Free Expungement Help in Minnesota
Last reviewed: May 27, 2026 · Resource links checked: 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.
Quick answer: free expungement help in Minnesota
In Minnesota, free expungement help may be available through nonprofit legal aid, local clinics, court fee waivers, and Clean Slate automatic sealing programs. Start with the verified organizations below, then confirm whether your court costs or filing fees can be waived.
✅ Clean Slate / Automatic Sealing
Yes — Minnesota's Clean Slate Act (HF 3884, Session Law 2023, ch. 52) took effect January 1, 2025. It 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.
How to get a fee waiver in Minnesota
Petition for expungement under Minn. Stat. §609A.02 — file a fee waiver motion using district court forms (available at mncourts.gov). The Clean Slate automatic expungement has no fee. For petition-based expungement, the court filing fee is typically $75–100 and is waivable for income-qualifying petitioners.
Fee waivers (also called Affidavit of Indigency or In Forma Pauperis petition) are typically available if your household income is at or below 125–200% of the federal poverty level, or if you currently receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, or veterans benefits based on need.
Who should start with free legal aid?
Start here if money is the barrier
Legal aid is usually the best first step if filing fees, attorney fees, or document costs would stop you from pursuing expungement or sealing. Most programs screen by income, household size, case type, and county.
Use clinics for screening
Expungement clinics are especially useful when you are not sure whether the record qualifies. Bring your case number and disposition so a clinic can tell you whether to file, wait, or use another remedy.
Use fee waivers for court costs
A fee waiver does not guarantee expungement, but it can remove the court filing cost. Ask the clerk or legal aid intake whether your state uses an indigency affidavit, in forma pauperis form, or fee waiver.
Use an attorney for complex records
If you have multiple counties, felonies, pending charges, immigration concerns, licensing issues, or a denied petition, ask legal aid whether you need full representation instead of brief advice.
Documents to gather before calling legal aid
- Government ID and current contact information.
- Case number, arrest date, charge, county, and court name.
- Certified disposition or docket sheet showing how the case ended.
- Proof that probation, parole, fines, fees, or restitution are complete, if applicable.
- Recent proof of income or public benefits if the organization screens by income.
- A short explanation of why you need the record cleared: work, housing, licensing, school, immigration, or family stability.
Verified free legal aid organizations in Minnesota
Every organization below is a nonprofit, government-affiliated, law-school, court, or bar-backed resource. Resource links were browser-checked on May 28, 2026, but clinic schedules and eligibility rules change. Always confirm details directly with the organization before relying on a date, income limit, or service area.
- Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (Minneapolis / St. Paul)
Official resource. Check intake rules, county coverage, and current clinic availability before applying.
- Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN)
Official resource. Check intake rules, county coverage, and current clinic availability before applying.
- LawHelpMN legal aid directory
Official resource. Check intake rules, county coverage, and current clinic availability before applying.
- Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (Rochester / Mankato)
Official resource. Check intake rules, county coverage, and current clinic availability before applying.
- The Legal Rights Center (Minneapolis — Indigenous and communities of color)
Official resource. Check intake rules, county coverage, and current clinic availability before applying.
Free expungement help by city in Minnesota
Free expungement resources vary significantly by metro area. Here's what's available in the largest cities, including local legal aid offices, clinics, bar-backed programs, and reentry resources.
Minneapolis / St. Paul (Twin Cities)
- Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
- Volunteer Lawyers Network
- The Legal Rights Center
- Minnesota Justice Foundation
The Twin Cities has a well-developed legal aid ecosystem for record clearing. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid runs expungement clinics at multiple locations throughout the metro. The Legal Rights Center specifically serves Native American clients and communities of color and is one of the most trusted names in Minneapolis for criminal justice matters. VLN matches clients with pro bono attorneys for complex cases.
Verify clinic dates and eligibility directly with the listed organization. ExpungeReady does not operate these programs.
Duluth / Northern Minnesota
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota covers St. Louis, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Cook, Carlton, Aitkin, and Kanabec counties. Resources in greater Minnesota are more limited than the Twin Cities — apply early and be prepared for longer wait times.
Verify clinic dates and eligibility directly with the listed organization. ExpungeReady does not operate these programs.
Minnesota free expungement — frequently asked questions
Does the Minnesota Clean Slate Act apply automatically or do I need to file?
Automatic — no filing required. The 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 on a background check, contact the court where you were sentenced 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 if you do not qualify for free help?
If legal aid cannot take your case, you may still have options: file on your own, request a fee waiver, wait for automatic Clean Slate sealing, or consult a licensed attorney for a paid eligibility review. ExpungeReady does not have verified Minnesota attorney listings yet, so start with the guides below.
- Complete Minnesota expungement guide → — eligibility, process, statutes, and timelines
- How much does expungement cost? (state-by-state)
- What shows up on a background check after expungement?
- ← All states: free expungement help directory