Colorado record sealing · Rules v2026.2, current through July 1, 2026
Expungement or sealing in Colorado: which one is yours
You searched for expungement. Almost everyone does. If your case was an adult case in Colorado, the word for what you want is sealing, and the difference matters only because it decides which statute and which form apply to you.
You are not using the wrong word by mistake. Colorado is unusual here, and most of the internet uses the two words as if they were the same thing.
The short version
- Sealing is what adults get. The case still exists, but it is closed to employers, landlords and the public, and you may lawfully answer that it did not happen. C.R.S. § 24-72-701 and following.
- Expungement in Colorado is mostly for juvenile records, and for a few narrow adult situations such as an underage alcohol offense. C.R.S. § 19-1-306.
- Nobody at the courthouse will correct your vocabulary. The clerk will hand you the sealing forms.
What sealing actually does to your record
A sealed case comes off the public record and off the background checks that employers and landlords run. C.R.S. § 24-72-703(2) lets you say the case did not occur, and an employer may not require you to disclose it.
Sealed is not erased. Criminal justice agencies, and a short list of licensing bodies named in the statute, can still see it. That is the honest limit of this relief, and it is still the difference between getting the apartment and not.
Which relief path is yours
How the case ended decides the statute and the form
| How your case ended | Relief path | Statute | Forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| You were convicted, or pleaded guilty | Conviction sealing | C.R.S. § 24-72-706 | JDF 612, JDF 615 |
| Dismissed, dropped, or you were acquitted | Non-conviction sealing | C.R.S. § 24-72-705 | JDF 417, JDF 418 |
| Arrested, never charged | Arrest sealing | C.R.S. § 24-72-705 | JDF 477, JDF 478 |
A dismissed case is the one people get wrong most often. It shows up on background checks exactly like a conviction, and it has the shortest path to sealing of the three.
What it costs
- Court filing fee
- $224, paid to the court, not to us. Often less when the motion is filed into your existing criminal case.
- Your criminal history
- $6 to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for a name-based check. You need it before you file.
- A Colorado firm
- $1,000 to $3,500 for one record. They do the filing for you.
- The forms themselves
- Free, published by the Colorado Judicial Branch. The wall is not the paperwork.
The Check below reads these rules against your own dates. It is free, it takes about four minutes, and it does not ask for your name or your email.
Common questions
Can I get my Colorado conviction expunged?
Not under that name. An adult Colorado conviction is sealed, under C.R.S. § 24-72-706, not expunged. The practical effect is what you are after: it comes off public background checks.
Does sealing show up on a background check?
A sealed case does not appear on the ordinary background check an employer or landlord runs. Criminal justice agencies and certain licensing bodies named in the statute can still see it.
Do I need a lawyer to seal a record in Colorado?
No. Sealing is a motion you may file yourself, and the Colorado Judicial Branch publishes the forms free. A lawyer is worth it when a district attorney objects or the case is discretionary.
Unburdened is not a law firm. This is legal information, not legal advice.