Clearing a criminal record in Louisiana: what to do

Checked against official sources: Oct 25, 2026

In Louisiana:

What it's called and what it does
In Louisiana it is called expungement: an expunged arrest or conviction is removed from public access and becomes confidential; it is not destroyed.
Waiting periods
Misdemeanor conviction: 5 years, counted from completion of any sentence, deferred adjudication, probation or parole; First-offense marijuana / THC possession misdemeanor: You can file 90 days after…
Do this now
Get a copy of your own criminal record and the court papers for each case.

General legal information, not legal advice. RobinClaim is not a law firm.

Build your plan

Choose your state and answer 3 quick questions. The plan below changes as you answer: steps that don't fit your answers are hidden, and your state's deadlines appear. Your answers stay in the page address.

Your plan for Louisiana

Do now

  1. Get a copy of your own criminal record and the court papers for each case.

    Why: You need each arrest, charge and how it ended to see which of your state's remedies fits. Record Clear Map's free letter asks your state's records office for a copy.

  2. Look up what your state calls clearing a record and which records may qualify.

    Louisiana: In Louisiana it is called expungement: an expunged arrest or conviction is removed from public access and becomes confidential; it is not destroyed.

    Why: Each state has its own remedies, its own list of records that may qualify and its own exclusions.

  3. If the case was in federal court, know that state record-clearing laws don't apply to it.

    Why: Federal law has no general way to expunge or seal a federal conviction; the main relief is a presidential pardon, which you apply for with the Office of the Pardon Attorney.

  4. If you are not a U.S. citizen, talk to an immigration lawyer or accredited representative before you rely on a state order.

    Why: A state expungement or a dismissal under a rehabilitation law may not remove a conviction for federal immigration purposes.

This week

  1. Check your state's waiting period for your kind of case, and the date it is counted from.

    Waiting periods

    Louisiana: Misdemeanor conviction: 5 years, counted from completion of any sentence, deferred adjudication, probation or parole; First-offense marijuana / THC possession…

    Why: The law sets a waiting period for each kind of case, often counted from the end of the case or the end of the sentence.

  2. Check whether your state clears some records automatically.

    Louisiana: No: Louisiana does not clear records automatically.

    Why: Some states clear some records without a petition (Clean Slate and similar laws), usually only some records and after a waiting period; in others a record is cleared only when you ask.

  3. Get free help from legal aid to check whether your record qualifies.

    Why: Exclusions and new offenses can matter as much as the waiting period. We explain the rules; we can't check your case.

If it's not resolved

  1. File the petition or application with your state's official forms, and pay the fee or ask about a fee waiver.

    Why: Most remedies start with a request to the court that handled the case, and the court decides each request.

  2. After a record is cleared, keep a copy of the order and check that background check reports were updated.

    Why: If a background check company still reports a sealed or expunged record, you can dispute it and send a copy of the court order with your dispute.

Deadlines

What it's called and what it does

General rule: see state

In Louisiana:

In Louisiana it is called expungement: an expunged arrest or conviction is removed from public access and becomes confidential; it is not destroyed. Some misdemeanor and felony convictions may be cleared, but Louisiana does not clear records automatically: you ask for it.

Law: La. C.Cr.P. arts. 975, 976, 978.1, 979, 983 · checked Oct 2026 · Official source

Waiting periods

General rule: see state

In Louisiana:

Misdemeanor conviction: 5 years, counted from completion of any sentence, deferred adjudication, probation or parole; First-offense marijuana / THC possession misdemeanor: You can file 90 days after the conviction, counted from the date of conviction; Felony conviction: 10 years, counted from completion of any sentence, deferred adjudication, probation or parole; Aggravated battery, second degree battery, aggravated criminal damage, simple robbery, purse snatching, illegal use of weapons: 10 years, counted from completion of any sentence, deferred adjudication, probation or parole; Successful completion of court-ordered probation or program: No waiting period, counted from successful completion

Law: La. C.Cr.P. arts. 975, 976, 978.1, 979, 983 · checked Oct 2026 · Official source

Automatic clearing (Clean Slate)

General rule: see state

In Louisiana:

No: Louisiana does not clear records automatically. To clear a record, you ask for it.

Law: La. C.Cr.P. art. 985.2 · checked Oct 2026 · Official source

Filing fee

General rule: see state

In Louisiana:

Motion to expunge an arrest that did not result in a conviction (La. C.Cr.P. art. 976): Up to $550 in total: State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification $250, sheriff $50, district attorney $50, clerk up to $200. No fees if the DA certifies you have no felony convictions or pending felony charges and you were acquitted, or were never prosecuted in time, or the case was dismissed/declined without diversion (with DA consent).

Law: La. C.Cr.P. arts. 975, 976, 978.1, 979, 983 · checked Oct 2026 · Official source

Key facts for Louisiana

Record Clear Map

What it's called
Expungement
Convictions
Some misdemeanor and felony convictions may be cleared.
Automatic clearing (Clean Slate)
No
Example waiting period
Misdemeanor conviction: 5 years, counted from completion of any sentence, deferred adjudication, probation or parole
Filing fee
Up to $550 in total: State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification $250, sheriff $50, district attorney $50, clerk up to $200.

Record Clear Map: Louisiana · checked Oct 2026

Documents to gather

  • A copy of your own state record (and your FBI record if you were arrested in more than one state)
  • Court papers showing how each case ended, with the case numbers
  • Proof that you finished your sentence, probation or payments
  • Your state's official forms

Where to go

Costs

Fees depend on the state and the remedy: some states charge nothing, others charge a court filing fee and agency processing fees, and some allow a fee waiver. Your state's fee is shown in your plan. Record Clear Map's waiting-period helper, letter and checklist are free.

Talk to a lawyer if

  • You are not a U.S. citizen
  • You have an open case, or are still on probation or parole
  • The case was in federal court or in more than one state
  • The offense may be on your state's excluded list, such as some violent or sex offenses
  • Your request was denied

Free help

Free civil legal aid for people with low income: find your local program through LawHelp.org (lawhelp.org) or the Legal Services Corporation (lsc.gov/about-lsc/what-legal-aid/i-need-legal-help). Record Clear Map lists free legal help for each state. Court clerks can't give legal advice.

Guides for your state

Guides for every state

Questions

What it's called and what it does in Louisiana: what is the rule?

In Louisiana it is called expungement: an expunged arrest or conviction is removed from public access and becomes confidential; it is not destroyed. Some misdemeanor and felony convictions may be cleared, but Louisiana does not clear records automatically: you ask for it. (La. C.Cr.P. arts. 975, 976, 978.1, 979, 983)

Waiting periods in Louisiana: what is the rule?

Misdemeanor conviction: 5 years, counted from completion of any sentence, deferred adjudication, probation or parole; First-offense marijuana / THC possession misdemeanor: You can file 90 days after the conviction, counted from the date of conviction; Felony conviction: 10 years, counted from completion of any sentence, deferred adjudication, probation or parole; Aggravated battery, second degree battery, aggravated criminal damage, simple robbery, purse snatching, illegal use of weapons: 10 years, counted from completion of any sentence, deferred adjudication, probation or parole; Successful completion of court-ordered probation or program: No waiting period, counted from successful completion (La. C.Cr.P. arts. 975, 976, 978.1, 979, 983)

Automatic clearing in Louisiana: what is the rule?

No: Louisiana does not clear records automatically. To clear a record, you ask for it. (La. C.Cr.P. art. 985.2)

Filing fee in Louisiana: what is the rule?

Motion to expunge an arrest that did not result in a conviction (La. C.Cr.P. art. 976): Up to $550 in total: State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification $250, sheriff $50, district attorney $50, clerk up to $200. No fees if the DA certifies you have no felony convictions or pending felony charges and you were acquitted, or were never prosecuted in time, or the case was dismissed/declined without diversion (with DA consent). (La. C.Cr.P. arts. 975, 976, 978.1, 979, 983)

When should I talk to a lawyer?

You are not a U.S. citizen; You have an open case, or are still on probation or parole; The case was in federal court or in more than one state; The offense may be on your state's excluded list, such as some violent or sex offenses; Your request was denied.

How much does it cost?

Fees depend on the state and the remedy: some states charge nothing, others charge a court filing fee and agency processing fees, and some allow a fee waiver. Your state's fee is shown in your plan. Record Clear Map's waiting-period helper, letter and checklist are free.

Plans by state

Open the plan with one state's rules filled in:

Sources

Plan checked Oct 2026. Independently fact-checked 2026-10-25.

This plan is general legal information, not legal advice. RobinClaim is not a law firm. Laws and deadlines change and have exceptions: check with the official source or a lawyer or legal aid office about your own case. How we research.