Most people assume a criminal record follows them forever in Missouri, but that is no longer entirely accurate. Since Missouri expanded its expungement law in 2021, more misdemeanors and even certain felonies have become eligible to be sealed from public record. We can tell you whether your record is eligible and handle the filing from there.
Kirsch & Kirsch, LLC helps people throughout Jefferson City, Cole County, and the surrounding region determine whether their record qualifies, and, if it does, we handle the filing from start to finish. Call (573) 222-0826 to find out where you stand.
What Does Missouri Expungement Actually Do?
Missouri expungement seals a qualifying criminal record from public view, meaning most employers, landlords, and licensing boards running a standard background check will not see it. It does not erase the record from every government database, and certain agencies, like law enforcement, can still access it under specific circumstances. For most practical purposes, though, an expunged case stops showing up where it matters most.
The law governing this process appears in the Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 610.140, which lists specific waiting periods and exclusions. Some offenses, including most violent felonies and sex offenses, are not eligible under any circumstances. Others become eligible after a set number of years without a new conviction.
How Long Do You Have to Wait to Expunge a Record in Missouri?
The waiting period depends on the type of offense. Most misdemeanors, municipal violations, and infractions in Missouri require one year from the date the sentence was completed, and most felonies require three years. These timelines are set out at Section 610.140, subsection 6(1).
During that waiting period, you generally cannot pick up a new criminal conviction, or the clock resets. Traffic violations are treated separately under the statute, which is one of several details worth confirming against your actual record before filing.
There are exceptions and additional filters built into the statute. Certain offenses are excluded regardless of how much time has passed, including any class A felony and any offense that meets Missouri’s definition of a dangerous felony. A person is also limited in how many total charges they can have expunged over a lifetime, which is one reason we review the full record before filing anything.
Why File for Expungement Now Instead of Waiting, and Why You Should Speak to Our Jefferson City Expungement Lawyers Now
Filing now matters because the process itself takes time, and delays can cost you a job offer, an apartment application, or a professional license. The petition must be filed in the circuit court where the conviction occurred, and prosecutors and law enforcement agencies may object. A hearing may follow, and the judge ultimately decides whether the record gets sealed.
Our Jefferson City expungement lawyers handle each of these steps directly:
- We review your full criminal history to confirm eligibility under the Missouri Chapter and Section 610.140.
- We draft and file the petition in the correct Missouri circuit court.
- We respond to any objections raised by the prosecuting attorney’s office.
- We represent you at the expungement hearing if one is scheduled.
Once the order is confirmed, we verify that it has been processed correctly across the relevant databases. A court order alone does not always automatically update every system.
Local Knowledge That Speeds Up the Process
Erin Kirsch and T.J. Kirsch built this firm on courtroom familiarity, including how the Cole County Circuit Court and neighboring county courts handle expungement dockets. We know which courts expect supporting documentation filed with the petition rather than produced at a hearing, and we prepare the filing accordingly. That preparation can shave real time off a process that otherwise drags for months.
We hold a 4.8-star client rating built on direct, honest representation rather than volume-based case handling. When we tell a client their record qualifies, we mean it, and when it does not qualify yet, we tell them exactly when it will.
We are centrally located, whether you live in an established community like Schellridge or a commuter neighborhood like Wardsville or Holts Summit, and our office is at 214 E. McCarty Street, Suite A, in the downtown commercial district.
FAQs: Jefferson City Expungement Lawyers
Below are common questions we get from people considering expungement in central Missouri.
How many convictions can be expunged under Missouri law?
Section 610.140 sets hard lifetime caps: no more than two felony offenses and no more than three misdemeanors or ordinance violations carrying possible jail time. Infractions are not capped. Because those slots are limited and permanent, we review your full record first and decide which convictions are worth spending them on.
Can a DWI conviction be expunged in Missouri?
Not under the general expungement statute. Section 610.140 excludes intoxication-related traffic and boating offenses outright, so the one-year and three-year waiting periods on this page do not apply to a DWI.
A separate statute, Section 610.130, allows expungement of a first intoxication-related traffic offense charged as a misdemeanor or ordinance violation, after 10 years with no later convictions, once in a lifetime. It is not available to anyone who holds or is required to hold a commercial driver’s license.
Will the expungement affect my Missouri concealed carry eligibility?
It can, since firearm rights lost due to certain convictions may be restored once the underlying record is expunged, though this depends heavily on the type of offense.
Will law enforcement still see my expunged record?
Yes, certain law enforcement and licensing agencies retain access to expunged records for specific purposes even after a court grants the petition.
Can I expunge a case that was dismissed or resulted in a not guilty verdict?
Arrest records without a conviction sometimes qualify for a faster expungement process compared to records tied to an actual conviction, depending on the circumstances.
What happens if the prosecutor objects to my expungement petition?
The court will schedule a hearing where both sides can present arguments, and the judge will make the final decision based on the statute’s requirements and the objection raised.
How long does the Missouri expungement process usually take?
Timelines vary by county and whether an objection is filed, but the process commonly takes several months from filing to a final court order.
Ready to Find Out More About Expunging Your Record? Call Us Today
A past conviction does not have to keep showing up on every background check for the rest of your life. Contact Kirsch & Kirsch, LLC at (573) 222-0826 and let us tell you plainly whether your record qualifies for expungement.