Answers about Arizona record relief

Take the Free screening. It evaluates your case against all current Arizona statutes — § 13-911 sealing, § 13-905 set-aside, § 13-907/908 civil rights, § 13-910 firearm rights, § 36-2862 marijuana expungement, § 13-604 Class 6 reduction, and § 28-3004 Admin Per Se expungement — and tells you which paths apply. Most people qualify for more than one. We tell you the optimal filing strategy and which paths to file together.

Yes, in many cases. SB 1639 (effective September 13, 2024) removed the prior-historical-felony 5-year add-on that used to extend waiting periods. You file a separate petition for each case, and each must independently meet its waiting period. The prior-felony bar still applies in one narrow case: if a prior record was already sealed under § 13-911 and you were then convicted of a NEW felony, the new case adds 5 years to the standard waiting period under § 13-911(F).

No. § 13-911(A)(1) requires that you have completed all terms and conditions of your sentence — including probation, restitution, fines, fees, and any other obligations — before you can petition. The waiting period (2-10 years depending on offense class) starts running on the date you are discharged from probation, not the date you were sentenced. The one exception: marijuana expungement under § 36-2862 has no sentence-completion requirement and can be filed even while still on probation.

No. The conviction has to be from Arizona, but you can live anywhere. If you were convicted in Arizona and have since moved out of state, you file your petition with the Arizona court that originally handled your case. For out-of-state convictions, the rules are different — see our guide on out-of-state convictions.

For sealing, set-aside, and firearm rights restoration: typically no. You'd need to seek that relief in the convicting state under that state's laws. The exception is civil rights restoration — under § 13-908, an Arizona resident with an out-of-state felony can apply in their AZ county of residence for civil rights restoration, and the court is required to grant it without a hearing if the requirements are met.

Arizona's sealing and set-aside statutes (§ 13-911 and § 13-905) only apply to Arizona convictions. For a federal conviction: civil rights restoration may be available through limited paths under § 13-908 if you reside in Arizona, but the federal record itself remains. Firearm rights for federal convictions usually require a Presidential pardon — Arizona courts cannot restore federal firearm rights. Sealing/expungement of the federal record itself follows federal procedures, which are extremely limited.

Generally no. Under § 13-911(O) (sealing) and § 13-905(P) (set-aside), dangerous offenses as defined in § 13-704 — those involving the use, discharge, or threatening exhibition of a deadly weapon, or the knowing infliction of serious physical injury — are excluded. Civil rights restoration under § 13-908 is sometimes still available (discretionary). Firearm rights restoration under § 13-910 is unavailable for dangerous offenses (permanent bar).

No. Sex-registration offenses under § 13-3821, offenses with a sexual-motivation finding under § 13-118, and offenses where the victim was under 15 are all excluded from both sealing (§ 13-911(O)(2)-(4)) and set-aside (§ 13-905(P)(2)-(4)). Some non-registration sex-related offenses may be eligible — the screening evaluates your specific charge.

Title 28 traffic offenses — including DUI, reckless driving, and aggressive driving — are excluded from set-aside under § 13-905(P)(5). However, they ARE eligible for sealing under § 13-911 after the standard waiting period, and DUI dismissals/acquittals/no-charges qualify for Admin Per Se expungement under § 28-3004 (which clears the MVD record separately from the court case).

Under § 13-911(E), the waiting period depends on the offense class and runs from the date you completed your sentence (probation discharge or absolute discharge from prison):

· Class 2 or 3 felony: 10 years
· Class 4, 5, or 6 felony: 5 years
· Class 1 misdemeanor: 3 years
· Class 2 or 3 misdemeanor: 2 years
· Arrest with no charges, dismissal, or acquittal: No waiting period — file immediately

There is no statutory waiting period for set-aside under § 13-905. You can petition as soon as you complete all terms of your sentence (restitution paid, fines paid, probation completed, all other conditions met). The court reviews discretionary factors — your circumstances, time elapsed, rehabilitation — but there is no minimum wait. Note: a Certificate of Second Chance (which gives you additional protections) requires a 2-year wait for Class 4/5/6 felonies or 5 years for Class 2/3 felonies.

For first-time AZ felony offenders: No wait. Under § 13-907(A) (as amended by HB2119, 2022), civil rights are automatically restored upon discharge from probation or absolute discharge from imprisonment, provided all victim restitution is paid. No application needed — though we can prepare a confirmation order.

For repeat felony offenders or those with unpaid restitution: No statutory wait either. The 2-year wait that previously existed under § 13-908 was removed by HB2119 in 2022. You can apply at any time after sentence completion. Restoration is discretionary.

First-time AZ felony, non-dangerous, non-serious: Automatic on discharge under § 13-907(A) (post-HB2119). No application needed.

Non-dangerous, non-serious felony, multiple priors: No statutory wait. You can apply at any time under § 13-910. Discretionary.

Serious offense under § 13-706: 10-year wait from absolute discharge before you can apply.

Dangerous offense under § 13-704: Permanent bar on judicial restoration. (Set-aside may sometimes provide an alternative path.)

Under § 13-911(E), a new criminal conviction restarts the sealing waiting clock — it does not permanently bar you. The waiting period runs from the discharge date of the most recent conviction, not the original case. So if you finished probation 4 years ago for a Class 4 felony and then got a new misdemeanor 1 year ago, your 5-year clock for sealing the original case resets to start running from the new discharge. Once that new clock runs, you can still seal the original case.

For sealing under § 13-911(L): 3 years from the date of the denial. The court won't even accept a refiling before then.

For set-aside, civil rights, and firearm rights: No statutory wait. You can refile immediately, though refiling without curing whatever caused the denial is unlikely to succeed. The smarter path is identifying the denial reason and addressing it before refiling.

Just a few minutes. The questions adapt to your case — you don't see anything that doesn't apply. The screening is completely free, no signup required, runs in your browser. Start the free screening →

No. The screening is free, takes no signup, and runs entirely in your browser. You only create an account if you want to save your results, come back later, or proceed to filing.

You pay only when you submit your case detail form for packet generation. Until that moment, everything is free — including the screening, account creation, and case detail form save-as-you-go. We don't take payment information until you're ready to generate your filing packet.

Depends on the relief, the county, and whether the prosecutor objects. Typical ranges:

· Marijuana expungement (§ 36-2862): 30-90 days
· Class 6 designation (§ 13-604): 30-90 days
· Set-aside (§ 13-905): 30-120 days
· Civil rights — auto-restoration confirmation: 30-90 days
· Civil rights — § 13-908 application: 60-150 days
· Firearm rights (§ 13-910): 60-180 days
· Sealing (§ 13-911): 60-150 days (60-day mandatory prosecutor objection window applies)
· Admin Per Se expungement (§ 28-3004): 30-60 days (administrative, not court)

Maricopa County tends to be on the faster end of these ranges; rural counties on the slower end.

Most petitions are decided without a hearing by the judge on the papers. The court reviews your filing, the prosecutor's response (if any), and any victim notice replies, then issues a written order. If a hearing is set — usually because the prosecutor objected or the judge has questions — you'll receive notice by mail. You appear yourself (we don't represent you in court) or hire an attorney for the hearing.

Yes. You'll need to obtain things like your Discharge from Probation (from the probation department), Certificate of Absolute Discharge (from ADOC if you served prison time), payment history (from the clerk's office), and (for Admin Per Se) certified court abstracts. We give you a step-by-step checklist with exactly what to ask for and where, but the documents themselves come from agencies, not us.

The judge issues a written order explaining the denial reason. Common reasons (and cures):

· Outstanding restitution: Pay it, refile.
· Incomplete sentence terms: Complete them, refile.
· Subsequent conviction: Wait, refile after new clock runs.
· Prosecutor objection on best-interests grounds: Strengthen your personal statement, refile after the 3-year wait under § 13-911(L).

For sealing under § 13-911, you must wait 3 years from denial before refiling. Other remedies have no statutory wait.

Generally no. Arizona law requires the affected person to sign the petition. Family members, friends, and attorneys can fill out the case detail form on your behalf, but the petitioner must personally sign before the filing goes to the court. There are limited exceptions for guardians of incapacitated persons and personal representatives of deceased petitioners (estates can sometimes pursue posthumous relief).

Sealing under § 13-911 hides your record from public view. After sealing, the record doesn't show up on most background checks and you can legally deny the conviction in most contexts. The record still exists for law enforcement, courts, and certain regulatory bodies.

Set-aside under § 13-905 vacates the judgment of guilt but the record stays publicly visible (with an annotation noting the set-aside). Set-aside has different downstream effects — for non-serious offenses it automatically restores firearm rights, and a Certificate of Second Chance can come with it for additional employment/licensing protections.

Many people qualify for both. Learn more about sealing · Learn more about set-aside

Arizona's only true expungement statute is § 36-2862, which applies only to qualifying marijuana offenses under Proposition 207. Marijuana expungement actually destroys the record — even law enforcement loses access (with narrow exceptions). For everything else, "expungement" in Arizona usually means sealing under § 13-911. The terminology is confusing because most other states use "expungement" as a generic term for what AZ calls sealing. Learn about marijuana expungement · Learn about sealing

There is no court filing fee for § 13-911 sealing petitions. The court is required to accept the filing without payment. Our service fee is $750 standard (covers preparation of the petition, exhibits, certificate of service, and proposed order). For combined filings (e.g., set-aside + sealing), additional path discounts apply. See full pricing

Yes. DUI convictions under § 28-1381, § 28-1382, and § 28-1383 are eligible for sealing under § 13-911 after the standard 2-3 year waiting period (depending on whether your DUI was a Class 1 misdemeanor or aggravated felony). Even though set-aside is barred for DUIs (§ 13-905(P)(5)), sealing is available. Learn more

It depends on the underlying offense. State sealing under § 13-911 is available for most misdemeanor and many felony DV convictions after the waiting period. However, federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9), the Lautenberg Amendment) imposes a separate federal firearm prohibition for misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence that state sealing does NOT lift. To remove the federal firearm bar, you typically need a set-aside (which "expunges" the conviction for federal purposes per § 921(a)(33)) along with sealing.

For most employment and housing background checks: no. Sealed records are not accessible through standard public-records searches. However, sealed records remain accessible to: law enforcement agencies, courts, prosecutors, fingerprint-clearance-card-issuing agencies (DPS), and certain employers in regulated fields (childcare, healthcare with vulnerable populations, etc.). Federal background checks for firearm purchases also still see the record unless rights have been separately restored. The full list of permitted uses is at § 13-911(J).

Under § 13-911(D), the prosecutor has 60 days to file a response. If they object, the judge typically sets a hearing where both sides present argument. The court then decides whether to grant the petition based on whether sealing is in the best interests of the petitioner and public safety. Common objection grounds: prior convictions not disclosed, public-safety concern based on offense type, victim opposition. A strong personal statement and prepared response to anticipated objections matters a lot here.

A set-aside under § 13-905 vacates the judgment of guilt and releases you from most of the disabilities resulting from the conviction. The record itself stays public, but it gets annotated to show the conviction was set aside. The court issues an order stating you have been "released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the conviction." Importantly: for non-serious, non-dangerous offenses, set-aside automatically restores firearm rights. For Class 4/5/6 felonies (after 2 years from discharge) and Class 2/3 felonies (after 5 years), you may also receive a Certificate of Second Chance with additional employment and licensing protections.

A Certificate of Second Chance is an additional finding the court can make when granting a set-aside, under § 13-905(F). It triggers occupational-licensing protections, employment-decision protections, and housing-decision protections. To qualify: 2 years must have passed since discharge for Class 4/5/6 felonies, or 5 years for Class 2/3 felonies. The court has discretion. We request the Certificate of Second Chance in every set-aside petition where the timing qualifies; the court decides whether to grant it.

No. § 13-905(C) requires that you have fulfilled the conditions of probation or sentence before petitioning. That means probation completed, jail or prison time served, all restitution paid, all fines and fees paid, and any other conditions (treatment, classes, community service) completed. Some courts allow filing in the final weeks of probation contingent on completion, but practice varies — best to wait for actual discharge.

Under § 13-907(A), as amended by HB2119 (2022), civil rights are automatically restored for first-time felony offenders convicted in Arizona upon discharge from probation or absolute discharge from imprisonment, provided all victim restitution is paid. No application is needed — the restoration happens by operation of law. However, getting a written court order confirming the restoration is useful for employers, voter registration, and federal background checks. We prepare these confirmation orders.

You file an application under § 13-908 in the court where you were convicted (or your county of residence for out-of-state convictions). HB2119 (2022) removed the prior 2-year waiting period — you can apply at any time after sentence completion. The restoration is discretionary — the judge weighs your circumstances, criminal history, restitution status, time elapsed, and rehabilitation. A persuasive personal statement and supporting evidence (employment, treatment, community involvement) substantially affect the outcome.

HB2119 (2022) dramatically simplified firearm rights restoration in Arizona. Before HB2119: 2-year waiting period plus separate application required. After HB2119:

· First AZ felony, non-dangerous, non-serious, restitution paid: Firearm rights restored AUTOMATICALLY upon discharge under § 13-907(A) — no application, no waiting period.
· Multiple AZ felonies, non-dangerous, non-serious: Apply under § 13-910 — no waiting period, but discretionary review.
· Serious offense (§ 13-706): Still 10-year waiting period.
· Dangerous offense (§ 13-704): Still permanent bar (judicial restoration unavailable).

The court ruling in State v. Begay (2026) confirmed that the relevant date for "discharge" under § 13-907 is the end of probation, not the date of conviction.

No. Sealing under § 13-911 hides the record from public view but does NOT change your underlying legal status as a prohibited possessor. You need a separate firearm rights restoration under § 13-910 (or automatic restoration under § 13-907) to legally possess firearms. Set-aside under § 13-905, however, DOES automatically restore firearm rights for non-serious, non-dangerous offenses.

Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)) prohibits firearm possession by anyone convicted of a felony carrying a sentence of more than one year. Federal firearm rights restoration depends on Arizona's state-law restoration being recognized. Generally: set-aside under § 13-905 satisfies federal § 921(a)(20), restoring federal firearm rights (for non-dangerous, non-serious offenses). Sealing alone does NOT restore federal firearm rights — federal law looks at conviction status, not whether the record is sealed. For federal convictions specifically, only a Presidential pardon restores firearm rights.

Under § 36-2862 (Proposition 207, effective 2021), the following personal-use marijuana conduct can be expunged with no waiting period:

· Possession, consumption, or transport of 2.5 oz or less (or 12.5 g or less of concentrate)
· Possession, transport, cultivation, or processing of 6 or fewer plants for personal use at primary residence
· Possession, use, or transport of paraphernalia for personal-use marijuana

Per State v. Sorensen (2023), the law also covers sales offenses involving personal-use quantities (the court rejected the prosecution's argument that "sales" inherently disqualifies). Distribution of larger quantities and sales to minors remain ineligible.

Yes — substantially. Expungement under § 36-2862 actually destroys the record. Even law enforcement loses access (with narrow exceptions). The petitioner can deny the arrest/conviction in all contexts, including when applying for jobs that ask about sealed records. Sealing under § 13-911 only hides the record from public view — law enforcement and certain regulators retain access. For a qualifying marijuana case, expungement is significantly stronger relief.

Then you have THREE potential paths and we recommend evaluating all of them: (1) marijuana expungement under § 36-2862 — strongest if eligible, destroys the record entirely; (2) Class 6 reduction under § 13-604 if the offense was left undesignated at sentencing — converts to Class 1 misdemeanor; (3) sealing under § 13-911 — hides the record after the 5-year wait. Many marijuana Class 6 cases qualify for all three. The screening evaluates all three at once.

A Good Cause Exception (GCE) under § 41-619.55 is a separate administrative process for people whose AZ fingerprint clearance card was denied or suspended due to a criminal record. The GCE is decided by the Arizona Board of Fingerprinting — a separate state agency from DPS. If granted, DPS is required to issue the card. You need a GCE if you want to work in a regulated profession that requires a fingerprint clearance card (teaching, childcare, foster care, healthcare with vulnerable populations, behavioral health, school transportation, AZ State Hospital, DCS/DES employee positions) and your record contains a precluded offense.

They're separate processes governing separate records. Sealing under § 13-911 hides your criminal record from most public background checks, but DPS retains access for fingerprint card determinations under § 13-911(J). A GCE under § 41-619.55 doesn't change your criminal record at all — it gets you a clearance card despite a precluded offense. Many people pursue both: sealing for general employment, GCE for the regulated jobs that require a card. Learn more about GCE.

Many regulated AZ professions require one. The Standard card (§ 41-1758.03) is required for the AZ State Bar, certain healthcare positions, ADOT licensure, dentistry, appraisal, and others. The Level I card (§ 41-1758.07) is required for childcare, foster care licensure, AZ State Hospital, DCS/DES employees handling direct services to children or vulnerable adults, behavioral health, school transportation, AZ Game and Fish, and others. Level I has a broader list of disqualifying offenses, so some people are denied Level I but eligible for Standard. The screening tells you which type your record affects.

Yes. § 41-1758.03(B) and § 41-1758.07(B) list "non-appealable" offenses where neither card type can ever issue and the Board cannot grant a GCE. These include: sex-registration offenses, offenses with a sexual-motivation finding, sexual exploitation of minors or vulnerable adults, child abuse, sexual conduct with a minor, child prostitution, and similar offenses. Additionally, § 41-619.55(K) bars Board of Fingerprinting members and staff (under § 41-619.52) from receiving a GCE. There is no workaround for these — the bar is permanent.

After the Board receives a complete application, it conducts an expedited review within 20 days. Most well-prepared applications with limited criminal history, time elapsed since offense, and clear rehabilitation evidence are granted at expedited review. If the Board decides a hearing is needed, the hearing is typically scheduled 3-4 months out. The Board uses the criteria in § 41-619.55(E): extent of record, time elapsed, nature of offense, mitigating circumstances, and rehabilitation.

For each criminal charge in your record, you fill out a structured form: what was the charge, what happened (3-5 sentences in your own words), what was going on in your life at the time, and what you've done since. You then click "Help me improve this" and our AI tool — Claude, the same AI you might be using right now — produces a polished version in your voice using only the facts you provided. We do NOT invent context, addiction histories, treatment programs, or steps you didn't describe. You review and edit before it goes in your packet. The Board's own published guidance shows that statement quality determines whether the GCE is granted at expedited review or sent to a hearing — vague or defensive statements lose. Specific, accountable statements that follow the structure (what happened / context / steps since) usually win.

GCE applications are unusual in that the quality of the written statement materially affects whether the Board grants the exception. The Board's own guidance includes examples of "good" and "bad" statements — and vague or defensive answers are routinely sent to hearings or denied. Our service includes AI-assisted statement writing — a tool that helps you turn your raw facts into Board-quality narratives. No competitor offers this. The $895 price reflects the differentiator. Bundle pricing applies if you also seal or set-aside the same record: $650 each for the additional paths, so a complete package (GCE + sealing + set-aside) runs $2,195 instead of $2,395.

The Board sends you a letter scheduling an administrative hearing. The hearing is typically 3-4 months out. You appear yourself and present your case, or hire an attorney for the hearing. We do not represent applicants at GCE hearings — our service is document preparation only. If your hearing results in a denial, you can apply again to DPS for a fingerprint card, and if denied again, request a new GCE. There is no statutory waiting period for GCE re-application.

No. Seal My Record Now is a service of BR Center LLC d/b/a Seal My Record Now. We are a document preparation service, not a law firm. We don't represent you in court, give legal advice tailored to your specific case, or create attorney-client relationships. The product applies current Arizona statutes to your case and prepares court-ready filings. If you need legal advice or representation, hire a licensed Arizona attorney.

Michael Tamou — an Arizona and Missouri licensed criminal defense attorney, founder of Tamou Law Group PLLC. Mike built Seal My Record Now after watching thousands of qualified people stay stuck with old records because they couldn't afford the $1,500-$5,000 attorney fees to file. The product encodes the same workflow his firm uses, but at software prices. Read his story →

Mike Tamou is the founder of both. They are separate entities for legal compliance under Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct 7.5 and 5.7. Tamou Law Group PLLC is a law firm that provides legal representation. Seal My Record Now (BR Center LLC) is a software product that prepares court documents. The two don't share staff, don't share files, and don't refer cases to each other unless you specifically ask.

Seal My Record Now is operated by BR Center LLC, an Arizona-organized LLC. We are an online business — there is no physical storefront. Customer support is handled by email at support@sealmyrecordnow.com.

Most paths are $750 standard. The Class 6 designation flow is $500. Admin Per Se is $250. For combined filings — e.g., sealing AND set-aside on the same case — additional paths get a $100 multi-path discount. Some pipelines (Class 6 → Set-Aside → Seal) bundle further discounts of $25-50. See full pricing →

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No. Our service doesn't show up on background checks. The petition you file IS public record (court filings always are), but the petition is what would be public anyway if you filed pro se or with a private attorney. Using us doesn't add to your visibility in any way. After the petition is granted (sealing/expungement), the underlying case becomes hidden as the relief intends.

Active accounts: as long as you keep the account. Closed accounts: 7 years for tax and legal record-keeping (refund policy compliance, audit trail), then deleted. You can request earlier deletion under our privacy policy — privacy@sealmyrecordnow.com.