Filing a motion to seal · Rules v2026.2, current through July 1, 2026
How to seal a record in Colorado, step by step
Sealing is a motion you file in the court that handled your case. You do not need a lawyer, and the forms are free.
The order below is the order that works. Doing step 1 last is the most common reason a motion comes back.
- 01Get your criminal history from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, $6. Read the offense class and the dates off it. Your memory of a case from 2012 is not what the court is measuring.
- 02Confirm you are past the waiting period. It runs from the later of your final disposition or your release from probation, parole or jail, under C.R.S. § 24-72-706.
- 03Fill in the right forms. For a conviction that is JDF 612 and JDF 615. For a dismissed case, JDF 417 and JDF 418. For an arrest with no charges, JDF 477 and JDF 478.
- 04File into the existing criminal case, in the same court and under the same case number. This is usually cheaper than opening a new civil case.
- 05Pay the filing fee. A petition to seal is $224, paid to the court, not to us, and often less or nothing when filed into the existing case. Ask the clerk about a fee waiver if you cannot pay it.
- 06Serve the district attorney. They have a window to object. Many sealings are granted with no objection and no hearing.
- 07Go to the return date if one is set. Remote appearances are allowed for sealing matters, so this is usually a phone or video call, not a day off work.
- 08Get a certified copy of the sealing order, and send it to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Then check your own CBI report again in a few weeks. This is the step people skip, and it is why a sealed case sometimes still shows up.
What can stop it
- A conviction after the case you want sealed. The statute counts intervening convictions against you.
- A criminal case open right now.
- Restitution, fines or costs still owed in the case.
- An offense the statute excludes outright. No waiting period fixes that.
- A plea agreement in which you gave up the right to seal.
We are not a law firm and this is legal information, not legal advice. Where the statute leaves the judge discretion, we say so rather than predicting what a judge will do.
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
How long does sealing take in Colorado?
Commonly two to four months from filing to order, depending on the court and whether the district attorney objects. Confirming with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation afterwards adds a few weeks.
Can I seal more than one case at once?
Yes, when the cases are in the same jurisdiction. Colorado changed this in 2024, and one filing can now cover several cases in one judicial district.
What if I cannot afford the filing fee?
Ask the clerk for a fee waiver, which Colorado courts grant on a showing of indigency. Separately, if you cannot pay our $49, write to us and the Filing Packet is free.
Unburdened is not a law firm. This is legal information, not legal advice.