Utah Expungement Cost: Full Fee Breakdown
General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.
Short answer: Automatic Clean Slate expungement is free. The petition-based path generally costs around $130 in BCI fees for a conviction case (or less for a dismissal/acquittal), plus a separate court filing fee for the petition itself.
BCI fees (petition-based path only)
| Fee | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $65 | Every applicant, non-refundable even if found ineligible |
| Issuance fee | $65 | Only for conviction cases — not charged for dismissals, acquittals, or declined charges |
| Total for a conviction case | $130 | |
| Total for a dismissed/acquitted case | $65 | Application fee only |
Court filing fee
Filing your expungement petition with the court costs a separate fee set by statute: $150 in the district court (Utah Code § 78A-2-301(1)(i)) and $135 in a justice court (§ 78A-2-301.5(3)). Confirm the current amount with the court or Utah Courts' Self-Help Center before filing, since fees can change; the schedule is also scheduled to be re-enacted effective January 1, 2027.
Total estimated cost (petition-based path)
- Conviction case: roughly $130 (BCI) + $135 to $150 (court) ≈ $265 to $280
- Dismissed/acquitted case: roughly $65 (BCI) + $135 to $150 (court) ≈ $200 to $215
These are the direct government fees only — they don't include the cost of hiring an attorney, if you choose to.
Automatic Clean Slate expungement is free
If your case qualifies for the automatic track (see How to Expunge a Criminal Record in Utah), there's no application to file and no fee to pay — the court processes it without your involvement.
Can the fees be waived?
If you can't afford the fees, ask about fee waiver options:
- BCI may issue the certificate without the issuance fee for applicants who qualify as indigent and whose court petition fee is likely to be waived.
- The court has its own fee waiver process for the petition filing fee — Utah Courts' Self-Help Center can point you to it (email selfhelp@utcourts.gov, text 801-742-1898, or call 888-683-0009).
Frequently asked questions
Is the BCI application fee refundable if I'm denied?
No — it's non-refundable regardless of the outcome.
Do I pay the court fee even if my petition is denied?
The filing fee is generally paid at the time of filing, regardless of outcome — confirm with the specific court.
Does hiring an attorney change these government fees?
No — an attorney's fee is separate from, and in addition to, the BCI and court fees above.