In New Hampshire, the process of expunging a criminal record is called "annulment." Your criminal record may be annulled under the circumstances described below. If your record is annulled, in most cases, you will be treated as though you were never arrested, convicted, or sentenced.
Arrest records for cases disposed of before January 1, 2019. If you were arrested but not convicted of a crime, you may petition for annulment of your arrest record at any time if:
(N.H. Rev. Stat. § 651:5(II) (2019).)
Arrest records for cases disposed of on or after January 1, 2019. If you were arrested and not convicted of a crime, you may petition for annulment of your arrest record under the following circumstances.
(N.H. Rev. Stat. § 651:5(II) (2019).)
If you have successfully completed your sentence and satisfied the required waiting period, you may petition for annulment of any of the convictions listed below. You cannot, however, annul a violent crime, a felony obstruction of justice crime, or any offense for which you were sentenced to an extended term of imprisonment.
Waiting period. For most violations, the waiting period is one year, except for the following:
(N.H. Rev. Stat. § 651:5 (2019).)
DNA Evidence. You may petition to have your DNA record expunged from the state DNA database if the case against you is dismissed or your conviction is reversed. (N.H. Rev. Stat. § 651-C:5 (2019).)
Cleaning up a criminal record can be complicated, and the law can change at any time. If you are not sure whether your record qualifies for annulment in New Hampshire—or for advice about your personal situation—you should contact a qualified criminal law attorney. A good lawyer can guide you each step of the way.
Need a lawyer? Start here.