Free Expungement Help in Minnesota
Last reviewed: May 27, 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.
✅ 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.
Verified free legal aid organizations in Minnesota
Every organization below is a verified non-profit or government-affiliated legal aid program. None are paid services. Always confirm your eligibility directly with the organization.
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 clinic schedules and local contacts.
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.
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.
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.
More Minnesota expungement resources
- 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