Minneapolis Expungement Lawyer

A criminal record can affect employment, housing, licensing, and professional opportunities long after a case ends. Martin S. Azarian is a Minneapolis expungement lawyer with more than 30 years of criminal-defense and courtroom experience. He helps clients evaluate whether a record may be eligible for automatic sealing or whether a petition to the court is the appropriate path.

Clean Slate and Petition-Based Expungement

Minnesota provides automatic expungement relief for qualifying records under Minn. Stat. § 609A.015. Eligibility depends on the case outcome, offense, waiting period, and any subsequent record. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reports that it began automatically sealing Clean Slate records in June 2025 and that, as of July 14, 2026, more than 1.88 million potentially eligible records had been sealed. Records that remain visible may be ineligible or may require individual review; automatic expungement does not eliminate the need for an individualized legal review.

When a record is not automatically expunged, is not eligible for automatic relief, or requires broader relief than the automatic process provides, a person may consider petitioning the court. The governing grounds and eligibility provisions are in Minn. Stat. § 609A.02. The Minnesota Judicial Branch explains that a petition can involve court forms, service on agencies holding records, and a hearing.

A Practical Review of Your Minneapolis Record

A useful expungement review begins with the exact court case, disposition, discharge date, and public record trail. Martin S. Azarian can review the circumstances, identify the relevant procedure, and explain the next step. For more detail, read the firm’s Minnesota Clean Slate Act guide and 2026 expungement timeline.

Call Martin S. Azarian at (612) 343-9000 for a confidential consultation about a Minneapolis expungement matter.

This page provides general information, not legal advice. Eligibility and outcome depend on the individual record and applicable law.