What is automatic record clearing?

It is when a state seals or expunges eligible criminal records on its own, without the individual filing a petition or going to court.

Which states clear records automatically?

As of 2026, states with some automatic clearing include Pennsylvania, Virginia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Utah — see the table above for details.

Do I still need a lawyer for automatic clearing?

Often no — the clearing happens automatically. But records that do not qualify still require a manual petition, so verify your specific case with your state.

Automatic Record Clearing by State

Automatic record clearing (Clean Slate laws) seals eligible records without a petition — here are the states where it happens.

Automatic record clearing (often called a "Clean Slate" law) lets eligible criminal records be sealed or expunged by the state itself — no petition, no court appearance, no lawyer required.

How automatic clearing works

Traditional record clearing requires you to file a petition, pay a fee, and sometimes appear in court. Under automatic clearing laws, the state identifies eligible records and clears them on a schedule. This reaches people who never knew they qualified. The states below have some form of automatic clearing in place.

States with automatic record clearing

State	Relief	What clears automatically
California	Expungement (dismissal under PC 1203.4)	California dismisses eligible convictions under Penal Code 1203.4 and automatically seals many arrest records that did not lead to charges.
Colorado	Sealing	Colorado seals eligible criminal records by petition and automatically seals some records under its 2022 criminal-justice reforms.
Connecticut	Erasure of Criminal Records	Connecticut erases many eligible criminal records and does so automatically for qualifying dispositions under its erasure law.
Delaware	Expungement	Delaware expunges non-conviction records automatically and allows petition-based expungement of some convictions after a wait.
Louisiana	Expungement	Louisiana expunges eligible records by petition and automatically seals certain arrest records that were not prosecuted.
Michigan	Set Aside (Expungement)	Michigan sets aside (expunges) eligible convictions by petition and automatically clears many records under its Clean Slate law.
Minnesota	Expungement	Minnesota expunges eligible records by petition and automatically seals some records under its 2023 record-clearing law.
New Jersey	Expungement / Clean Slate	New Jersey expunges eligible records by petition and automatically seals some records under its Clean Slate law.
New York	Sealing (CPL 160.59)	New York seals up to two eligible convictions by petition under CPL 160.59 and automatically seals more records under Clean Slate.
North Carolina	Expunction	North Carolina expunges (expunctions) eligible records by petition and automatically expunges some dismissed or not-guilty charges.
Oklahoma	Expungement	Oklahoma expunges eligible records by petition and automatically expunges acquittals and some arrests under recent law.
Pennsylvania	Expungement / Clean Slate	Pennsylvania automatically seals many eligible records under the Clean Slate Act and also allows petition-based expungement.
Utah	Expungement / Clean Slate	Utah expunges eligible records by petition and automatically seals qualifying records under its Clean Slate program.
Virginia	Expungement	Virginia began automatic criminal record clearing on July 1, 2026 for many eligible records, and allows petition expungement too.

What still requires a petition

Even in automatic-clearing states, some records (especially more serious convictions) still need a manual petition. Check your state page for the petition path and waiting periods.