I. Washington State Court Forms:
The state has published some official forms. If these forms do not fit your situation, you will need to create your own forms using the published forms as guides. If you are doing this yourself, you may want to consult with an attorney.
Vacating/Sealing Records:
- Misdemeanors: Official forms are available on the court forms section of the Washington State Court’s website. Choose the option for “Vacating/Sealing Records” under Criminal Law. The Northwest Justice Project has a publication about vacating/sealing misdemeanor convictions that includes detailed instructions and forms.
- Felonies: Official forms are available on the court forms section of the Washington State Court’s website. Choose the option for “Vacating/Sealing Records” under Criminal Law. In Washington Practice, volume 13, section 5308 you’ll find model forms to vacate a conviction and restoration of gun rights. The Northwest Justice Project has a publication about vacating non-violent class B or C felony convictions that includes detailed instructions and forms.
- Juvenile Crimes: Official forms are available on the Washington State Courts’ website page for court forms. Choose the option for Juvenile Court Records. Samples are also available on the Juvenile Court Department’s portion of the King County Superior Court web site.
Other Washington State Court Forms:
Certificate of Discharge/Provisional Voting Rights
A person may lose the right to vote when they are convicted of a particular crime. Use these forms to restore your voting rights.
Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity
A Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity (CROP) is aimed at reducing barriers to work or housing that stem solely or primarily from past criminal convictions by providing additional context to employers or landlords to encourage them to accept individuals who have achieved significant recovery but who still have criminal records. The CROP does not hide a person’s criminal history from employers or landlords, but it provides along with legal history an official certification from a court that a person has maintained good standing and compliance, has successfully paid his or her debt to society, and has achieved rehabilitation. Learn more about CROP here.
A district court proceeding that can bypass a criminal conviction is deferred prosecution, which is in effect pre-conviction probation. A person charged with a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor in district court may petition the court to be considered for a deferred prosecution program by alleging that the wrongful conduct is caused by alcohol, drug or mental problems. The petition must also contain a case history of the defendant, an allegation that he is in need of treatment and will probably re-offend unless treated, together with a statement he will pay the costs of diagnosis if financially able to do so.
Domestic Violence No-Contact Orders, and Modify/Rescind
A court is authorized to issue a no contact order prohibiting a defendant from contacting a protected party upon arrest or conviction for a domestic violence related offense. The court can enter a no contact order without the request or permission of the protected party. A No Contact Order (NCO) prohibits the defendant from contacting the victim in person, by phone, through writing or through a third party at the victim’s residence, work place or school. The NCO remains in effect while the case is pending. A No Contact Order with a duration of up to five years may be issued as a condition of sentence following conviction or as a condition of an agreed disposition. A No Contact Order issued by a judge is valid and enforceable even if it is not signed by the defendant, or not requested by the protected person. After a No Contact Order has been issued, only the Court has the authority to lift the order. To petition the Court to modify or consider canceling an NCO, use the Washington State Forms. Read more about Domestic Violence No Contact orders here.
Use these forms to ask the court for relief from the duty to register as a sex offender or kidnapping offender; or for exemption from community notification requirements. There are also other forms association with felony judgment and sentence available at this website.
Use these forms to enter a Guilty Plea Statement.
If you are indigent, you may be eligible for a public defender. The form from Washington Courts is a screening form used to evaluate an individual’s income and ability to contribute to the costs of their defense.
Misdemeanor Judgment & Sentence
Use these forms to ask the court for relief from the duty to register as a sex offender or kidnapping offender; or for exemption from community notification requirements. There are also other forms associated with misdemeanor judgment and sentence available at this website.
Relief from Offender Registration Requirements
Use these forms to ask the court for relief from the duty to register as a sex offender or kidnapping offender; or for exemption from community notification requirements.
Restore Firearm Legal Forms Kit (King County)
Previously lost your right to own a firearm in the state of Washington? Instructions and legal forms approved by the King County Prosecutor’s Office to petition the court for the right to own a firearm. Instructions included.
Restoration of Gun Rights (Spokane County)
Previously lost your right to own a firearm in Spokane County? Instructions and legal forms from Spokane County to petition the court for the right to own a firearm. Instructions included.
Use these forms to vacate and seal a criminal record.
Waive or Reduce Interest on LFO
Use these forms to waive or reduce interest on Legal Financial Obligations (LFO).
Washington Law Help Criminal Law Section
This subsection of Washington Law Help contains resources, forms, and instructions dealing with different areas of criminal law.
Notice of Court Date/Court Hearing for Criminal Motion:
II. Other Helpful Resources:
The Adult Sentencing Guidelines Manual provides comprehensive information for criminal justice practitioners, public officials and citizens on adult felony sentencing in the state of Washington.
- This manual offers specific guidance on how to determine the appropriate standard sentence range for an offense by identifying the seriousness level of the offense and by “scoring” the offender’s criminal history. This manual lists and describes all of the sentencing options currently provided for by statute. And the manual addresses; reviews, modifications, discharges of sentences, as well as vacating conviction records.
- As an aid to judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and other criminal justice professionals, this manual also includes forms for use in “scoring” an offender’s criminal history.
- For updates to this manual, visit the website of the Caseload Forecast Council, which assumed responsibility for the Manual when the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission was eliminated as an independent agency in 2011.
Can I Clear My Criminal Record?
This website offers a good overview of records expungement and includes a discussion of how to clear non-conviction criminal records and how to petition the court for the restoration of some civil rights.
Criminal History/Records: When and How to Vacate Non-Violent Class B or C Felony Convictions.
This guide deals specifically with the procedures for clearing Non-violent Class B or C felonies and includes instructions and forms.
Expungement information from FindLaw.
This link leads to a portion of the FindLaw website dealing with criminal record expungement in general. The information here will help you better understand how expungement works but you will certainly need to review our State-specific information for criminal records in Washington State.
Getting and Reading Criminal History Reports in Washington State.
This ACLU guide discusses how to find criminal history reports issued by various agencies in Washington State and how to understand what they report.
Guide to Criminal Records and Employment in Washington State.
This ACLU guide discusses the rights and responsibilities of people with criminal records who are looking for a job.
This website offers a good overview of the conditions you need to meet and the procedures you need to follow when sealing and/or vacating criminal records.
How to Waive Interest on Legal Financial Obligations
This guide, brought to you by the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington State, provides information and forms on how to obtain a court order waiving or reducing interest on legal financial obligations (LFOs) in Washington State. Defined by statute RCW 10.82.090, the court may, on motion by the offender, reduce or waive the interest on legal financial obligations ordered as a result of a criminal conviction.
Sealing Juvenile Court Records In Washington State
This guide describes the type of juvenile records which can be sealed and provides instructions and blank forms you can complete by hand.
When and How to Vacate Misdemeanor and Gross Misdemeanor Convictions
This guide deals specifically with the procedures for clearing misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor convictions.
Restoration of Voting Rights:
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Washington has updated their information on the restoration of voting rights for those that have been convicted of felonies as an adult. The page includes answers to many important questions such as:
- How do convictions affect my right to vote?
- How do I know when I’m eligible to have my rights restored?
- Do I need to re-register to vote?
- Who should I contact if I run into difficulty?
The Washington State chapter of the ACLU has posted a link to a new web application called Criminal Conviction: Can I Vote? that will help people with past criminal convictions determine if they have the right to vote. The application uses a short series of questions—none of which ask for personal information – to help determine the user’s situation and directs them accordingly.
Links Updated January 2022.