It applies when the underlying conduct is no longer a crime. Sealing restricts public access but criminal justice agencies retain the record for criminal justice purposes. Both result in the person being treated as if they were never arrested, convicted, or sentenced for most purposes.

2-year bar on refiling after denial. If your petition is denied, you must wait at least 2 years before filing again (unless the court authorizes a shorter period). Do not file prematurely — make sure you clearly meet all eligibility requirements and have strong supporting documentation before filing. A premature or poorly supported petition starts a 2-year clock.

What Can Be Expunged vs. Sealed
ELIGIBLE FOR SEALING (§ 7601–7602, post-July 2025)
  • Most misdemeanors (except listed violent/sexual crimes) — after 5 years
  • Burglary of unoccupied dwelling — after 5 years
  • Property crime felonies — after 5 years
  • Drug trafficking convictions — after 5 years
  • Pardoned convictions — eligible for sealing
  • DUI convictions — sealing only (not expungement), after 10 years, no serious injury/death
  • Enhanced sealing (10+ year sentences): after 10 years, no felony last 7 years, no misdemeanor last 5 years
  • All restitution and surcharges paid; no pending charges; interests of justice served
ELIGIBLE FOR EXPUNGEMENT (RECORDS DESTROYED)
  • Convictions for conduct no longer a crime — immediately upon sentence completion
  • Marijuana convictions — automatic expungement (S.234, 2016 governor pardons)
  • Non-convictions (dismissed, acquitted) — expunged, records destroyed
  • Certain motor vehicle violations — automatic sealing (23 V.S.A. § 2303)
NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY RELIEF
  • "Listed crimes" — violent and sexual offenses specifically enumerated in § 7601
  • Domestic violence misdemeanors that serve as predicate offenses
  • Stalking offenses
  • Burglary of occupied dwelling (by adult)
  • Pending criminal charges
  • Unpaid restitution or surcharges
FILING FEE
  • $90 filing fee per petition
  • Fee can be waived if you cannot afford it — ask the court
  • If denied, must wait 2 years before refiling
Waiting Periods
Non-conviction (dismissed/acquitted)
No wait
Conduct no longer a crime — expungement
After sentence
Standard sealing — qualifying crime, crime-free since
5 years
DUI sealing (no serious injury/death)
10 years
Enhanced sealing (10+ year sentences)
10 years + crime-free

The 5-year clock runs from sentence completion or commencement of a successfully completed indeterminate probation period. For standard sealing, you must not have been convicted of any crime arising from a new incident since your qualifying conviction.

How to File — Step by Step
1
File a Petition with the Court
File your petition with the Vermont Superior Court — Criminal Division — in the county where your conviction occurred. Official Vermont expungement and sealing forms and instructions are available at vermontjudiciary.org. Include all qualifying crimes from the same incident in a single petition. Pay the $90 filing fee or request a waiver.
2
Court Reviews the Petition
The court reviews whether all eligibility criteria are met — 5-year wait, crime-free period, restitution paid, interests of justice. If you have a pending criminal charge, the court cannot act until it is resolved. The court may hold a hearing if needed. Demonstrate rehabilitation with letters of reference, employment history, and community involvement.
3
Order Issued and Records Cleared
If granted, the court sends the order to all parties including VCIC (Vermont Crime Information Center), the arresting agency, and the Restitution Unit. VCIC notifies the FBI's National Crime Information Center for expungements. For sealing: all entities must remove the record from publicly accessible databases. For expungement: the court file is physically destroyed. Even after expungement, the record may appear on federal background checks — VCIC notifies the FBI but federal databases may lag.
Official Forms
Vermont Judiciary — Expungement & Sealing
Official Vermont expungement and sealing petition forms, instructions, and eligibility information reflecting July 2025 changes
Visit vermontjudiciary.org →
Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC)
Request your Vermont criminal history record before filing your petition
Visit vcic.vermont.gov →
Vermont Legislature — 13 V.S.A. Chapter 230
Full text of Vermont's expungement and sealing statutes, including 2025 Act 60 changes
Visit legislature.vermont.gov →
Find Your Vermont Superior Court
Find the Superior Court — Criminal Division — in your county to file your petition
Visit vermontjudiciary.org →
Helpful Resources
FREE LEGAL HELP
Vermont Legal Aid
Free civil legal help for low-income Vermonters — including expungement and sealing guidance statewide
vtlegalaid.org →
FREE LEGAL HELP
Vermont Law Help
Free legal information on Vermont expungement and sealing — comprehensive guides including 2025 law changes
vtlawhelp.org →
HOUSING, FOOD & BENEFITS
findhelp.org
Search thousands of free programs for housing, food, work, and more
findhelp.org →
JOB SEARCH HELP
American Job Centers
Free job search assistance, resume help, and training for people with records
careeronestop.org →
OFFICIAL GUIDE
Vermont Judiciary — Expungement Page
Official Vermont Judiciary expungement information, forms, and July 2025 law update
vermontjudiciary.org →
STATE BAR
Vermont Bar Association — Lawyer Referral
Find a licensed Vermont attorney — especially valuable for felony sealing petitions under the expanded 2025 law
vtbar.org →
Frequently Asked Questions
What changed on July 1, 2025? +
Vermont's Act 60 (S12, 2025) was a major overhaul. Before July 1, 2025, only a relatively narrow list of misdemeanors and a handful of specific felonies were eligible for expungement or sealing. After July 1, 2025, "sealing" was expanded to cover most misdemeanors (except violent/sexual "listed crimes") and a significantly broader range of felonies — including burglary of unoccupied dwellings, property crimes, drug trafficking, and pardoned convictions. The term "expungement" was narrowed to apply specifically to convictions for conduct that is no longer a crime. Many Vermonters who were previously ineligible may now qualify — if you checked your eligibility before July 1, 2025, check again under the new law.
Can my DUI be sealed in Vermont? +
Yes — DUI convictions can be sealed (not expunged) in Vermont after 10 years, as long as the offense did not result in serious bodily injury or death to anyone other than the operator. This sealing pathway was added in 2019 and remains in the 2025 law. The 10-year wait runs from sentence completion, and you must meet the standard requirements — restitution paid, interests of justice served. DUI sealing is only available through petition — it is not automatic.
What is the difference between the standard 5-year sealing and enhanced 10-year sealing? +
Standard sealing (§ 7602(b)) applies after 5 years with no new convictions since the qualifying crime. Enhanced sealing (§ 7602(c)) applies to more serious convictions — those involving sentences of 10 years or more — and requires 10 years since sentence completion, no felony conviction in the last 7 years, and no misdemeanor conviction in the last 5 years. Both require all restitution and surcharges paid, no pending charges, and that the interests of justice are served. For most qualifying crimes, the standard 5-year pathway applies.
Will my expunged record still show on federal background checks? +
Possibly — VCIC notifies the FBI's National Crime Information Center when a Vermont expungement is granted. However, federal background check databases may lag behind state updates. The Vermont Judiciary notes that even after expungement, records may appear on federal background checks. If you are applying for federal employment, security clearances, or other positions using federal databases, check directly with the agency about how Vermont expungements are treated. Keep your expungement order as documentation to dispute any records that appear.
Do I need an attorney? +
Not required — Vermont Legal Aid and Vermont Law Help provide free assistance, and the Vermont Judiciary provides official forms. For straightforward non-conviction expungements and standard misdemeanor sealings, many Vermonters file successfully on their own. The 2-year refile bar on denied petitions makes it worth doing correctly the first time — for felony sealings under the new 2025 expanded law, or any complex case, consulting a Vermont attorney is worthwhile.
After Your Record Is Expunged or Sealed

After expungement or sealing in Vermont, you are treated in all respects as if you were never arrested, convicted, or sentenced. All entities must remove the record from publicly accessible databases. You can legally answer "no" to questions about the conviction.

For general information about what changes after expungement — 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 the Vermont Judiciary or a licensed attorney before filing.