THE EXPUNGEMENT LAWYERS
818 Lafayette Ave
Phone: (314) 795-3973
Twibell Pierson Criminal Law
901 E St Louis St Suite 1000
Phone: (417) 862-1741
Janssen Law Office
406 Armour Rd #220
Phone: (816) 287-0172
Combs Waterkotte
231 S Bemiston Ave #260
Phone: (314) 900-4357
Higbee & Associates
107 W 9th St 2nd floor
Phone: (816) 492-2379
MRD Lawyers
4650 S National Ave Suite C5
Phone: (417) 323-6609
Bradley Chapman
231 S Bemiston Ave #800
Phone: (636) 697-5170
The Hammer Law Firm
1430 Washington Ave #325
Phone: (314) 334-3807
Eric Abramson
7750 Clayton Rd #200
Phone: (314) 753-1372
Benjamin Law
124 Cunningham Pkwy Suite 102
Phone: (816) 846-2219
Frank & Juengel Law Group
7710 Carondelet Ave Suite 350
Phone: (314) 530-3467
Harper Evans Hilbrenner & Netemeyer
401 Locust St #401
Phone: (573) 442-1660
JCS Law
120 S Central Ave
Phone: (314) 912-2884
Missouri DWI & Criminal Law Center
1475 Walnut St
Phone: (816) 800-9572
Expunge St. Louis
13321 N Outer 40 Rd #500
Phone: (314) 774-0010
Bert Fulk
814 1st Capitol Dr
Phone: (314) 578-9266
Brockmeyer Law Offices
121 N 5th St
Phone: (314) 582-5053
Glaesman Law Firm
820 S Main St #208
Phone: (314) 827-4384
Rose Legal Services
3870 S Lindbergh Blvd Suite 130
Phone: (314) 408-2615
Kirsch & Kirsch
214 E McCarty St Apt A
Phone: (573) 533-4906
David M. Lurie
1100 Walnut St #2940
Phone: (816) 221-5900
Boehmer Law
1603 Boone’s Lick Rd
Phone: (636) 549-8300
Missouri Legal
417 N Boonville Ave
Phone: (417) 414-0849
Loraine Law Center
3121 Emerald Ln #500
Phone: (573) 284-3048
Wayne T. Schoeneberg
223 N Main St
Phone: (314) 708-1000
Guilfoil Law Group
1236 Swift St
Phone: (816) 842-3717
Grafe & Batchelor
1 Elks Club
Phone: (636) 220-5934
Traffic Law Firm of Missouri
819 Mid Rivers Mall Dr
Phone: (636) 462-7867
Dean Price Law
939 N Boonville Ave # A
Phone: (417) 865-2181
Roberts Law Office
3770 Broadway Blvd First Floor, Suite 106
Phone: (816) 381-9380
First Defense DUI Traffic Law
13321 N Outer 40 Rd # 600
Phone: (314) 849-2889
Eng & Woods
1000 W Nifong Blvd Building 7, Suite 201
Phone: (573) 874-4190
Raghebi Law
230 S Bemiston Ave #1210
Phone: (314) 372-0336
Law Office of Keleher & Eastman
403 NW Englewood Rd
Phone: (816) 452-6030
Wichman Law Firm
1005 Westport Rd
Phone: (816) 787-1529
Solomon & Peter
140 Walnut St Suite 202
Phone: (816) 800-9529
Walker Law LLC
13321 N Outer 40 Rd Ste 700
Phone: (636) 688-8895
Abella Law Firm
221 E 11th St
Phone: (816) 421-7755
O’Rourke Law Firm
202 S Main St
Phone: (636) 275-1542
Lednick Law Firm
105 Walnut St
Phone: (636) 638-2150
Chris Miller Law
1902 S Corona Rd STE 200
Phone: (573) 501-3141
Ozarks DWI Law Clinic
107 N 2nd St
Phone: (417) 822-0394
Missouri law lets many residents seal eligible arrests and convictions through a court ordered expungement. The rules focus on offense type, waiting periods, payment of fines and restitution, and the absence of new disqualifying cases. Recent changes expanded access and created special treatment for certain marijuana offenses under the state constitution. Filing the right petition in the right circuit court matters because service and notice requirements are strict and missing a step can stall the case. Many people ask a Missouri expungement lawyer to review the record, prepare evidence of rehabilitation, and track updates so private background reports reflect the order.
How much does expungement cost in Missouri?
Court filing fees vary by county and are usually a few hundred dollars once service and certified copies are included. Your budget should also include any required state criminal history checks that the court asks for with a petition. Attorney fees are separate and depend on how many cases you are clearing and how contested the hearing becomes.
Do I need a lawyer for expungement in Missouri?
You can file on your own with the forms made available by the courts. Many people still retain counsel because eligibility rules, service on agencies, and hearing practice take careful work. A lawyer can also respond to objections from a prosecutor and propose clean orders so agencies update records correctly.
What is the new law for expungement in Missouri?
Missouri expanded expungement over several sessions and adjusted offense lists, waiting times, and counts that can be sealed. The state also created automatic relief for certain marijuana offenses as part of cannabis regulation, which runs on its own timetable. You still need a petition for many cases, so a current review of the statute is essential before you file.
How long does an expungement take in Missouri?
Most petitions run for a few months from filing to order because notice and service periods must pass. Time adds up if records are missing, if the court needs more proof of paid obligations, or if the prosecutor objects. Counties with crowded dockets can set hearings later, so complete paperwork helps keep the case moving.
What cannot be expunged in Missouri?
Serious violent crimes, many sex offenses, and crimes that involve endangering others are excluded from expungement. Driving offenses involving intoxication often have special rules and some are not eligible. Always check the current offense lists because the legislature updates eligibility and exclusions over time.
Does the FBI recognize Missouri expungement?
A state expungement order seals records in Missouri courts and in public state repositories. Federal law enforcement databases can still retain nonpublic entries for criminal justice uses. Private background screeners should rely on public data, so the expunged case should no longer appear in a standard consumer report once agencies finish updates.
How long do felonies stay on your record in Missouri?
A conviction remains on the record unless a court grants expungement or a separate form of relief. Time alone does not remove a felony from public files in Missouri. Many people become eligible after completing sentence terms and waiting out the period set by statute, then they file a petition to seal the case.
Can you buy a gun after expungement in Missouri?
Expungement can help with many collateral issues, but firearm rights are controlled by separate state and federal rules. An expungement does not automatically restore rights that were lost due to a disqualifying conviction. People with firearm questions should review both Missouri law and federal law before they attempt a purchase or possession.
What is the Second Chance law in Missouri?
The term refers to a set of reforms that broadened record sealing for many nonviolent offenses. Lawmakers added more eligible offenses and refined the procedure so more residents can petition a court. You still must meet the waiting periods, complete sentence terms, and show you have stayed out of new trouble.
How many convictions can be expunged in Missouri?
Missouri limits expungement by both the number of convictions and the type of offenses on your record. The counts and categories have been revised in recent sessions, so a fresh read of the statute is important. Petitioners often clear several eligible misdemeanors and selected felonies, but excluded offenses will block those entries until the law changes.
What is the waiting period before filing for expungement?
Missouri sets different waits for arrests, misdemeanors, and felonies, and the clock usually runs from completion of sentence and payment of financial obligations. Courts will expect proof that restitution and fines are satisfied before they sign an order. Check the current statute because the legislature has shortened and adjusted these windows over time.
Will an expunged record show up on a background check in Missouri?
Once the court grants relief and agencies finish updates, the case should be nonpublic and should not appear in most private background checks. Licensing boards and law enforcement can still view sealed entries for limited reasons. Keep a certified copy of your order in case a report needs correction or an employer asks for documentation.
Do traffic or DWI cases qualify for expungement?
Some traffic and alcohol related offenses have their own rules and many do not qualify for standard expungement. A few DWI situations have separate statutory paths that carry strict limits. Review your citation, statute number, and outcome with a lawyer so you do not waste time on an ineligible filing.
How do marijuana cases get cleared in Missouri?
Missouri created automatic relief for certain marijuana offenses as part of cannabis regulation. Courts and agencies run those updates on a schedule set by law and some older cases still need manual action. If your case does not clear automatically, you can petition under the general expungement statute if the offense and your record meet current rules.
Which forms do I need for a Missouri expungement?
Use the petition and order forms supplied by Missouri courts and file in the correct circuit. Many cases also require service on the prosecuting attorney, local law enforcement, and the state repository so records update. Some courts request a current criminal history check, so plan for that step before your hearing.
What happens after the court grants expungement?
The judge signs an order that directs agencies to seal the record and restrict public access. You should allow time for each office to process the order and refresh its databases. Keep copies and confirm that private background reports stop showing the case on future screenings.
Can an expunged case still be used by a court or police?
Yes, sealed records remain visible to courts, prosecutors, and law enforcement for limited statutory purposes. A judge can consider them in future sentencing and agencies can use them for criminal justice needs. The goal of expungement is to remove public access and reduce private reporting, not to erase history inside the justice system.
Do I need fingerprints or a background check for my petition?
Many courts require a recent state criminal history as part of the expungement packet. The Missouri State Highway Patrol provides record checks through its public portal and that report often goes to the court and the prosecutor. Plan for this step early so your hearing is not delayed by missing documents.
Official Sources
- Missouri Revisor of Statutes — Section 610.140 (Expungement of criminal records)
- Missouri Revisor of Statutes — Section 610.122 (Expungement of arrest records)
- Missouri Courts — Official site and forms
- Missouri State Highway Patrol — MACHS Criminal Record Check
- Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services — Cannabis Regulation
- Missouri Department of Corrections — Clemency Information