Published: 05/2016, CN: 11980 (Municipal Instructions and Forms for Expungement of Arrest or Charge Records) page 1 of 1
Instructions and Forms for Expungement of Arrest or Charge Records
N.J.S.A. 2C:52-6
These forms are ONLY provided upon request and at the time of disposition to persons seeking the expungement of arrest
or charge records relating to a disorderly persons offense, petty disorderly persons offense, or municipal ordinance violation,
where those proceedings were dismissed, the person was acquitted, or the person was discharged without a conviction or
finding of guilt. These forms are not to be used to expunge arrest or charge records where the dismissal, acquittal, or
discharge resulted from a plea bargaining agreement involving the conviction of other charges. The process requires
the completion of the following three steps.
Step 1: Complete the Application for Expungement of Arrest or Charge Records
The Application is used by the Municipal Court to determine whether the Applicant is eligible for an expungement of the
arrest(s) or charge(s). The Applicant must complete sections A, B, and C of the form. Section A requires the personal
information of the Applicant. Section B requires the identification of the arrest or charges that the Applicant seeks to have
expunged. The Applicant must provide the date of the arrest, the statute or ordinance the Applicant was charged with
violating, and the complaint number. If the Applicant does not have some or any of this information, the Applicant can obtain
a printout of the case disposition from staff of the municipal court where those proceedings were dismissed, the Applicant
was acquitted, or the Applicant was discharged without a conviction or finding of guilt. If a printout is obtained, the
Applicant should attach it to the Application. The Applicant may alternatively search for the complaint number by accessing
the Municipal Court Case Search via the NJMCdirect website, http://www.njmcdirect.com. Section C requires the Applicant
to date and sign the request for expungement.
Step 2: Complete the Order for Expungement of Arrest or Charge Records
The Order is the official document that will be reviewed and, if granted, signed by the Superior Court Judge. The Instructions
for Completion of the Order are listed below. All questions regarding the completion of the Order should be directed to
the County Criminal Division at ,
contact information .
1. At the top left-hand corner, fill in full name and address.
2. Do not fill in the box marked "For Superior Court Use Only." This will be completed by the Criminal Case
Management Office.
3. In the box where it states, "In the Matter of the Expungement of the Arrest/Charge Records of _______________,"
print full name.
4. In the first sentence of the Expungement Order, print full name, date of birth and your State Bureau of Identification
(SBI) number, if available, where it is indicated.
5. Leave the next three spaces blank where it states "IT IS ORDERED this ___ day of __________, ______________."
They will be filled in by the court.
6. After "all information relating to," fill in full name.
7. On lines 1-5, provide the date of the arrest or issuance of the complaint, the statute or ordinance charged with
violating, and the complaint number. This information should be identical to that contained in Section B of the
Application for Expungement of Arrest or Charge Records. If more than five rows are needed, attach a separate
sheet of paper with the additional information.
8. Leave the signature line on the next page blank. This is where the judge will sign the order.
Step 3: Submit the Forms for Expungement of Arrest or Charge Records to the Municipal Court
Upon completion of the Application and Order, the Applicant must submit the completed Forms via either hand delivery or
mail to the municipal court where those proceedings were dismissed, the Applicant was acquitted, or the Applicant was
discharged without a conviction or finding of guilt. The Application will then be reviewed by a Municipal Court Judge. If
approved, the Municipal Court Judge will sign the Application and forward the signed Application and Order to the
Applicant and the County Criminal Division for submission to the Superior Court Judge. In the event the Application is
improperly or incompletely filled out, the Applicant will be notified by municipal court staff. After review by a Superior
Court Judge, and if granted, a copy of the signed Application and executed Order for Expungement will be forwarded to the
appropriate prosecutor and Municipal Court for the expungement of applicable records. A copy of the signed Application and
executed Order will also be forwarded to the Applicant.