San Mateo County — My‑Clean‑Slate

San Mateo County applies California Penal Code §1203.4 using its own Superior Court filing rules, local forms, and county‑specific processing timelines. This page gives you the exact requirements for filing an expungement in San Mateo.

San Mateo County requires county‑specific expungement forms and a local cover sheet. You must file at the correct courthouse and follow local submission rules. After filing, the District Attorney reviews your petition before the court issues a decision.

Who Qualifies in San Mateo County

You may qualify if:

  • You completed probation (or had it terminated early)

  • You have no open cases

  • Your conviction is eligible under PC §1203.4

  • You were not sentenced to state prison

  • You did not commit a disqualifying probation violation

San Mateo is known for moderate DA review and predictable processing when forms are correct.

How Expungement Works in

San Mateo County

San Mateo uses a hybrid filing system (in‑person or by mail):

  1. Gather your case number(s)

  2. Complete San Mateo‑specific expungement forms

  3. File at the correct courthouse

  4. Pay the filing fee or submit a fee waiver

  5. DA reviews your petition

  6. Court issues the dismissal order

Processing time: 8–12 weeks.

Required Forms

“Unlike Los Angeles County, San Mateo uses a hybrid filing system instead of district‑specific rules.”

  • CR‑180 (Petition)

  • CR‑181 (Order)

  • FW‑001 (Fee Waiver, optional)

  • San Mateo Local Cover Sheet (required)

Where to File

San Mateo County Superior Court Hall of Justice & Records 400 County Center Redwood City, CA 94063

Related Counties

San Mateo County Filing Notes

  • Local cover sheet is required

  • One petition per case number

  • DA review is mandatory

  • Fee waiver strongly recommended if eligible

What You Get

Your San Mateo County expungement packet includes:

  • All county‑specific forms

  • All fields pre‑filled

  • Step‑by‑step filing instructions

  • Fee waiver (if needed)

  • Court‑ready PDF packet

Return Links

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