A criminal record will haunt you long after the case ends. In Manchester, New Hampshire, even dismissed charges may appear on background checks for jobs, housing or student loans. Depending on the case, you can go through the expungement process to remove certain records from public view under state law.
What records can you ask the court to clear or seal?
New Hampshire lets many people clear records, but some offenses are not eligible. Here are some eligible examples:
- Most misdemeanors
- Many nonviolent felonies
- Arrests that ended without a conviction (dismissals or not‑guilty verdicts)
Meanwhile, here are some ineligible records:
- Violent crimes such as murder, first‑degree assault, kidnapping and robbery
- Felony sexual offenses such as aggravated felonious sexual assault and similar crimes
- Obstruction offenses such as witness tampering and falsifying evidence
- Cases that received an enhanced or extended prison term
If you are not sure whether your record qualifies, you may ask a criminal defense lawyer who handles expungement for guidance.
How long do you have to have the records expunged or sealed?
New Hampshire law follows different timing rules and limits. In general, you can file for the expungement after you have completed every part of your sentence, including probation, parole and payment of all fines and restitution:
- Dismissed/Not Guilty/Nol Pros: Immediately (though courts often suggest waiting 30 days for appeal windows to close)
- Minor violations: One year
- Class B misdemeanor: Two years (if committed after Jan. 1, 2019)
- Class A misdemeanor: Three years
- Class B felony: Five years
- Class A felony: 10 years
- DUI/DWI convictions: 10 years
- Domestic violence convictions: 10 years
Note that you cannot clear a dismissed charge if a related conviction from the same incident remains ineligible.
Do not wait too long to request expungement
Old records will keep surfacing unless you do what you can to legally seal or clear them. Follow strict filing timelines and stay compliant with the requirements to improve your chance to clear your record.
