Kentucky Expungement: Cost, Eligibility and Timeline
Expungement in Kentucky costs $100 for a misdemeanor and $300 for a qualifying Class D felony, and in both cases you have to wait five years from the end of your sentence or probation, whichever finishes later. Everything below is drawn from the two statutes that govern it, and both are linked so you can read them yourself.
What it costs
| Record | To file | On the order | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor, violation or traffic infraction | $100 | None | $100 |
| Qualifying Class D felony | $50 | $250 | $300 |
Sources: KRS 431.078(7) and KRS 431.073(10) and (11). Checked 2026-09-20.
The $250 fee is charged when the order is granted and can be paid by installments. Only Class D felonies on the list in KRS 431.073(1), a series of them from a single incident, or a full pardon qualify.
The five-year wait
Both statutes use the same rule: the petition may be filed no sooner than five years after you complete the sentence, or five years after you successfully complete probation, whichever occurs later. People routinely miscount this by starting the clock at conviction or at release rather than at the end of supervision.
The court sets a hearing no sooner than 30 days after the petition is filed.
Common questions
How much does expungement cost in Kentucky?
A misdemeanor, violation or traffic infraction costs $100 to file under KRS 431.078. A qualifying Class D felony costs $50 to file plus a $250 fee charged when the order is granted, so $300 in total, and the $250 can be paid by installments. Those are the court's fees only; a lawyer's fee, if you use one, is separate.
How long do you have to wait to expunge a record in Kentucky?
Five years. The clock runs from whichever is later: the day you finish your sentence, or the day you successfully finish probation. The same five-year wait applies to misdemeanors under KRS 431.078 and to qualifying Class D felonies under KRS 431.073.
Can a felony be expunged in Kentucky?
Some can. KRS 431.073 allows expungement of a Class D felony that appears on the list in the statute, a series of those Class D felonies arising from a single incident, or any conviction for which you have received a full pardon. Class A, B and C felonies cannot be expunged.
How long does expungement take in Kentucky?
Once you file, the court sets a hearing no sooner than 30 days later, because the county attorney and any identified victim have to be notified and given a chance to respond. If nobody objects, an uncontested petition commonly resolves within a few months of filing, though it varies by county and by how busy that court is.
Can you get a DUI expunged in Kentucky?
A DUI conviction is a misdemeanor for a first or second offense, so it falls under KRS 431.078 and can be petitioned for after the five-year wait. Note that expunging the conviction does not erase the license history the Transportation Cabinet holds, and a DUI still counts as a prior for the ten-year look-back in KRS 189A.010 even after the record is expunged.
Can I get my record expunged for free in Kentucky?
The filing fee itself is set by statute and is not waived simply for low income, but Kentucky runs periodic expungement clinics where legal aid organizations help people prepare and file petitions at no charge for the legal work. The Department of Public Advocacy and regional legal aid offices are the places to ask.
What cannot be expunged in Kentucky?
Sex offenses, offenses against a child, most violent felonies, and any felony above Class D are outside the statute. A Class D felony that is not on the list in KRS 431.073(1) also cannot be expunged unless you have received a full pardon.