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Guide to Alabama Expungements

Follow these steps to file for an expungement in Alabama. 

1. Determine Eligibility

2. Gather Documents

CERTIFIED CASE RECORDS: 
 

  • You must have ONE of the following for each charge or conviction:

- Certified Record of Arrest – obtain from arresting agency OR

- Certified Record of Disposition – obtain from court where case was heard OR

- Certified Record of Case Action Summary – obtain from court where case was heard

 

  • There may be a fee required to request these records, depending on the agency or court (in Jefferson County, there is a charge of $10 per record). 
     

  • These documents should be marked with some type of official seal or stamp (in Jefferson County, there will be a gold seal on the record).

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ALEA CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD: 

 

  • To obtain this record, you need to send the following to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency: 

- Application for criminal history record (must be notarized)

- Fingerprint card (generally can be obtained from Sheriff’s office)

- Copy of photo ID

- $25 fee

 

  • After the application materials are submitted to ALEA, you need to wait for the agency to mail your Certified Official Criminal History to you. This is the document you will submit with your Expungement Petition.
     

3. Fill Out Expungement Petition(s)

  • Go to https://eforms.alacourt.gov/criminal-forms/ and download CR-65: Petition for Expungement of Records.
     

  • You will need to fill out a separate Petition for each charge, even if there are multiple charges arising from a single incident or arrest.
     

  • Be sure to fill out the Certificate(s) of Service as well as the Petition.

4. Fill Out Affidavit of Substantial Hardship

  • The filing fee is $500 per expungement; if you cannot afford this fee, you can submit an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship asking the judge to waive the fee.
     

  • Go to https://eforms.alacourt.gov/criminal-forms/ and download C-10-Criminal: Affidavit of Substantial Hardship and Order.

5. File Everything with the Court

Take all paperwork, along with your filing fee or Affidavit of Substantial Hardship, to the Circuit Clerk’s office.

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