Process
Expungement is the process of going to court to ask a judge to seal a court record. It is important to remember that an expunged record is not destroyed. The police, FBI, immigration officers, and other public officials may still see sealed court files for certain purposes. Usually, people ask for an expungement when they have been denied a job, housing, or a professional license because of their criminal background. If you would like to read more information about criminal expungements, please visit the Criminal Expungement help topic.
The Self-Help Service Center provides forms, explains processes and procedures, reviews your documents for completeness and adequacy, and provides information about other legal resources available to you.
Important
The Self-Help Service Center can provide legal information, but we are not allowed to give you legal advice. We can answer general questions about court rules and procedures, define common legal words, offer you court forms and instructions, and explain what legal options you may have. We cannot recommend one legal option over another, suggest legal arguments, tell you what you should say in court or write in your paperwork, or tell you what you should do. If you are not sure what to do in your case, you should get legal advice from a lawyer.
The Self-Help Service Center is located at:
15 West Kellogg Boulevard
Room 190
St Paul, MN 55102
Front Desk Hours
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Additional Resources
Volunteer Lawyers Network, Ramsey County District Court, and Ramsey County Law Library offer a free legal clinic for unrepresented parties the fourth Thursday of every month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ramsey County Law Library located on the 18th floor of the Ramsey County Courthouse.
Online
For forms that can be used in any Minnesota County District Court, visit the GetForms page. has statewide forms that may be used in your case. You can fill out these forms electronically or you can print them out and fill them out by hand. All forms must be printed out single-sided. If you are filling the forms out by hand, please use blue or black ink.
In-Person
The Self-Help Service Center has form packets if you are unable to print out the forms on your own. If you need to obtain blank forms, you can do so at the Juvenile and Family Justice Center, 25 W. 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55102.
Turning In Forms
Once your forms are complete, dated, signed, and you have gathered any documents you want to file with your forms, you can email, mail, or bring in your paperwork. You can mail in or drop off your paperwork at: Self-Help Service Center, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd, Room 190, St. Paul, MN 55102. For more information about submitting your forms by email, please call (651) 266-5125 or use the Contact Us button at the top of this page.
Reviewing Paperwork
The Self-Help Service Center is reviewing forms remotely by phone or zoom. Self-help staff will call or email you to set up your virtual review after you turn in your paperwork. The Self-Help Service Center has limited in-person paperwork reviews. When turning in your paperwork, please let Self-Help staff know you want an in-person review and they will schedule an appointment for you.