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Clear your New Hampshire record DIY

You can clear your New Hampshire record. New Hampshire law lets you annul certain arrest records and certain convictions under RSA 651:5. The process uses a petition filed with the court that handled the case and may involve a court hearing.

Expeal Ranking

New Hampshire's Expeal ranking is 4 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 1 1 1 1
Tasks 2 2 2 2
Wait 1 1 1 1
Cost 0 0 0 0
Total 4 4 4 4

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 $225.00
There is an extra $100.00 that will be requested upon the court's approval of your petition if you had a guilty conviction. 		Reference
Certified copy fee $10.00 Reference
Record request fee $25.00 Reference

Step-by-step process

Below are the five phases that take you through the Expeal process in New Hampshire.

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: Request your Record. Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of State Police.

    Cost: $25.00

  2. Step 2: 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 3: 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: $10.00

  2. Step 4: 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 5: Prepare your Petition. Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. Under RSA 651:5, the waiting periods are tiered: certain arrest records require thirty days to pass, certain misdemeanor convictions require one or two years, and certain felony convictions require five or ten years — confirm the applicable wait for your charge class before submitting.

  2. Step 6: Finalize your Petition. Take the completed petition from Step 5, the documents collected in Step 3, and the background check from Step 1, 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 7: File your Expeal Request. File the petition with the court that handled the case. The filing fee is made up of a court fee, a New Hampshire Department of Corrections fee, and a New Hampshire State Police Criminal Records fee.

    Cost: $325.00 (Pending verification — NH-authoritative source needed. Legacy URL madisoncountycircuitclerk.com/fees-forms is cross-state contamination per state-guide-content-integrity.md §3.2 / §11 HIGH. Breakdown: $125.00 for the court, $100.00 for the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, and $100.00 for the New Hampshire State Police Criminal Records.)

  2. Step 8: Work with the Court. After the New Hampshire court confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a hearing notice or a request for additional documents. Respond promptly to anything the court asks for, and prepare for the hearing if one is scheduled.

Phase 5: Confirming Your Record is Annulled

  1. Step 9: Receive the Court's Order. Once the judge rules, the court issues a written order either granting or denying your petition. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out exactly which records are covered by the annulment. Keep a certified copy for your own files.

  2. Step 10: Verify the Record is Annulled. Under RSA 651:5, the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, the New Hampshire State Police Criminal Records bureau, and the original arresting agency update or remove the records covered by the order. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the court's order is your authoritative reference. Confirm with the clerk of court and the arresting agency that their records reflect the annulment as well.

Official government links

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

Forms

The following links lead to official forms required for the annulment 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.