Free Expungement Help in Minnesota

Reviewed: May 28, 2026

Minnesota is one of the newer Clean Slate states — the law only fully took effect in January 2025, which means the courts are still processing the initial wave of automatic expungements. If your conviction is old enough to qualify, it may already be sealed or may be processed in the coming months without any action from you. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid is the best resource in the Twin Cities — they have a dedicated criminal record project and regularly hold expungement clinics. If you're in greater Minnesota, the Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (Duluth) and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services are your regional resources.

At a glance

✓ Minnesota Clean Slate Act (effective January 2025) automatically seals qualifying records — no action needed
✓ Waiting periods: 2 years (misdemeanor), 4 years (gross misdemeanor), 5 years (eligible felony)
✓ Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (mylegalaid.org) runs free expungement clinics across the Twin Cities
✓ If auto-sealed record still appears, contact the BCA Criminal Justice Information Systems unit
✓ Petition under Minn. Stat. §609A.02 available for records excluded from Clean Slate

Important: This page provides general legal information about expungement and record sealing laws. It is not legal advice for your specific situation. Eligibility rules vary by state, county, and individual circumstances. Always consult a licensed attorney before taking any legal action.

Minnesota Clean Slate Act — automatic expungement

Minnesota's Clean Slate Act (HF 3884, effective January 1, 2025) provides for automatic expungement of eligible records after waiting periods — misdemeanors after 2 years, gross misdemeanors after 4 years, and certain felonies after 5 years from discharge. Records are sealed from public view automatically with no petition required. If you believe your record should have been auto-sealed but still appears on a background check, contact the court where you were sentenced and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to flag the discrepancy.

Free legal aid in Minnesota

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (mylegalaid.org) has a dedicated criminal record project and runs expungement clinics at multiple Twin Cities metro locations. The Volunteer Lawyers Network (vlnmn.org) matches clients with pro bono attorneys for complex cases. The Legal Rights Center (legalrightscenter.org) in Minneapolis specifically serves Native American clients and communities of color. Minnesota Justice Foundation (mnjustice.org) also coordinates pro bono legal services statewide.

Outside the Twin Cities, Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (legalaidmn.org) covers Duluth and the Iron Range, and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (smrls.org) serves Rochester, Mankato, and surrounding areas.

Petition-based expungement for excluded records

If your record doesn't qualify for automatic Clean Slate sealing (e.g., violent felonies, sex offenses, DWI felonies, offenses requiring predatory offender registration), petition-based expungement under Minn. Stat. §609A.02 remains available at the court's discretion. The filing fee is typically $75–100 and is waivable for income-qualifying petitioners using district court forms available at mncourts.gov. Volunteer Lawyers Network and Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid can assist with petition cases.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Minnesota Clean Slate Act apply automatically or do I need to file?

Automatic — no filing required. Minnesota courts are required to seal qualifying records after the waiting period without any action from you. If you believe your record should have been auto-sealed but still appears, contact the court and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to flag the discrepancy.

What felonies qualify for automatic sealing in Minnesota?

Under the Clean Slate Act, certain lower-level felonies qualify for automatic expungement after 5 years from discharge. Violent felonies, sex offenses, DWI felonies, and offenses requiring predatory offender registration are excluded. Petition-based expungement under Minn. Stat. §609A.02 remains available for some excluded offenses at the court's discretion.

What is the BCA and how does it affect my Minnesota record?

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains Minnesota's criminal history records. When auto-sealing occurs or a court orders expungement, the BCA must update its records accordingly. If you've been auto-sealed but still see the record on background checks, contact the BCA's Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) unit to report the discrepancy.

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