Clearing a criminal record in San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo County petitions are filed at the Criminal Branch, Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, our flat fee covers whatever the court charges to file, and you do not need to live here, or come to court, to clear a case from here.
Where a petition is filed in San Luis Obispo County
Record-clearing petitions are filed in the county where you were convicted, which means San Luis Obispo County petitions go to the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo (court website).
Criminal Branch, Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo
1050 Monterey Street, Rm 220, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
(805) 706-3600
What San Luis Obispo County charges to file
San Luis Obispo County does not publish a filing fee for a record-clearing petition that we were able to verify as of 2026-10-10. A good number of California counties charge nothing at all. Either way our fee is all-in, so if a fee applies we pay it.
Local notes for San Luis Obispo County
- San Luis Obispo County's name comes from the city of San Luis Obispo, from Mission San Luis Obispo, named after Saint Louis of Toulouse (Spanish for Saint Louis, the Bishop.
- SLO County's public defender function is performed under contract by a private firm, San Luis Obispo Defenders ((805) 541-5715), rather than a direct county department.
- The court's 'Cleaning Your Record' self-help page walks through PC 17(b), 1203.4, 1203.4a, and 1203.41 options in detail, including the process for petitioners still on probation.
Who else is involved
- The petition is served on the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney, which has a statutory window to respond.
- San Luis Obispo Defenders handles indigent defence in the county.
- The court publishes self-help information if you would rather do this yourself.
Cities we serve in San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and everywhere else in the county. Where you live does not matter — the petition goes to the court that handled the conviction.
Common questions
Do I have to come to court in San Luis Obispo County?
Usually not. The firm appears for you where the court sets a hearing, and many of these are decided on the papers without anyone appearing at all.
I live somewhere else now. Can I still clear a San Luis Obispo County case?
Yes. The petition is filed where the conviction happened, not where you live. You do not need to travel, and plenty of our clients no longer live in California at all.
How long does it take here?
Two to four months is typical across California, and it varies by court and by how busy the criminal division is. We tell you what we are actually seeing in your county rather than quoting a brochure number.
Legal information on this page was last checked against primary sources in October 2026. California law changes; if you are reading this long after that date, confirm before you rely on it.