Northern Kentucky courthouse exterior with clear sky
Kentucky & Ohio · Updated May 2025

Clear Your Record.
Know Your Options.

County-by-county expungement and record sealing guides for Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati — eligibility rules, exact fees, office contacts, and filing steps in one place.

Check Eligibility Find My County Office
2 StatesKentucky & Ohio
8 CountiesNKY + Cincinnati Metro
$0Cost to Use This Guide
⚠ Know Before You File: Kentucky and Ohio have entirely separate expungement processes, eligibility rules, and fees. Make sure you're reading the right state's guide for your conviction.
Step 1

Check Your Eligibility

Answer four questions to see whether your conviction may qualify for expungement or record sealing. This is a general screening tool — not legal advice. Consult an attorney for your specific situation.

Kentucky

Kentucky Expungement

Governed by KRS 431.073 — 431.076

Kentucky filing fee: $50–$100 per case (circuit or district court)
Ohio

Ohio Record Sealing

Governed by ORC 2953.31 – 2953.36

Ohio filing fee: $50 application fee (waivable if indigent)

Quick Eligibility Reference — Kentucky vs. Ohio

Offense Category Kentucky Ohio
Dismissed / Not guilty ✓ Eligible (no wait) ✓ Eligible (no wait)
Misdemeanor ✓ Eligible — 2-yr wait ✓ Eligible — 1-yr wait
Class D Felony (non-violent) ✓ Eligible — 5-yr wait (KRS 431.073) ⚡ F4/F5 only — 3-yr wait
Class C Felony or higher ✗ Not eligible ✗ F1/F2/F3 not eligible
DUI / OVI ✗ Not eligible ✗ Not eligible
Sex offenses ✗ Not eligible ✗ Not eligible
Domestic violence ✗ Not eligible ✗ Not eligible

⚠ This table reflects general rules as of May 2025. County judges have discretion. Always verify with the court clerk before filing.

Step 2

Find Your County Court Office

Expungement petitions are filed at the circuit or district court where you were convicted — not the county clerk's office. Select your county below for exact addresses, hours, and filing instructions.

Kenton County

Pop. ~168,000
Kenton Circuit & District Court
230 Madison Ave, Covington, KY 41011
📞 (859) 791-7800
Hours:
  • Mon–Fri: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Sat–Sun: Closed
Local notes:
  • Walk-in filing accepted Mon–Thu only; no walk-ins Friday (staff training)
  • Bring 3 copies of your petition — clerk keeps one, judge gets one, you keep one
  • Circuit Court handles felony expungements; District Court handles misdemeanors
  • Fee: $100 for felony petitions; $50 for misdemeanors (cash or money order only)
  • Parking: Metered street parking on Madison Ave; $5 lot behind the courthouse
Full Kenton County Guide →

Boone County

Pop. ~143,000
Boone Circuit & District Court
6025 Rogers Ln, Burlington, KY 41005
📞 (859) 334-2116
Hours:
  • Mon–Fri: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Sat–Sun: Closed
Local notes:
  • Boone County uses a centralized courthouse — both Circuit and District Court are in the same building
  • Filing window is Room 107 on the first floor
  • Fee: $100 circuit (felony); $50 district (misdemeanor) — exact cash or money order
  • No appointment needed for petition drop-off; hearings are scheduled by the court (typically 30–60 days out)
  • Boone County has no satellite courthouses — all filings go to Burlington only
Full Boone County Guide →

Campbell County

Pop. ~94,000
Campbell Circuit & District Court
600 Columbia St, Newport, KY 41071
📞 (859) 431-5300
Hours:
  • Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Sat–Sun: Closed
Local notes:
  • Campbell County has two courthouses: Newport (main) and Alexandria (branch) — expungement petitions filed in Newport only
  • Fee: $100 circuit / $50 district — credit cards accepted (rare among NKY courts)
  • Clerk's office recommends calling ahead; filing window can close early on heavy docket days
  • Alexandria branch handles civil matters only — do not go there for expungements
Full Campbell County Guide →

Grant County

Pop. ~25,000
Grant Circuit & District Court
101 N Main St, Williamstown, KY 41097
📞 (859) 824-2566
Hours:
  • Mon–Fri: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Sat–Sun: Closed
Local notes:
  • Small courthouse — one clerk handles both Circuit and District filings
  • Lunch closure: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM daily (plan your visit around this)
  • Fee: $50 misdemeanor / $100 felony — cash or money order only; no card reader on-site
  • Hearings typically scheduled faster here than larger NKY counties (2–4 weeks vs. 4–8 weeks)
Full Grant County Guide →
Step 3

Estimate Your Filing Costs

Court fees are just the beginning. Use this calculator to estimate the full cost of your expungement or record sealing — including attorney fees if you choose to hire one.

Estimated Total Cost
$50 – $150
Court filing fee$50
Record copies / background check$15–$30
Service of process (if required)$0–$50
Attorney fee$0 (self-represented)

Fee waivers may be available if your income qualifies. Ask the clerk for an indigency waiver form.

📋
Kentucky Expungement Filing Checklist

Everything you need to bring to the courthouse — petition form, ID requirements, fee info, and what happens at your hearing.

Download PDF
📋
Ohio Record Sealing Checklist

Ohio-specific checklist: Application for Sealing of Record (form), fee waiver info, prosecutor response timeline, and hearing prep.

Download PDF
Step 4

How the Process Works

1

Get Your Records

Order your official criminal history from the Kentucky State Police (AOC-025 form). Cost: $20. Turnaround: 5–10 business days. You'll need this to confirm case numbers and court disposition.

2

Confirm Eligibility

Check the Kentucky Court of Justice case search (kcoj.ky.gov) to verify the final disposition of each case. Dismissed cases are eligible immediately. Convictions require the waiting period to have passed.

3

Complete the Petition

Use the official Kentucky court form (AOC-496.3 for felonies; AOC-496.2 for misdemeanors). Available free from your circuit or district court clerk. Fill out one form per case — you cannot bundle multiple cases on one petition.

4

File & Pay the Fee

Bring 3 copies of your completed petition to the courthouse. Pay the filing fee ($50 misdemeanor / $100 felony). The clerk will stamp and return your copy. Keep this — it's your proof of filing.

5

Wait for Your Hearing

The court will schedule a hearing. The Commonwealth Attorney's office has 60 days to object. Most NKY courts schedule hearings within 30–60 days of filing. You'll receive notice by mail.

6

Attend the Hearing

Dress professionally. The judge will review your petition, any prosecutor objections, and may ask you brief questions. Most uncontested expungements take less than 10 minutes in court.

7

Order Is Entered

If granted, the judge signs the expungement order. The clerk sends copies to the Kentucky State Police, arresting agency, and prosecutor's office. The record is sealed — typically within 60 days of the order.

8

Verify the Seal

Wait 90 days, then run a new background check to confirm the record no longer appears. Kentucky State Police charges $20 for a certified copy — worth the cost for peace of mind.

Common Questions

FAQ — NKY & Cincinnati Metro

What's the difference between expungement and record sealing?

In Kentucky, "expungement" means the record is destroyed or made completely inaccessible — it legally ceases to exist. In Ohio, "record sealing" means the record is hidden from public view but still exists and can be accessed by courts and law enforcement for future proceedings. The practical effect for employment background checks is the same in both states.

Can I expunge a conviction from one county if I now live in another?

Yes. You must file in the court where the conviction occurred, regardless of where you currently live. If you were convicted in Kenton County but now live in Boone County, you file in Kenton County. Your current address is irrelevant to which court has jurisdiction over the expungement petition.

Do I need a lawyer to file for expungement in Kentucky or Ohio?

No. Both Kentucky and Ohio allow self-represented (pro se) filing. The forms are available free from the court clerk. However, if your case is contested by the prosecutor, or if you have multiple cases with complex circumstances, an attorney significantly improves your odds. Many NKY attorneys offer flat-fee expungement services ($500–$1,500 depending on complexity).

I was arrested but not convicted. Can that record be cleared?

Yes — and it's much easier. Both Kentucky and Ohio allow expungement/sealing of arrests that did not result in conviction (dismissed charges, not-guilty verdicts, no-bills from a grand jury). In Kentucky there is no waiting period for dismissed charges. In Ohio, you can file for sealing immediately after a dismissal. This is the most straightforward type of expungement and rarely requires an attorney.

Will my employer find out I filed for expungement?

No. Court filings are not automatically reported to employers. However, court records are technically public until the expungement order is entered, so a very diligent background check service that checks court records directly might see a pending petition. Once the order is granted and the record is sealed or expunged, background checks will not show the record.

How long does the whole process take in NKY vs. Cincinnati?

Northern Kentucky (Kenton, Boone, Campbell counties): typically 60–90 days from filing to hearing, plus 30–60 days for the record to be cleared after the order is entered. Total: 3–5 months for straightforward cases.

Hamilton County (Cincinnati): higher volume means 90–120 days to hearing is common, plus the 60-day prosecutor review period. Budget 4–6 months total for Hamilton County. Smaller Ohio suburban counties (Clermont, Warren) are often faster at 2–4 months.

Can I get a fee waiver if I can't afford the filing fee?

Yes. Both states offer indigency waivers. In Kentucky, ask the clerk for a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. In Ohio, ask for Form JFS 07200. You'll need to demonstrate income below approximately 125% of the federal poverty level. The clerk cannot deny you the form — you have the right to request it.

If my expungement is granted in Kentucky, do I have to disclose it on job applications?

After a Kentucky expungement is granted, you can legally answer "No" to questions asking whether you have ever been convicted of the expunged offense — even on applications that ask about arrests. KRS 431.073(6) explicitly states that an expunged conviction "shall not be used against [the petitioner] in any way." This is one of the strongest protections in the country. Ohio record sealing has similar protections under ORC 2953.33.

When to Hire an Attorney

Self-filing works well for straightforward cases. Consider an attorney if: the prosecutor's office has objected to past filings in your county, your case involves multiple charges, you have prior convictions that complicate eligibility, or you're filing in Hamilton County (Cincinnati) where opposition is more common.

Many NKY expungement attorneys offer free initial consultations and flat-fee arrangements.

Find a KY Attorney (KBA) Find an OH Attorney (OSBA)