How it works in Washington
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Get Fingerprinted
Visit your local police or sheriff's station and have your fingerprints taken.
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Request your Record
Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Washington State Patrol via the WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History) portal.
Record request fee: $11.00 — Per-name online search via WATCH (results immediate). Additional WSP fees: $15.00 per notarized letter, $32.00 mailed Request for Conviction Criminal History (form 240569), $58.00 fingerprint-based conviction check.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Prepare your Petition
Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. Washington's statutory waiting periods break out by remedy: arrest records under WAC 446-16-025 require no waiting period; misdemeanor and gross-misdemeanor convictions require three years post-completion under RCW 9.96.060; and felony convictions require five years for Class C and ten years for Class B under RCW 9.94A.640 — confirm the applicable wait for your charge class before filing.
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Finalize your Petition
Take the completed petition from Step 6, the documents collected in Step 4, and the background check from Step 2, 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.
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File your Expeal Request
File the petition with the court that handled the case.
Filing fee: — No statewide filing fee — RCW 9.94A.640 / 9.96.060 / 9.96.060(2)(d) vacate motions are filed in the existing criminal case's cause number; any charge is set by the local superior/district court clerk under RCW 36.18. Reference point: King County Superior Court has no 'motion to vacate' line item (closest: Ex Parte $30 / Supplemental Motion $20); some counties report ~$50 local processing. Fee waiver per RCW 36.18.022 / GR 34.
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Work with the Court
After the Washington court confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a hearing notice or a request for additional documents. Respond promptly to anything the court asks for, and prepare for the hearing if one is scheduled.
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Receive the Court's Order
Once the judge rules, the court issues a written order either granting or denying your motion. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out exactly which records are covered and which statutory remedy (felony vacate, misdemeanor vacate, or arrest-record deletion) applies. Keep a certified copy for your own files.
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Verify the Conviction is Vacated
Under RCW 9.94A.640 and RCW 9.96.060, the court directs the Washington State Patrol and the original arresting and prosecuting agencies to update their records to reflect the vacated conviction. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the court's order is your authoritative reference. Confirm with the clerk of court and the WSP that their records reflect the order as well.
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
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