New Jersey Expungement Services

Your past doesn't have to define your future

Clear your criminal record and unlock opportunities for employment, housing, and education. Our step-by-step wizard guides you through the entire New Jersey expungement process.

Start Free Eligibility Check Learn How It Works
You May Qualify If:
Based on NJ Clean Slate Act (2021)
  • 10+ years since completing your sentence
  • No pending criminal charges
  • Fines and restitution paid (or payment plan)
  • Offense is not on the exclusion list
  • Ready to move forward with your life
7
Expungement Pathways
15min
Average Completion Time
100%
Confidential Process
$0
Eligibility Check
How It Works

A Clear Path to a Clean Record

Our guided wizard walks you through each step, ensuring your paperwork is complete and properly filed with the New Jersey courts.

1

Check Eligibility

Answer a few questions about your record to determine which expungement pathway applies to you.

2

Gather Documents

We'll tell you exactly which records you need and how to obtain them from the appropriate agencies.

3

Complete Forms

Our system auto-fills the required court forms based on your information, minimizing errors.

4

Submit & Track

File through our portal and track your petition's progress through the court system.

Expungement Pathways

Multiple Routes to a Fresh Start

New Jersey law provides several pathways to expungement. The right one for you depends on your specific circumstances.

Most Common

Clean Slate

Waiting period: 10 years

Expunge your entire record if you've stayed out of the system for 10 years. Covers 1 indictable offense + 3 disorderly persons offenses.

Standard

Regular Expungement

Waiting period: 5 years

Standard expungement for indictable offenses (5 years) and disorderly persons offenses (5 years, up to 3 offenses). All fines must be paid.

Program Graduate

Recovery Court

Waiting period: Upon graduation

Recovery Court (formerly Drug Court) graduates may expunge their entire record. Note: Only for graduations before April 18, 2016.

Immediate

Arrest Without Conviction

Waiting period: None

If your case was dismissed, acquitted, or never resulted in conviction, you can clear your arrest record immediately.

Special

Marijuana Offenses

Waiting period: 0-3 years

Many marijuana offenses from before May 2021 qualify for immediate expungement under New Jersey's cannabis reform laws.

Under 18

Juvenile Delinquency

Waiting period: 3 years

Juvenile records can be expunged 3 years after final discharge from court supervision, with no new arrests or charges.

Municipal

Ordinance Violations

Waiting period: 2 years

Local ordinance violations can be expunged with no limit on the number of violations after a 2-year waiting period.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common questions about New Jersey expungement.

Expungement is the legal process of sealing or erasing a criminal record from public view. Once expunged, you can legally answer "No" when asked if you have a criminal record on most job applications, housing applications, and other forms.
The Clean Slate Act was signed by Governor Murphy on December 18, 2019 and became effective February 15, 2021. It allows you to expunge your entire record if you've been out of the system for 10 years. It covers 1 indictable offense plus up to 3 disorderly persons offenses.
In New Jersey, "Indictable Offense" is the term for what other states call a "Felony" - these are more serious crimes. "Disorderly Persons Offense" is what other states call a "Misdemeanor" - less serious offenses. There's also "Petty Disorderly Persons Offense" for minor violations.
It depends on your situation: Clean Slate requires 10 years crime-free. Regular indictable offense expungement is 5 years after completing your sentence. Disorderly persons offenses require 5 years (up to 3 offenses). Ordinance violations are 2 years. Juvenile delinquency records require 3 years since final discharge. Arrests without conviction have no waiting period.
Certain serious offenses cannot be expunged, including: Criminal Homicide (except death by auto), Sexual Assault, Kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Arson, Robbery, Terrorism, most 1st Degree Drug Convictions, and crimes involving child exploitation. Additionally, most traffic violations including DUI cannot be expunged.
Yes! Many marijuana offenses qualify for immediate expungement if the arrest occurred before May 15, 2021. This includes 4th degree possession, distribution of less than an ounce, and possession of paraphernalia. More serious marijuana offenses (3rd degree) have a 3-year waiting period.
The expungement process involves gathering court records, determining your eligibility pathway, completing the correct legal forms, and filing a petition with the court. It can be confusing to navigate on your own — that's exactly why we built our guided wizard. It walks you through each step, helps identify the right pathway for your situation, and ensures your paperwork is complete before you file.
No. RestoreYourLife.com provides guided self-help tools and general legal information, not legal advice. We are not attorneys and cannot represent you. For complex cases or if you're unsure about your eligibility, we recommend consulting with an expungement attorney.

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Take the first step toward employment, housing, and peace of mind. Our free eligibility check takes just 5 minutes and is completely confidential.

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Start Free Eligibility Check

Expungement Assistant

Ask about NJ expungement eligibility

Hello! I'm here to help you understand if you qualify for criminal record expungement in New Jersey. Ask me about waiting periods, eligibility requirements, or the Clean Slate Act. How can I help you today?