Though the expungement process is similar in many states, the time it takes to apply, gather the necessary forms and documents, get a hearing date, and attend the hearing varies. The average is four weeks to five months, but you may be met with court, law enforcement, or other delays when seeking records. The court calendar in the superior court in the county where your conviction took place may also be crowded. Thus, you may not get a hearing for several weeks to months.
In California, the average time to expunge your record is four to five months, but in Texas, it is about four to six weeks. In Georgia, you are looking at 150 days, in most cases. But these time frames pertain to the expungement process, not the actual wait time before you can apply. Some of those waiting periods can be as high as ten years, depending on the state you live in. For example, New York felons must wait ten years, while New Jersey indictable crimes take five years to be removed.