Who qualifies for expungement in Missouri?
By Ty McDuffey, J.D. · Back to the hub
Most nonviolent Missouri records can be expunged after a waiting period: generally one year after the sentence is complete for eligible misdemeanors, three years for eligible felonies, and eighteen months for arrests that never became convictions — capped at three misdemeanors and two felonies per lifetime under RSMo §610.140.
How long do I have to wait to expunge my record in Missouri?
The clock starts when you're fully off paper — jail served, probation done, fines and restitution paid. From that point: one year for an eligible misdemeanor, municipal offense, or infraction; three years for an eligible felony. For an arrest that never led to a conviction, the wait is eighteen months from the arrest, provided no charges are pending. These are minimums, not deadlines — a twenty-year-old record is just as filable as a four-year-old one. A new charge during the waiting period generally restarts the clock.
How many offenses can be expunged in Missouri?
Three misdemeanors and two felonies, per lifetime. Infractions don't count against the caps. The important exception: multiple offenses that were part of the same course of criminal conduct can be treated together. The new Clean Slate automatic system counts against these same caps — an automatic clearing uses up one of your lifetime slots just like a petition does, which matters if you're strategizing about a record with several entries. How the automatic system works.
What can never be expunged in Missouri?
The statute excludes a long list regardless of time passed: dangerous felonies, offenses requiring sex-offender registration, violent offenses, offenses against children, most intoxication-related driving offenses (with the §610.130 exception below), and dozens of specifically enumerated crimes. Domestic assault, most weapons offenses, and any Class A felony are out. If your record includes anything on the exclusion list, that entry stays — though other eligible entries on the same record may still clear.
Can a DWI be expunged in Missouri?
Not under §610.140 — but RSMo §610.130 allows a one-time expungement of a first-time alcohol-related driving offense after ten years, if you've had no other alcohol-related enforcement contacts before or since, the offense was a misdemeanor or county/municipal violation, and you weren't driving commercially. It's narrow, it's once per lifetime, and it is not part of the automatic Clean Slate system — it stays petition-only, judge and all. For the person it fits, it's one of the most underused fresh starts in Missouri law.
Does an expunged record really disappear?
A sealed record stops appearing on the background checks most employers and landlords run, and in most situations you can lawfully respond as if the offense never happened. Certain doors still see sealed records — some professional licensing boards, law enforcement applications, and specific statutory carve-outs — which is exactly the kind of detail worth confirming for your situation before relying on it.
Next steps
If the timeline and caps look right for your record, read how the petition process actually works and what it costs. If you're wondering whether the state will just clear it for you, start with the Clean Slate breakdown.
Educational content only, current as of July 13, 2026 — Missouri's expungement statute has changed repeatedly and will again; verify against the current text of RSMo 610.140 and 610.130. Not legal advice; no attorney-client relationship. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.