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Clear your Georgia record DIY

You can restrict your Georgia record. Georgia law lets you restrict access to certain arrest records under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. For arrests before July 1, 2013, the process uses a petition. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, the process uses a form provided directly by the prosecuting attorney's office.

Expeal Ranking

Georgia's Expeal ranking is 5 out of 15, or a D. This is the average of five metric scores across four case types.

Metric Misdemeanor — Arrest Misdemeanor — Conviction Felony — Arrest Felony — Conviction
Clean Slate 0 0 0 0
Expeal 2 0 2 0
Tasks 2 0 2 0
Wait 3 0 3 0
Cost 2 0 2 0
Total 9 0 9 0

The metrics are defined as follows:

  • Clean Slate: 3 if implemented; 2 if proposed or in the process of being implemented; 1 if being discussed; 0 if nothing.
  • Expeal: 3 if records are erased or destroyed; 2 if records are hidden but still exist; 1 if records are given a notation or some other form of reduction; 0 if nothing or if the process requires a pardon or similar prerequisite.
  • Tasks: 3 if application alone or automatic; 2 if straightforward court or administrative engagement is required; 1 if administrative engagement is required before straightforward court; 0 if convincing the court is required.
  • Wait: 3 if immediate to 1 year; 2 if 1 to 3 years; 1 if 3 to 5 years; 0 if more than 5 years or an intermediate step is required before the clock starts.
  • Cost: 3 if under $50; 2 if $50.01 to $250; 1 if $250.01 to $500; 0 if more than $500.

Governing statutes

Fees

Fee Amount Source
Filing fee $25.00 Reference
Fingerprint fee $9.99 Reference
Certified copy fee $2.50 Reference
Record request fee $28.00 Reference

Step-by-step process

Below are the five phases that take you through the Expeal process in Georgia if you don't qualify for automatic restriction.

If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.

Phase 1: Verifying you Qualify

  1. Step 1: Get Fingerprinted. Use the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to set up an appointment to have your fingerprints taken.

    Cost: $9.99

  2. Step 2: Request your Record. Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

    Cost: $28.00

  3. Step 3: Review your Record. Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.

Phase 2: Collecting your Documents

  1. Step 4: Request Certified Documents. Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements.

    Cost: $2.50

  2. Step 5: Verify the Final Documents. Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.

Phase 3: Completing the Petition

  1. Step 6: Prepare your Petition. Complete the petition based on the year of the arrest. For arrests before July 1, 2013, prepare the GBI petition and send it to the arresting agency. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, request the application form from the prosecuting attorney's office that handled the case. There are no timing restrictions to note.

  2. Step 7: Finalize your Petition. Take the completed petition from Step 6, the documents collected in Step 4, and the background check from Step 2, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.

Phase 4: Final Steps

  1. Step 8: File your Expeal Request. File the petition with the prosecuting attorney's office that handled the case.

    Cost: $25.00 (GCIC-published baseline; actual filing fee varies by prosecuting-attorney office)

  2. Step 9: Work with the Prosecuting Attorney. After the prosecuting attorney's office confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a request for additional documentation or a notice of the office's decision. Respond promptly to anything the office asks for.

Phase 5: Confirming Your Record is Restricted

  1. Step 10: Receive the Decision on Restriction. Once the prosecuting attorney's office rules on your application, it issues a written decision either granting or denying the request to restrict the record. Review the decision's terms carefully — they spell out which records are covered. Keep a certified copy for your own files.

  2. Step 11: Verify the Record is Restricted. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, the Georgia Crime Information Center and the original arresting agency update or restrict access to the records covered by the order. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the decision is your authoritative reference. Once the restriction takes effect, you can lawfully decline to disclose the restricted records in most non-government contexts.

Official government links

The following pages are important to be familiar with as you work through the restriction process:

Forms

The following links lead to official forms required for the restriction process:

Common questions

Is this legal advice?

No. Expeal provides plain-language educational content and tools with direct citations to your state's statutes — not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

Why is this free?

The state-by-state guides — statutes, fees, steps, sources — are free for everyone. Expeal's revenue model is the optional DIY+ guided product available in select states, which funds the public-benefit educational content.