Getting an Expungement |
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This page contains information on getting an expungement in the District Court of Douglas County, Kansas.
What is an expungement?
An expungement is the legal process of asking a judge to seal the court record of a previous criminal (or juvenile) offense. It is important to remember that, in Kansas, an expunged record is NOT destroyed. The police, FBI, immigration officers, and other public officials may still see sealed court files for certain purposes.
Who qualifies for an expungement?
To view a list of who does and does not qualify for an expungement, please visit one of the following FAQ pages:
What steps are involved in acquiring an expungement?
Adult Expungements
To receive an adult expungement, the following steps are required:
Complete Forms: Download, print and complete the following forms (Please Note: These forms must be filled out by the petitioner (you). Complete one petition for each case.): - Information Sheet for Motion to Annul Conviction (PDF format)
- Petition for Expungement (PDF format)
Print Forms: Print Forms: Print, fill out and bring the following forms to the Clerk of the District Court (Please Note: These forms must be filled out by the petitioner (you) for each case.): - Order for Hearing (see examples) (PDF format) (You will need to: 1 - Read the examples and pick one.; 2 - Retype and put your own information in the document.; 3 - Submit to the Clerk's office and the division will fill in a court date/time.)
- Notice of Hearing (PDF format) (File when you get a court date from the "Order for Hearing and Post Sentence Investigation")
- Order for Expungement (PDF format)
Submit Forms & Fee Payment: There are three options for the submission of your expungement: - Walk-in: Bring all forms and the fee payment to the Judicial & Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044. Please make your check payable to: Clerk of the District Court.
- Mail: Mail all forms and the fee payment to the Judicial & Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044, c/o Deana Sage. Please make your check payable to: Clerk of the District Court.
- Fax: Fax all forms and the fee payment to (785) 832-5174, Attn: Deana Sage/Petition for Expungement (Adult)
Await Processing: Wait for your requested expungement to be processed by the Clerk of the District Court. As part of this process, court staff must check for further violations of the law. This step should take approximately 8 to 12 weeks. If the petition is accepted, an Order for Expungement will be mailed to you. If the petition is denied, you will be notified; you may then choose to consult an attorney. Appear in Court: You will be required to appear, on the date set by the Court, for a hearing on your petition/request for expungement.
Juvenile Expungements
To receive a juvenile expungement, the following steps are required:
Complete Forms: Download, print and complete the following forms (Please Note: These forms must be filled out by the petitioner (you). Complete one petition for each case.): - Information Sheet for Motion to Annul Conviction (PDF format)
- Petition for Expungement (PDF format)
Print Forms: Print and bring the following forms to the Clerk of the District Court (Please Note: These forms will be filled out by the Division of the District Court reviewing your case(s)): - Notice of Hearing (PDF format)
- Order for Expungement (PDF format)
Submit Forms & Fee Payment: There are three options for the submission of your expungement: - Walk-in: Bring all forms and the fee payment to the Judicial & Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044. Please make your check payable to: Clerk of the District Court.
- Mail: Mail all forms and the fee payment to the Judicial & Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044. Please make your check payable to: Clerk of the District Court.
- Fax: Fax all forms and the fee payment to (785) 832-5174, Attn: Petition for Expungement (Adult)
Await Processing: Wait for your requested expungement to be processed by the Clerk of the District Court. As part of this process, court staff must check for further violations of the law. This step should take approximately 8 to 12 weeks. If the petition is accepted, an Order for Expungement will be mailed to you. If the petition is denied, you will be notified; you may then choose to consult an attorney. Appear in Court: You will be required to appear, on the date set by the Court, for a hearing on your petition/request for expungement.
