How it works in Vermont

These steps cover the court-petition process — the path that applies if your records don't qualify for automatic sealing.

  1. Request your Record

    Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Vermont Crime Information Center.

    Record request fee: $30.00

  2. Review your Record

    Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.

  3. Request Certified Documents

    Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements. The Vermont Judiciary publishes a fee schedule that includes a per-document certification fee plus a per-page copy charge.

    Certified copy fee: $5.00

  4. Verify the Final Documents

    Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.

  5. Prepare your Petition

    Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. Note the timing restrictions in Title 13, Chapter 230: certain arrest records require 60 days to have passed, certain misdemeanor convictions require 3 years to have passed, certain felony convictions require 7 years to have passed, and certain DUI convictions require 10 years to have passed.

  6. Finalize your Petition

    Take the completed petition from Step 5, the documents collected in Step 3, and the background check from Step 1, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.

  7. File your Expeal Request

    File the petition with the court that handled the original case. There is no filing fee for petitions to expunge or seal a criminal record under 13 V.S.A. § 7601 et seq. The sole exception is sealing a DUI conviction (23 V.S.A. 1201(a)) by a petitioner 25 or older, which carries its own court filing fee — confirm the amount with the court; if you cannot afford that fee, the Vermont Judiciary's in-forma-pauperis form (Form 600-00229) is the fee-waiver path.

    Filing fee: — No filing fee for petitions to expunge or seal a criminal record under 13 V.S.A. 7601 et seq. Sole exception: sealing a DUI conviction under 23 V.S.A. 1201(a) by a petitioner 25 or older carries a $90.00 fee in criminal court. Fee waiver via Form 600-00229 (in forma pauperis) for indigent petitioners.

  8. Work with the Court

    After the court confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a hearing date or a request for additional information. Respond promptly to anything the court asks for.

  9. Receive the Court's Order

    Once the court rules on the petition, it issues an order either granting or denying sealing or expungement. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out which records are covered and whether the outcome is sealing or expungement. Keep a certified copy of the order for your own files.

  10. Verify the Record is Cleared

    Under 13 V.S.A. § 7601 et seq., the court and the Vermont Crime Information Center update or restrict the records covered by the order. Confirm with the arresting agency that its records also reflect the sealing or expungement. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the court's order is your authoritative reference.

If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.

Official agencies

Court forms

Vermont record-clearing statutes

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