In Tennessee, “dismissed” isn’t the same as “gone.” A charge that was dropped ten years ago can still appear on background checks for apartments, jobs, and professional licenses. Expungement is the court order that actually removes it.
But not every case qualifies — and the rules are specific enough that most people have no way to tell at a glance whether theirs is one of them.
The tool below runs through the same eligibility questions I’d ask in a consult. Answer honestly, take two minutes, and you’ll know whether a petition is worth pursuing.
No sign-up. No email. No contact form. Just answers.
Check Your Eligibility
Let’s Check Your Record Together
Rather than guess from a checklist, let me take 15 minutes to look at your specific record and tell you straight whether expungement makes sense. No obligation — if it’s not the right path, I’ll tell you that.
Most consults take 15–30 minutes. Available days, evenings, and weekends.
What This Tool Tells You (and What It Doesn’t)
This checker is calibrated to Tennessee law — specifically T.C.A. § 40-32-101 (the main expungement statute), § 40-35-313 (judicial diversion), and § 40-15-105 (pretrial diversion). It reflects the statute as amended through the most recent legislative session.
What it can do:
- Tell you which of the five expungement pathways your case likely falls into
- Flag waiting periods, fee requirements, and common disqualifiers
- Show you when a simple petition is probably enough and when professional review is worth the money
What it can’t do:
- Replace a record review. The exact offense subsection, disposition language, and county-level nuances can change the answer.
- Confirm eligibility for federal records or out-of-state charges.
- Account for every recent amendment — Tennessee has revised § 40-32-101 multiple times since 2017, and edge cases require a licensed attorney’s review.
If the tool says “likely eligible,” you have a real path. If it says “consult recommended,” it means your situation has a detail a general tool can’t resolve — that’s not a bad sign, it’s just the nature of a complex statute.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does expungement take in Tennessee?
From filing to final order, most straightforward expungements take 4 to 10 weeks, depending on county and court backlog. Davidson County tends to run faster than surrounding counties. Cases requiring a hearing can take longer. Once the order is entered, the court clerk and TBI have additional time to update their records — budget another 30 to 60 days before the record stops appearing on background checks.
How much does expungement cost in Tennessee?
- Dismissals, acquittals, no true bills: Generally no filing fee.
- Diversion-based expungements: Generally no filing fee when following completed judicial or pretrial diversion.
- Eligible convictions: $100 filing fee under T.C.A. § 40-32-101(g). A fee waiver may be available through an Affidavit of Indigency.
- Attorney fees: Vary by case complexity. Straightforward dismissal expungements are inexpensive; multi-charge or multi-county petitions take more time.
Will my record really be gone after expungement?
From official state and federal databases — yes. The court clerk destroys or seals the physical file, the TBI removes the entry, and the FBI updates its databases to match. What expungement does not do:
- Remove news articles, old mugshot websites, or private background-check databases that archived the record before expungement. Those require separate removal requests.
- Erase the event from anyone’s memory — co-workers, family, social media screenshots are outside the court’s reach.
- Apply to federal charges, which have their own (much more limited) process.
Can I expunge a DUI in Tennessee?
Generally, no. DUI convictions are specifically excluded from expungement under Tennessee law. Narrow exceptions exist — for example, a DUI that was dismissed or reduced to reckless driving before conviction may be expungeable as the dismissed/reduced charge. A DUI arrest that never resulted in conviction may also be eligible. If your case went to diversion (rare for DUI), different rules apply. This is the kind of fact pattern that genuinely requires a record review.
Can I expunge more than one charge?
Sometimes. Tennessee law has been amended several times to expand relief for petitioners with multiple convictions. The current framework allows expungement of up to two convictions in some circumstances, with conditions around timing and whether the offenses arose from the same criminal episode. Arrests and dismissed charges do not count against these limits. Multiple-conviction cases almost always warrant an attorney consult.
What happens if my expungement petition is denied?
You typically have the right to request reconsideration or to refile after addressing the reason for denial (unpaid court costs, missing documentation, premature filing). A denial on the merits — for example, because the offense is statutorily excluded — is harder to overcome. A denial is not permanent in most cases; it just means something needs to be corrected before trying again.
Do I need a lawyer to file for expungement?
Legally, no. Tennessee law allows you to file pro se. Practically, it depends on the complexity of your situation:
- Single dismissed charge, clean record otherwise: Self-filing is realistic.
- Diversion-completed case with clean documentation: Self-filing is realistic.
- Eligible conviction, multi-county record, prior petition denied, immigration concerns, or firearms-rights questions: An attorney is usually worth the cost. The consequences of getting it wrong — paying the $100 fee and being denied, or missing a deadline — are worse than the fee.
Why Work with Cate Law
I’m Nathan Cate, a criminal defense attorney based in Nashville. Expungement work is a regular part of my practice — the cases I handle range from straightforward dismissal cleanups to complex multi-charge petitions involving old convictions, diversion completions, and records across multiple Middle Tennessee counties.
If this tool points you toward a consult, here’s what you get:
- A record review before we file anything, so you know exactly what you’re paying for and what the odds are.
- Flat-fee pricing on most expungement matters — no surprises.
- Handling of the full process — drafting the petition, filing with the court, notifying the DA where required, and following up with TBI for record cleanup.
Most expungement consults take 20 to 30 minutes. If we’re not a fit, I’ll tell you.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Cate Law · Nashville, Tennessee · Criminal Defense
This page is attorney advertising and general legal information. It is not legal advice, and using this tool does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice on your specific situation, consult a licensed Tennessee attorney.
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