How Much Does It Cost to Get a Record Expunged in Indiana?
Reviewed & Updated August 2026
At Vining Legal, a standard one-county Indiana expungement generally costs between $495 and $1,652+ depending on the record. The type of case, conviction level, number of counties, and amount of court involvement determine the final price.
A straightforward non-conviction record is usually at the low end. Conviction expungements add court filing costs, while higher-level felonies, multiple counties, eligibility issues, objections, or additional hearing work can increase the total. The detailed flat-fee menu is directly below.
Qualifying arrest and non-conviction petitions under Indiana Code 35-38-9-1 do not require a filing fee. Conviction-expungement petitions generally require the applicable civil filing fee; current Indiana court materials use the standard conviction-expungement filing fee structure. View Indiana Courts guidance .
Find your record. See the likely cost.
Expungement fees depend primarily on what is on the record, the type of conviction, and how many Indiana counties are involved. For standard matters, Vining Legal uses published flat-fee pricing so you can understand the likely cost before deciding whether to proceed.
Arrest, dismissal, or acquittal
For a standard qualifying Indiana case that did not result in a conviction, including many dismissed charges, arrests, and acquittals.
Misdemeanor conviction
For a standard eligible misdemeanor conviction in one Indiana county, including preparation and filing of the expungement petition within the agreed scope.
Level 6 or Class D felony
For a standard eligible Level 6 or former Class D felony conviction in one Indiana county.
More complicated felony records
For matters requiring additional eligibility analysis, prosecutor involvement, discretionary relief, a more substantial hearing presentation, or other work beyond a routine lower-level felony petition.
More than one Indiana county
When the record requires a separate expungement filing in another Indiana county, the attorney fee is generally increased by $350 for each additional county within the agreed representation.
Not sure which category applies to your record?
Send us enough information to identify your Indiana cases. We'll review the record, identify the counties involved, flag apparent eligibility issues, and tell you which flat-fee category appears to apply before you decide whether to hire Vining Legal.
Attorney fees shown above do not include court filing fees or extraordinary litigation outside the agreed scope. Filing costs depend on the type of expungement and are confirmed before filing. If a matter requires work beyond the standard flat-fee scope, that will be discussed before additional fees are incurred.
What are the costs of expungement in Indiana?
The total cost of an Indiana expungement generally has two parts: court filing costs and, if you hire an attorney, legal fees. The amount depends on what is on your record and how many separate filings are required.
The filing fee depends on the type of record.
Qualifying Indiana expungement petitions involving an arrest or case that did not result in a conviction can generally be filed without a court filing fee.
For conviction expungements, the petitioner generally pays the applicable civil filing fee.
Attorney fees depend on the record—not the number of pages.
The amount of legal work can change depending on whether the record involves a dismissal, misdemeanor, felony, multiple counties, eligibility questions, or a matter requiring additional court or prosecutor involvement.
For standard matters, Vining Legal uses published flat-fee pricing so you can know the attorney fee before representation begins.
View Full PricingOne eligible misdemeanor conviction in one Indiana county.
Indiana expungement cost + timing.
These are general timing rules and standard Vining Legal pricing for a one-county matter. Eligibility depends on the actual conviction and record.
| Record Type | General Timing | Attorney Fee | Court Fee | Typical Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying no-conviction matter | Generally 1 year* | $495 | $0 | $495 |
| Misdemeanor conviction | Generally 5 years | $795 | $157 | $952 |
| Eligible Level 6 / Class D felony | Generally 8 years | $995 | $157 | $1,152 |
| Other eligible felony | Depends on §4 or §5 category | From $1,495 | $157 | From $1,652 |
*Some dismissed or acquitted cases may be handled through automatic-expungement provisions rather than the traditional one-year petition route. Higher-level felony waiting periods vary by statutory category, and some convictions are excluded altogether. Prosecutor consent or agreement can also matter in certain categories. See Indiana Code 35-38-9 and the Indiana Judicial Branch's current expungement guidance. Court fees are confirmed before filing.
One fee. The work from review through resolution.
The attorney fee is not simply for preparing a form. A standard Vining Legal expungement includes the work needed to understand the record, prepare the correct filing, move it through court, and address the routine issues that arise along the way.
Record Review
Identify the relevant Indiana cases, dispositions, counties, and the information needed to understand what may need to be addressed.
Eligibility Analysis
Determine which expungement category appears to apply, whether the statutory waiting period has been satisfied, and whether any obvious eligibility problem needs attention.
Petition Preparation
Prepare the petition, proposed order, and routine supporting documents necessary for the agreed expungement matter.
Court Filing & Notice
File in the appropriate Indiana court and handle the routine notices and procedural steps required to move the petition forward.
Court & Prosecutor Response
Review and respond to routine questions, notices, or issues raised by the court or prosecutor within the normal scope of the representation.
Hearing & Final Order
Appear for a routine expungement hearing when one is required within the agreed scope and follow the matter through the court's final ruling.
You should know the price before the work begins.
Once we review the record and determine the scope, you receive the flat-fee proposal before deciding whether to hire Vining Legal. A standard matter should not turn into a series of surprise hourly bills.
The published fees cover the agreed standard expungement representation. Extraordinary litigation, appeals, collateral proceedings, or work outside that agreed scope would be discussed separately before additional fees are incurred.
You are not paying for a form. You are paying to get the record analyzed, filed correctly, and moved through the process.
Why does one expungement cost more than another?
Two people can both need an expungement and require very different amounts of legal work. The price changes when the record requires more filings, more eligibility analysis, or more court involvement.
More than one Indiana county
A record can involve cases filed in several different counties. That can mean additional petitions, separate court filings, additional filing costs, and more coordination before the expungement is complete.
More serious convictions
A misdemeanor, lower-level felony, and more serious felony do not necessarily require the same eligibility analysis or level of court involvement. More complicated convictions can require additional legal review before filing.
Objections or a meaningful hearing
Some expungements move primarily through written filings. Others require additional communication with the prosecutor, legal argument, evidence, briefing, or more substantial preparation for a hearing.
A complicated or incomplete record
Older cases, incomplete disposition information, multiple case numbers, different names, prior expungement activity, or uncertainty about what happened can require additional work before the correct petition can even be prepared.
The fee is based on the work the record requires. That is why we review the record before quoting the final price.
The Indiana Expungement Guide
Free Guide · IndianaNot ready to hire a lawyer? Start by understanding your record.
Get the Indiana Expungement Guide for a practical walkthrough of eligibility, waiting periods, the filing process, what expungement can change, and what happens after relief is granted.
Can you file an Indiana expungement yourself? Yes. The harder question is whether you should.
Hiring an attorney is not a legal requirement for filing an Indiana expungement. Some people can reasonably handle a simple record on their own. Other records become much less simple once eligibility, multiple cases, multiple counties, or court involvement are considered.
You are not required to hire an attorney.
Indiana permits an individual to file an expungement petition without a lawyer. That is commonly referred to as proceeding pro se. You can also choose to hire private legal counsel to handle the petition.
When filing yourself may be reasonable
A straightforward record may be manageable for someone who is comfortable researching the requirements and taking responsibility for the filing.
When an attorney may add more value
The benefit of representation becomes greater when determining what to file is itself part of the problem.
It is not whether you are allowed to do it yourself. It is whether doing it yourself makes sense for your record.
If the record is straightforward and you are comfortable with the process, self-representation may be a reasonable choice. If you are unsure what is eligible, what needs to be filed, or what the process will require, start by having the record reviewed before making that decision.
Indiana provides resources for people who represent themselves in court, although the Indiana Judicial Branch cautions that self-representation should not be taken lightly and recommends speaking with an attorney before submitting forms or petitions. See the Indiana Judicial Branch Self-Service Legal Center and Indiana State Police Expungement Information .
When can you file for expungement in Indiana?
There is no single Indiana expungement waiting period. The timing depends on what happened in the case, the level of any conviction, when the conviction occurred, and in some cases when the sentence was completed.
The type of record determines the clock.
These are general statutory timing rules. The exact category and eligibility should be confirmed from the actual record before filing.
Arrest or case without a conviction
A traditional petition involving an arrest or charge that did not result in a conviction generally has a one-year timing rule measured from the arrest or charge, whichever is later. Current law also provides automatic relief in certain dismissal and acquittal situations.
Non-conviction timing is more nuanced than the conviction categories, so the case disposition matters.
Misdemeanor conviction
This category also includes qualifying Level 6 or former Class D felonies that were converted to misdemeanors.
The prosecutor may agree in writing to a shorter period.
Eligible Level 6 or Class D felony
Applies to qualifying Level 6 or former Class D felony convictions that fall within this statutory category, including the bodily-injury limitation.
The prosecutor may agree in writing to a shorter period.
8 / 3 Years
Other eligible felony
The petition generally cannot be filed earlier than the later of eight years after conviction or three years after completion of the sentence.
Applies to eligible felonies within this category. Prosecutor agreement can shorten the statutory period.
10 / 5 Years
Certain remaining eligible felonies
Category 5 generally uses the later of ten years after the conviction or five years after completion of the sentence.
Written prosecutor consent to the expungement is required for relief under this category.
Reaching the waiting period does not automatically mean every record can be expunged.
You do not need to calculate all of this before contacting us. Send the record and we can start with the eligibility question.
Timing and eligibility summary based on Indiana Code 35-38-9 and the Indiana Judicial Branch's July 2026 expungement guidance. Because the correct category depends on the particular offense and record, this section provides a general overview rather than an individual eligibility determination. View Indiana Courts guidance .
Start with the record. Know what may be eligible—and what it will cost.
You do not need to know which statute applies, calculate the waiting period, or figure out which pricing category fits your case before reaching out. Start with the record. We can work through those questions from there.
Basic information about the record
Tell us what you know: the county, case number if available, approximate year, charge or conviction, and anything else that may help identify the Indiana cases involved.
The cases, counties, timing, and apparent eligibility
We look at what is on the record, determine what type of expungement appears to apply, identify the counties involved, and flag obvious timing or eligibility issues.
A clear next step and flat-fee quote
You receive an explanation of the likely path forward, the Vining Legal flat fee for the agreed work, and the expected court costs before deciding whether to proceed.
Enough information to make the next decision.
A few more questions about cost and the process.
Every record is different, but these are some of the questions that come up most often before someone decides whether to file.
01 How much does an expungement cost in Indiana?
02 Can a felony be expunged in Indiana?
03 How long does an Indiana expungement take?
04 Do I have to pay for the entire expungement at once?
05 What if I have criminal cases in more than one Indiana county?
Reading about the problem is one thing. Dealing with it is another.
If this issue is affecting you, your family, your case, or your career, the next step is understanding how the law applies to the facts in front of you. Tell us what is happening and Vining Legal can help you determine what needs attention next.
We personally respond within 2 hours, 8am–8pm, seven days a week.
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