Dollars Behind a Fresh Start: How Much Does It Cost to Expunge a DWI in Texas and What Fees Should You Budget For?

If you qualify, the total cost to expunge a DWI in Texas typically runs somewhere between about $1,000 and $5,000 or more, depending on your county, how many agencies must be cleared, and the attorney you hire. That total usually includes Texas expunction filing fees, service of process and court costs, certified copies, and attorney fees for DWI expungement. Understanding each piece up front helps you build a real budget instead of guessing and worrying.

You might be asking yourself, very simply, how much does it cost to expunge a DWI in Texas and can I actually afford it. This guide breaks that down in plain numbers so you can see what is court cost, what is optional, what is attorney time, and how those parts look in a typical Houston or Harris County case.

Quick answer: a realistic cost range and checklist for clearing a DWI arrest

Let us start with the short version, then we will drill into the details. For a single DWI arrest that qualifies for expunction, many people in Houston or nearby counties end up in this ballpark:

• Texas expunction filing fees: roughly $300 to $450 per petition, depending on the county clerk schedule of costs
• Service of process and court costs: about $75 to $250, higher if there are many agencies to serve or you need a private process server
• Certified copies and records: usually $20 to $100 combined, depending on how many certified copies you order
• Attorney fees for DWI expungement:
  • Budget band: about $750 to $1,500
  • Typical band: about $1,500 to $3,000
  • Premium band: about $3,000 to $5,000 or more, especially with VIP or confidential service
• Total budget to clear a DWI arrest: often between $1,000 and $5,000+ in Texas, with most straightforward Houston expunctions falling in the $1,800 to $3,500 range

If you like lists and want more detail on other DWI costs too, the Butler Law Firm — common questions about DWI and records page walks through many related expenses, from license issues to long term background problems.

For a more step driven overview, you can also review this Houston specific roadmap on the step-by-step expunction process and timeline for Houston, then come back to this article to plug in your own cost estimates.

As someone in construction management, you are probably used to line item budgets, change orders, and hidden project costs. Think of a Texas DWI expunction the same way: filing fees are your permit costs, service and court fees are like inspections, and attorney time is skilled labor. Once you see the numbers, it is less scary and easier to plan around your work schedule and family budget.

Eligibility first: who can actually expunge a Texas DWI, and why that changes the cost

Before you go too deep into the dollars, you need to know if you are even eligible to expunge the DWI. In Texas, full expunction is usually available only if:

• Your DWI arrest did not result in a conviction, or
• The case was dismissed, you were acquitted, or the prosecutor declined charges, and
• Any waiting periods under Texas law and your specific disposition have passed.

If you were convicted of DWI, expunction is usually not available. In that situation, some people look into a nondisclosure order instead, which can seal certain records from most public background checks but does not erase them. A resource like the Texas State Law Library guide to expunctions and nondisclosure is helpful for understanding basic eligibility and differences.

Eligibility matters for cost because a clean dismissal with a simple history is often cheaper to expunge than a case with multiple charges, prior arrests, or a more complicated procedural history. More agencies to notify, more documents, and more legal analysis usually mean higher attorney fees and a little more in service costs.

For you, that means this: if your DWI was dismissed or you were found not guilty, the money you invest has a clear goal. You are paying to clean up a record that never should have haunted you in the first place. If you pled to a reduced charge or something similar, the strategy and costs may look different, so a qualified Texas DWI lawyer can walk you through which form of record relief, if any, makes sense.

Breaking down Texas expunction filing fees, service costs, and court charges

Let us go line by line through the typical court related costs you can expect in a Texas DWI expunction.

1. Texas expunction filing fees

Every expunction starts with a petition filed in a district court. The clerk charges a filing fee, which covers opening the case, assigning a cause number, and some basic court services. Across Texas, Texas expunction filing fees are commonly around $300 to $450 for a standard petition, though you should check your specific county fee schedule.

In Harris County and nearby counties around Houston, it is normal to see a base filing fee in that range plus smaller add ons for issuance of citation or copies. If your case involves multiple incident numbers or needs several separate petitions, that can multiply your filing costs.

For someone watching every dollar, it helps to remember that filing fees are usually fixed. Once you know your county and how many petitions are needed, this piece of the budget is predictable.

2. Service of process and court costs

Next are the costs of serving the agencies that have your records. The court usually requires that certain entities, such as the district attorney, the arresting agency, and the Texas Department of Public Safety, receive formal notice of your expunction petition.

These service of process and court costs can include:

• Sheriff or constable service fees for each agency
• Citation issuance charges
• Potential private process server fees for hard to reach agencies

In a straightforward Houston DWI expunction, this may total roughly $75 to $250, depending on the number of agencies and whether you need specialty service. More agencies and out of county departments drive this number up. A lawyer often estimates this early, based on where your arrest and booking occurred.

3. Certified copies and records

Certified copies of your expunction order can be one of the best small investments in the whole process. Once the judge signs your expunction, you can get certified copies to give directly to background check companies, licensing boards, or your HR department if needed.

In most Texas counties, certified copies might cost $5 to $10 per copy. If you order several copies plus some certified docket sheets, plan on $20 to $100 total. You can also order more later, but it is often cheaper and easier to order a handful while the case is still fresh.

4. Optional costs: mailing, records checks, and travel

Finally, some small costs are easy to overlook but matter when your budget is tight, such as:

• Postage and certified mail if you or your lawyer mail copies of orders to private databases
• Background checks before and after expunction to confirm that records are clearing
• Transportation or parking if you must attend a hearing in person

Individually, these might be small, but if you are juggling family bills and job responsibilities, it helps to add another $50 to $150 in your mental budget to keep surprises low.

Attorney fees for DWI expungement: budget, typical, and premium bands

Attorney fees are usually the largest part of the total budget to clear a DWI arrest. That is also the part that feels the least predictable until you understand the basic bands and what drives them.

Here are three common tiers you might see from Houston Texas lawyers handling DWI record clearing:

Budget band: about $750 to $1,500

The budget band usually applies when:

• Your DWI is a single, recent arrest with a straightforward dismissal or no filed charges
• There is a clear path to expunction and no major eligibility questions
• You are comfortable with a more standardized service, possibly less communication

At this level, a lawyer typically drafts and files the petition, handles basic communication with the court and prosecutor, and attends any hearing that is set. The focus is efficiency. This can be a good fit if you have limited funds but want to avoid the risk of a do it yourself approach.

Typical band: about $1,500 to $3,000

The typical band is where many Houston DWI expunction cases fall. In this range, you may see:

• More time spent analyzing your full criminal and driving history
• Extra work sorting out older or related cases
• More communication, planning, and explanation of each step
• Follow up to help confirm agencies have complied with the expunction order

If your expunction is important for a construction management job, a professional license, or background check sensitive position, this level of attention can be worth the added cost. Many readers also find it helpful to review this separate article on Houston attorney fee ranges and budgeting for DWI help when deciding how much to invest.

Premium band: about $3,000 to $5,000+ with VIP or complex work

Some situations call for premium or VIP level service, such as when you are a high profile executive, a licensed professional with strict reporting rules, or you have a complex history with multiple related arrests or counties. At this level, you may see:

• Extensive review of your records and background reporting
• Coordinated strategy for multiple expunctions or nondisclosures
• Higher confidentiality, limited office visits, and tighter scheduling around your calendar
• More direct attorney involvement instead of support staff

High-Stakes Executive (Jason/Sophia/Marcus): If you are in this group, you might care as much about confidentiality and speed as about price. Some lawyers charge more for after hours consultations, discrete contact methods, and careful coordination with in house counsel or HR, which is where VIP pricing and confidentiality costs tend to show up.

Regardless of band, always ask:

• Is this a flat fee or hourly
• What exactly is included and what is not
• Are filing fees and service costs paid by you directly, or through the firm

Analytical readers like those in the Analytical Planner (Ryan/Daniel) group often want line items, examples, and references. Do not hesitate to ask for a written fee agreement that spells out each cost clearly.

DIY vs hiring a lawyer: cost comparison for Texas DWI expunctions

If you are handy on job sites, your first instinct may be to do everything yourself to save money. With Texas expunctions, that is possible but comes with real risks.

Approach	Upfront Cost	Pros	Risks / Hidden Costs
DIY Expunction	Roughly $400 to $800 (filing + service + copies)	Lower cash out of pocket; full control over paperwork and timing	Risk of mistakes, delays, or denial; may miss agencies, which means records linger; potential to spend more later fixing errors
Hire Texas DWI Lawyer	Roughly $1,000 to $5,000+ total including fees and costs	Legal analysis of eligibility, correctly drafted petition and order, streamlined court process, better odds that all agencies get cleared the first time	Higher upfront expense; still must wait on legal timelines you cannot control

Unaware Young Adult (Tyler/Kevin): One common mistake is assuming that because your DWI was dismissed, it will magically vanish from background checks. It does not. Without an expunction or similar relief, that arrest can follow you into jobs, apartments, and insurance quotes, which can cost thousands over the years.

For you as a practical provider, the real question is not just the attorney fee number. It is whether paying for experienced help now may prevent bigger headaches and lost income later if an error keeps your DWI showing up when you are bidding jobs or applying for promotions.

Hidden long term costs if you skip expunction or wait too long

When budgets are tight, it is natural to delay anything that is not an immediate emergency. But with a DWI arrest on your record, waiting can quietly drain money every month.

Here are some of the long term costs that Practical Provider readers often overlook:

• Higher insurance premiums: Even after your case is over, a visible DWI arrest can lead to higher rates, especially if your insurer uses broad background data.
• Lost job opportunities: Failing a background check can cost you a better paying role in supervision or management, which adds up over years.
• License or certification issues: Certain trades and professional licenses may require reporting or explanation for any alcohol related arrests.
• Housing and credit impact: Some landlords and lenders use criminal history checks as part of their decision making.

For a working parent, even one missed promotion because of a visible DWI can cost far more than the total Houston TX expunction cost estimates in this article. Treat expunction as an investment in income stability, not just a legal bill.

How ALR deadlines, license issues, and record clearing interact with costs

Busy Professional Nurse (Elena): If you are in healthcare or another licensed field, you are likely focused not only on your record but also on your driver license and board reporting. That is where ALR, or the Administrative License Revocation process, comes into play.

After a Texas DWI arrest, you usually face a tight deadline, often 15 days, to request an ALR hearing to challenge your driver license suspension. Missing that window can lead to an automatic suspension, SR 22 insurance costs, and possibly an occupational driver license if you need to keep working. The Texas DPS overview of the ALR license-suspension process gives a good official summary of how those deadlines work.

Why mention ALR in an article about expunction cost

• If you hire a lawyer early, they may handle both the criminal case, the ALR hearing, and later the expunction, which changes how total fees are structured.
• A win or favorable outcome at ALR can shape your driving record, which affects insurance costs and sometimes future background checks.
• Even if you plan to wait on expunction, you usually do not want to ignore ALR deadlines because the financial hit from a suspension can be immediate.

For a nurse or other licensed professional, that means planning a budget that covers both immediate license protection and later record clearing. It might feel like a lot at once, but comparing that to the cost of losing a job or being reassigned can help put the numbers in perspective.

Micro story: a Houston construction manager faces the costs head on

Consider a simple example. Mike, a 36 year old construction manager in Harris County, was arrested for DWI after a company event. His case was eventually dismissed when lab results created reasonable doubt, but the arrest still showed up on background checks.

His cost breakdown looked roughly like this:

• Filing fee in Harris County: about $350
• Service of process for several agencies: about $110
• Certified copies of the expunction order and docket: about $40
• Attorney fee in the typical band: $2,100 flat

His total budget to clear the DWI arrest ended up around $2,600. That number stung at first, but Mike compared it to the risk of losing out on a higher paying supervisor role on a long term project. A single passed over promotion could easily have cost him more than that in one year of lost pay.

Your numbers will be different, but this kind of simple math can help you decide if record clearing now is worth the investment relative to your financial goals and your family needs.

Expunction vs nondisclosure: why the type of relief changes the numbers

Not every DWI record problem is solved with an expunction. For some people, especially those who took a plea to a DWI or a related offense, a nondisclosure order may be the only available form of relief. Costs will look similar but not identical.

Here are some quick differences that affect your budget:

• Expunction: Usually erases the arrest from most public records and allows you, in many situations, to legally deny its existence. Filing fees and attorney fees are set up around that process.
• Nondisclosure: Seals records from most public view but leaves them available to certain government agencies and licensing boards. Some DWI dispositions are eligible, others are not, and waiting periods can differ.

In many Texas counties, filing fees for nondisclosure are similar to expunction, though some are slightly lower. Attorney fees may also fall within the same budget, typical, and premium bands, especially if the lawyer is analyzing both options for you.

If you are trying to plan ahead, it helps to think of expunction and nondisclosure as two possible line items in your financial plan for cleaning up the fallout from a DWI arrest. Whether you qualify for one, the other, both, or neither is where legal advice really matters. For readers who want a deeper question by question explanation, some people find an interactive Q&A on whether a DWI can be expunged in Texas helpful for background discussion before speaking with a lawyer.

Analytical Planner (Ryan/Daniel): comparing attorney value, not just price

If you fall into the Analytical Planner (Ryan/Daniel) group, transparency and data matter to you. You may be less afraid of the legal process itself and more concerned about overpaying or missing a better structured option.

Here are practical pointers when comparing quotes:

• Ask for a written breakdown: Separate attorney fees from filing and service costs so you can compare apples to apples.
• Clarify scope: Some lawyers include follow up with agencies and private databases, others do not. That impacts value.
• Check experience level: A higher fee may be reasonable if the lawyer regularly handles DWI expunctions in your specific county and can anticipate local issues.
• Look at timing: Ask how long they expect the process to take and what they will handle if the court or prosecutor raises questions.

Your goal is not only to minimize cost, but to avoid paying twice if a cheap initial effort leads to errors that require another lawyer to fix later.

Busy Professional Nurse (Elena): timelines, boards, and planning around shifts

For a reader like Busy Professional Nurse (Elena), the timeline and scheduling can be as important as the dollars. You may be juggling 12 hour shifts, on call duties, and strict reporting requirements to your board or employer.

Some key timing points to consider:

• Waiting periods: Depending on your case outcome, Texas law may require that you wait a certain period before filing for expunction or nondisclosure.
• Court processing time: Once filed, many Houston area expunctions take several months before a signed order issues, though some go faster.
• Agency compliance time: After the order is signed, agencies may take additional weeks or months to destroy or seal records.

If your license renewal or job credentialing cycle is coming up, you may want to start the expunction process earlier than you think so that key records are cleaned up in time. That may affect how you schedule budget items month by month.

Unaware Young Adult (Tyler/Kevin): why ignoring a dismissed DWI is so expensive

Unaware Young Adult (Tyler/Kevin): If you are in your 20s and your DWI got dismissed, it is easy to think you dodged a bullet and can move on. The hidden truth is that a DWI arrest, even with a dismissal, can keep popping up on background checks for years unless you take active steps to clean it up.

That can mean:

• Higher car insurance costs during the very years when money is tightest
• Lost apartment options when landlords see a DWI on your record
• Embarrassing questions from employers when you apply for your first big job

Compared to the long term cost of missed opportunities, a one time investment in record clearing is often the cheaper option over the next five to ten years.

Frequently asked questions about how much does it cost to expunge a DWI in Texas

How much does it cost to expunge a DWI in Texas in a typical Houston case

In a typical Houston or Harris County case, many people spend around $1,800 to $3,500 total to expunge a single DWI arrest. That usually includes court filing fees, service charges, certified copies, and a lawyer in the typical fee band. Simpler cases with budget focused representation may come in closer to $1,000 to $1,800, while complex or premium services can be $3,500 to $5,000 or more.

What are the main Texas expunction filing fees and court costs I should plan for

You can usually expect filing fees of about $300 to $450 per expunction petition in Texas. On top of that, build in about $75 to $250 for service of process and other court related charges, plus $20 to $100 for certified copies and records. These amounts vary by county, but once you know where your case must be filed, your lawyer or the clerk can give you a detailed cost schedule.

Can I expunge a Texas DWI without hiring a lawyer to save money

Yes, it is legally possible to seek a Texas DWI expunction without a lawyer, and doing so might limit your out of pocket costs to a few hundred dollars in fees and copies. The tradeoff is that expunction laws and forms are technical, and mistakes can delay your case or leave some agencies with records that should have been cleared. For many people with jobs or licenses on the line, hiring a qualified Texas DWI lawyer is worth the added cost for peace of mind.

How long does it take for a DWI expunction to go through in Texas

The timeline depends on your county, the court calendar, and how many agencies must respond. In many Houston area expunctions, it can take a few months from filing to a signed order, then additional weeks or months for agencies to comply and destroy or seal records. Ask your lawyer for a local estimate so you can plan around work, license, or renewal deadlines.

Is expungement of a DWI in Texas worth the cost if the case was already dismissed

For many people, expungement of a dismissed DWI is worth the cost because it removes the arrest from most public background checks and helps protect job and housing opportunities. Without expunction, the dismissal alone does not guarantee that private databases and online records will stop showing your arrest. Comparing your current or expected income over the next few years to the one time expense of an expunction usually helps make this decision clearer.

Why acting early on DWI record clearing and budgeting matters

Waiting to clean up a DWI arrest often feels easier in the moment, especially when you are focused on immediate court dates, work schedules, and family needs. But the longer a DWI sits on your record, the more chances it has to affect promotions, job changes, apartment applications, background checks, and even your insurance rates.

From a practical provider viewpoint, the smartest move is usually to:

• Confirm your eligibility for expunction or nondisclosure
• Rough out your own budget using the ranges in this article
• Talk through those numbers and timing with a qualified Texas DWI lawyer who can review your actual court records
• Plan your expenses over several months so the cost feels manageable instead of overwhelming

Having a simple written plan turns an emotional, scary problem into something you can schedule and pay for, the same way you would approach a construction project or major home repair. That mindset shift alone can lower your stress and help you protect what matters most to you and your family.

To dive deeper into each step from arrest to clearing your record, including license reinstatement issues, many readers find it helpful to review a detailed step-by-step expunction process and timeline for Houston and then use this article to plug in realistic cost estimates.

The next step, once you can see the full cost picture, is to ask specific questions of any lawyer you speak with about where your case might fall within the ranges discussed here and what they can do to keep surprises to a minimum.

For a more visual explanation of how DWI records work and when they can come off your history, you can watch this short video from a Houston DWI lawyer. It walks through when a DWI can be removed from your record, why convictions are treated differently from dismissals, and how that ties into the court costs and attorney fee bands discussed in this article.

Butler Law Firm - The Houston DWI Lawyer
11500 Northwest Fwy #400, Houston, TX 77092
https://www.thehoustondwilawyer.com/
+1 713-236-8744
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