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Last updated: June 2026
There are two costs in every Texas expungement: the court filing fee, and whatever you pay someone to prepare and file the petition. Here's the real number — by route — in 2026.
No matter which route you choose — DIY, a firm that bills hourly, or a flat-fee firm — the math is the same: a court filing fee paid to the district clerk, plus the cost of preparing and filing the petition.
The Texas court filing fee. This is paid to the district clerk in the county of arrest. It does not change with your route — DIY, hourly billing, or flat fee. The base fee is $350 in every one of Texas's 254 counties; clerks add $25 for each agency that cannot be notified electronically.
The cost of preparing and filing the petition. This varies dramatically by route. DIY costs nothing. A firm that bills hourly typically charges $1,500–$3,500. Expunction360, a flat-fee law firm, charges $1,395–$2,000.
Add court costs to whatever you pay for preparation. That's your total spend. Here is the real range for each route, in 2026 dollars.
$350 and up
Just the clerk's fees. No preparation cost.
What you save: $1,395–$3,500 in preparation cost.
What you risk: An incomplete petition, a missed agency, or a denied filing — any of which can leave the record showing on background checks years later. Pro-se filings have meaningfully higher denial rates than attorney-drafted ones.
$1,850 – $3,850+
$1,500–$3,500 in legal fees + court costs ($350 and up).
What you get: An attorney drafts and files the petition and represents you if a hearing is set, billed by the hour or by the task.
What you pay for: Hourly billing on some firms, consultation fees, court-appearance fees, and the convenience of a single point of contact. Typical out-the-door cost lands between $1,850 and $3,850 or more.
$1,845 – $2,450
$1,395–$2,000 flat fee + $450 flat court costs. Court costs do not apply if you qualify for a fee waiver.
What you get: Free eligibility check, attorney-drafted petition, e-filing through eFileTexas, agency service, and a Notarized Explanation Letter — all included.
How it compares with hourly billing: the total is fixed before you start, with no charges added for hearings, letters, or certified copies. What you save vs. DIY: the risk of a denied petition.
Estimates are typical 2026 ranges for an uncontested expunction in a major Texas county. Multi-case clients pay an additional $400 per case at Expunction360.
The base court fee is the same everywhere. The district clerk's filing fee for an expunction petition is $350 in all 254 counties. What varies is the notice cost: clerks charge $25 for each agency that cannot be notified electronically.
Hourly-billed fees vary because firms bill differently. Some Texas firms quote a flat fee that includes the petition, the order, and one court appearance — typically in the $1,500–$2,500 range. Others bill hourly on top of a retainer; those cases routinely climb past $3,500 if anything contests, even briefly. Many also charge separately for certified copies, courier service, and any additional letters they need to draft for an employer or licensing board.
Flat-fee law firms exist because most expunctions are uncontested. The vast majority of properly drafted expunction petitions are signed by the judge in chambers without a hearing. That means the cost of an expunction is predictable, so it does not need hourly billing. Expunction360 reflects that reality with a flat fee — $1,395 or $2,000 — covering attorney-drafted petitions, filing, agency service, and representation at the hearing if the court sets one, plus a flat $450 for court costs.
DIY costs $0 in preparation but isn't free. The Texas State Law Library publishes the petition template. The risk is that a missed agency or an incomplete service list leaves the arrest visible on private background-check vendors that the petition didn't bind. Those errors are hard to fix after the fact — and a denied pro-se petition can complicate refiling. Many DIYers spend the $350 filing fee, lose the case on a technicality, and end up paying the full attorney rate to fix it.
Multi-case math matters. If you have two or three arrests to clear, the per-case cost moves further apart. Each additional case at Expunction360 is +$400. Each additional case under hourly billing is often a second full retainer. Court costs apply again for each additional case regardless of route.
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Whatever route you take, three line items have a habit of showing up after the fact. Ask about each one before you sign.
Certified copies. After the judge signs the order, you typically need certified copies for every agency listed in the petition — DPS, the arresting agency, the district attorney, and any private background-check vendor. Most district clerks charge $1–$5 per page per copy. For a multi-agency expunction, certified-copy costs can run $50–$150. At Expunction360, this is included in the flat fee.
Service of process and certified mail. Every named agency must be served with a certified copy of the signed order, typically by certified mail with return receipt. Postage costs $7–$10 per agency. For a typical 6-agency service list, that's another $40–$60. Included at Expunction360.
Background-check vendor service. The single most-missed line item. Texas DPS distributes the order to government agencies, but private vendors — the ones your employer actually buys background reports from — are bound by the order only if they were named in the petition and served separately. Missing this step is the #1 reason "expunged" records still appear on job and apartment applications. Expunction360 names the major Texas-relevant private vendors in every petition.
Two costs combine. The district clerk's filing fee is $350 in every Texas county, plus $25 for each agency that cannot be notified electronically. On top of that, you pay either hourly legal fees ($1,500–$3,500), a flat-fee law firm such as Expunction360 ($1,395–$2,000), or $0 if you do it yourself. Total spend ranges from about $350 (DIY) to $4,000+ (hourly billing).
The base fee is. The district clerk's filing fee for an expunction petition is $350 statewide. Since January 1, 2026, clerks also charge $25 for each agency that cannot receive notice electronically, so the total depends on how many agencies must be reached by mail. Expunction360 charges a flat $450 for court costs on every case, and that charge does not apply if you qualify for a court fee waiver.
Yes. Texas allows pro-se expunction filings under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A. The petition, proposed order, and required service list are public documents. The risk is that incomplete petitions or missed agencies result in records that still show up on background checks years later — and a denied petition is hard to refile.
Texas firms that bill hourly typically charge $1,500–$3,500 for an uncontested expunction. Some firms quote a flat fee that excludes filing fees and certified-copy costs; others bill hourly. Court costs are paid on top of the legal fee.
Usually. Expunction360 is a Texas law firm that charges a flat $1,395 (Saver) or $2,000 (Expedited), plus a flat $450 for court costs, which does not apply if you qualify for a court fee waiver. Firms that bill hourly commonly charge $1,500–$3,500 for the same uncontested expunction work. Payment plans are available.
Free eligibility check (free even if you don't qualify), attorney-drafted petition, e-filing through eFileTexas, service of the proposed order on every named agency, and a Notarized Explanation Letter at no extra charge. Court costs are a flat $450 on top, unless you qualify for a court fee waiver.
Related: flat-fee pricing · orders of nondisclosure · how long an expunction takes
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