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TennesseeCriminal LawLSC-Grade

Legal Packet

Free legal self-help guide for Tennessee residents. This packet provides LSC-grade legal information to help you understand your rights and navigate the court system.

________________________________________________________________________________

STATE OF TENNESSEE )

) ss.

[COUNTY] COUNTY )

________________________________________________________________________________

[PETITIONER FULL NAME],

Petitioner,

v.

STATE OF TENNESSEE,

Respondent.

________________________________________________________________________________

PETITION FOR EXPUNGEMENT

[CIRCUIT / GENERAL SESSIONS / CRIMINAL COURT]

Case No.: _______________

Original Case No.: _______________

________________________________________________________________________________

COMES NOW Petitioner [PETITIONER FULL NAME], appearing pro se, and petitions

this Honorable Court for an Order of Expungement of all public records related

to the criminal charge(s) identified herein, pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.

§ 40-32-101, and in support thereof states as follows:

PARTIES AND JURISDICTION

  1. Petitioner [FULL NAME] is a resident of [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Tennessee.
  1. Petitioner was previously charged with/convicted of [OFFENSE NAME] in this

Court, Case No. [ORIGINAL CASE NUMBER].

  1. This Court has jurisdiction over this expungement petition pursuant to

Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101(a), which provides that "all public records of

a person who has been charged with a misdemeanor or a felony shall, upon

petition by that person to the court having jurisdiction in the previous

action, be removed and destroyed without cost to the person" under the

conditions specified by law.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

  1. On or about [DATE], Petitioner was [arrested / charged / convicted] for

[OFFENSE NAME] in [COUNTY] County, Tennessee.

  1. The disposition of the charge(s) was as follows:

[ ] The charge was dismissed

[ ] A no true bill was returned by the grand jury

[ ] Petitioner was arrested and released without being charged

[ ] Petitioner was acquitted (found not guilty)

[ ] Petitioner was convicted and has completed all sentence requirements

[ ] Petitioner successfully completed judicial diversion under

Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-313

[ ] Petitioner successfully completed pre-trial diversion

  1. Petitioner has completed all terms of any sentence imposed, including:

[ ] Payment of all fines and court costs

[ ] Completion of probation or supervised release

[ ] Completion of any term of imprisonment

[ ] Completion of any court-ordered treatment or programs

[ ] Restitution paid in full

ELIGIBILITY FOR EXPUNGEMENT

  1. Petitioner is eligible for expungement under Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101

because [SELECT ONE OR MORE]:

[ ] The charge was dismissed and Petitioner has never been convicted of

any criminal offense.

[ ] Petitioner was acquitted of all charges.

[ ] The grand jury returned a no true bill.

[ ] Petitioner was arrested and released without being charged.

[ ] Petitioner was convicted of an eligible offense, has completed all

sentence requirements, and the required waiting period has elapsed.

Waiting period since sentence completion: [NUMBER] years.

[ ] Petitioner successfully completed judicial diversion under

Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-313 and all charges were dismissed.

  1. Petitioner confirms that the offense for which expungement is sought is

NOT one of the following ineligible offenses under Tenn. Code Ann.

§ 40-32-101(h):

[ ] DUI under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-401

[ ] Sex offense requiring registration under Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-202

[ ] Domestic assault under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-111

[ ] Any offense involving a child victim

[ ] Any offense for which expungement is specifically prohibited by law

  1. Petitioner has [never previously had records expunged / previously had

records expunged under: specify offense and date].

AGENCIES TO BE NOTIFIED

  1. Upon entry of the Expungement Order, the following agencies shall be

notified to remove and destroy all records of the expunged charge(s):

[ ] [COUNTY] County Clerk's Office

[ADDRESS]

[ ] [COUNTY] County Sheriff's Office

[ADDRESS]

[ ] [CITY] Police Department

[ADDRESS]

[ ] Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

901 R.S. Gass Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37216

[ ] Tennessee Department of Correction (if applicable)

320 Sixth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243

[ ] Other: [AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS]

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Petitioner [FULL NAME] respectfully requests that this Court:

a) Enter an Order of Expungement directing that all public records of the

charge(s) identified herein be removed and destroyed pursuant to

Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101;

b) Direct the [COUNTY] County Clerk to notify all relevant agencies of the

expungement order as required by Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-102;

c) Order that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation remove the expunged

records from Petitioner's criminal history within sixty (60) days

pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-102(b);

d) Grant such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.

VERIFICATION

I, [PETITIONER FULL NAME], swear or affirm under penalty of perjury under the

laws of the State of Tennessee (see Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-702) that the

facts stated in this Petition for Expungement are true and correct to the best

of my personal knowledge, information, and belief.

Executed this ___ day of _____________, 20___.

______________________________

Signature of Petitioner

[PETITIONER FULL NAME, printed]

[ADDRESS]

[CITY, STATE, ZIP]

[PHONE NUMBER]

[DATE OF BIRTH]

________________________________________________________________________________

FILING INSTRUCTIONS

Court: [CIRCUIT / GENERAL SESSIONS / CRIMINAL] COURT

(File in the court where the original case was heard)

Shelby County: Shelby County Circuit Court

140 Adams Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103

Phone: (901) 222-3900

Davidson County: Davidson County Circuit Court

1 Public Square, Nashville, TN 37201

Phone: (615) 862-5181

Knox County: Knox County Circuit Court

300 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902

Phone: (865) 215-2522

Filing Fee: $0 for dismissed charges, acquittals, no true bills

(free pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101)

For convictions: Approximately $350–$450 filing fee

(verify with clerk; fee waiver available)

Required Documents:

(1) Completed Petition for Expungement

(2) Certified copy of the final disposition (if available)

(3) Proof of sentence completion (if convicted)

(4) Certificate of eligibility from TBI (for some convictions)

Timeline: Court will schedule a hearing or review the petition.

If granted, agencies have 60 days to destroy records under

Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-102.

________________________________________________________________________________

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on [DATE], I served a copy of this Petition for

Expungement on the District Attorney General for [COUNTY] County by

[first-class mail / hand delivery] at the following address:

District Attorney General

[COUNTY] County

[ADDRESS]

[CITY, STATE, ZIP]

______________________________

[PETITIONER FULL NAME]

________________________________________________________________________________

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