How Much Does It Cost to Restore Gun Rights in Tennessee?

Part 1: The “Fixed” Costs: Court & Expungement Fees

These are the statutory, non-negotiable fees you must pay directly to the court to file your petition. These costs do not go to your lawyer.

The “Hidden” Fixed Costs: Paying Your Original Debts

Before you can even pay the new filing fees, Tennessee law requires you to be fully “paid up” on all financial obligations related to your original sentence. You cannot begin the expungement process or restoration until you have paid all fines, restitution, and court costs from your felony conviction.

For many people, these outstanding court costs are the biggest financial barrier. It is essential to confirm with the court clerks that you have a zero balance on all past cases. You must have completed all sentencing terms, including any community supervision (probation or parole) and payment of all court-ordered money.

The New Filing Fees for Restoration

Once your old debts are settled, you will pay a new filing fee for your restoration petition.

• For Expungement of a Dismissal: $0 (Free)
  If your charge was dismissed, resulted in a “nolle prosequi,” or you were acquitted (found “not guilty”) at trial, there are no court costs to file for expungement.
• For Expungement of a Diversion: $100
  If you successfully completed a pretrial or judicial diversion program, the court charges a $100 filing fee to expunge that record.
• For Expungement of an Eligible Conviction: $280
  This is the filing fee set by Tennessee law to petition for the expungement of an eligible Class E, D, or Class C felony conviction. This fee covers the administrative work by the clerk’s office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to review and destroy the record.

Part 2: The “Variable” Cost: Attorney Legal Fees

This is the component that varies most. Legal fees for the restoration process can range from approximately $750 to several thousand dollars, depending on the complexity of your case.

At The Crabtree Law Firm, we handle these cases on a flat-fee basis. This is a major benefit for you, as it means you know the full, transparent cost of your legal representation upfront, with no surprise hourly bills.

A “complex” case that costs more might involve:

• Multiple felony convictions in different counties.
• Old or hard-to-find certified records.
• Uncertainty about whether a prior conviction was a violent felony.
• A District Attorney General who objects to your petition, requiring a formal court hearing.

A “simple” case that costs less typically involves a single, clearly eligible, non-violent felony conviction in one county.

What Does a “Flat Fee” for Criminal Defense and Restoration Cover?

When you hire an experienced attorney for your rights restoration, you aren’t just paying them to “fill out a form.” You are paying for their expertise to navigate a complex legal process that is filled with potential pitfalls.

Your flat legal fees cover the entire expungement process from start to finish:

1. Deep-Dive Record Review: We pull your complete criminal record from every relevant county. We don’t just look at the one charge you know about; we look at everything, because Tennessee’s “one felony and one misdemeanor” rule is strict and unforgiving. We also check for any pending charges that could derail your petition.
2. Eligibility Analysis: We confirm your successful completion of all sentencing terms. We contact the court clerks to verify all fines and restitution are paid. We cross-reference your specific statute with the list of certain offenses eligible for expungement. This step alone is the most critical part of the process.
3. Drafting the Petition: We prepare the legally-sound Petition for Expungement or Petition for Restoration of Civil Rights. We gather the necessary certified records, sworn statements, and evidence of rehabilitation required by the Tennessee courts to prove you merit restoration.
4. Navigating the System: We file the petition with the correct Criminal Court Clerk, serve the District Attorney’s office, and handle all communication with the court, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Tennessee Department of Correction if needed.
5. Representing You in Court: If the District Attorney objects (which they can), we are prepared to argue your case before the judge, leveraging the 2021 “rebuttable presumption” law in your favor.

If you make one mistake in this process—miscalculate your 5- or 10-year waiting period, miss a “hidden” conviction on your record, or fail to prove your financial obligations are met—your petition will be denied. You will forfeit your court costs, and you will be back at square one, having lost both time and money.

Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney flips the odds in your favor. You are paying for the peace of mind that comes from knowing the job will be done right the first time.

What Am I Paying For? The 3 Pathways to Regain Gun Rights

The cost of restoration is directly tied to the legal pathway you must take. Each has different costs, timelines, and, most importantly, different results for your gun rights.

Pathway 1: The Power of an Expungement Order

• What it is: This is the “gold standard” for restoring gun rights. The expungement process legally destroys the public record of your conviction. The process to expunge a conviction involves filing a petition with the court where the conviction occurred and being reviewed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
• Who is Eligible: This is for certain non-violent offenses, including some Class C, D, and E felonies (e.g., theft, forgery, certain drug offenses). You must have completed all sentencing terms, including community supervision (probation/parole), and paid all fines and restitution.
• Cost: $280 in court filing fees + legal fees.
• Gun Rights Effect: This is the best and most complete way to restore your rights. Because the expunged conviction legally no longer exists, you are no longer considered a “prohibited person” under either state or federal law. An expungement order is the most powerful tool you can have to regain gun rights.

Pathway 2: A Governor’s Pardon

• What it is: This is an act of forgiveness from the Governor of Tennessee. A governor’s pardon is the most effective way to restore gun rights for serious offenses but is notoriously difficult to obtain. The governor (Governor Bill Lee) has full authority to grant or deny pardons and thus impacts the process.
• Who is Eligible: This is typically for individuals with more serious felony convictions (or multiple convictions) that are not eligible for expungement. You must show extreme evidence of rehabilitation, character references, and community service.
• Cost: There is no filing fee to apply for a pardon, but the legal fees are significantly higher due to the immense amount of work required to prepare the application packet for the Tennessee Board of Parole.
• Gun Rights Effect: A pardon may allow a felon to regain their firearm rights if they have demonstrated rehabilitation. However, it is not automatic. Even after a pardon, a separate civil rights restoration process in court is often required to finalize the rights restoration.

Pathway 3: Judicial Civil Rights Restoration (T.C.A. § 40-29)

• What it is: This is a separate court process that specifically restores your “citizenship rights.” The judicial restoration process in Tennessee requires that individuals file a petition in the circuit court for restoration of their citizenship rights after being pardoned or discharged from their sentence. This is also the path for those with an out-of-state or federal conviction.
• Who is Eligible: Individuals who have completed their sentence and paid all fines, costs, and child support. Petitioners must demonstrate to the court that they are eligible for restoration and merit having their rights restored, providing “satisfactory proof” such as certified records and sworn statements.
• Cost: This involves court filing fees + legal fees for drafting the petition and representing you at a court hearing. The court must notify the District Attorney General at least 30 days prior to the hearing, giving them a chance to object.
• Gun Rights Effect: This is the biggest trap in Tennessee law. A restoration order for civil rights does not automatically restore your gun rights. In fact, Tennessee law explicitly states that this process cannot restore firearm rights for individuals convicted of violent felonies, major drug offenses (felony drug offense), or felonies involving a deadly weapon. A Certificate of Restoration from the Tennessee Board of Parole can provide acknowledgment that an individual has fulfilled legal requirements, but it does not bypass this restriction.

Confused by the options? You should be.

The law is designed to be complex. One of our experienced attorneys can review your criminal record and tell you exactly which path is right for you. Call us for a confidential review.

The “Gun Rights” Trap: State vs. Federal Firearm Restrictions

This is the most critical, and most expensive, mistake people make.

• Tennessee state law (§ 39-17-1307) prohibits individuals with felony convictions (especially those involving violence, drugs, or deadly weapons) from possessing firearms. This includes handgun possession and long guns.
• Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)) also prohibits any person convicted of a felony (punishable by more than one year) from possessing firearms.

Many people successfully petition the court for a “Judicial Restoration of Civil Rights.” They get a court order, they think their rights are restored, and they go buy a gun. They have just committed a new federal felony.

The Federal Court Hurdle

Why? Because the federal court system often does not recognize a simple state “restoration order” as removing the federal prohibition. Federal law still restricts individuals with felony convictions from firearm possession, even if their rights are restored under Tennessee law. The only Tennessee process that reliably removes this federal firearm restriction is a full expungement, which erases the conviction as if it never happened. This is why understanding the difference between state restoration and full expungement is vital.

The federal process to get relief from the ATF has not been funded by Congress in over 30 years. It is not an option. Your path must be through state law, and it must be the right path.

The High Cost of Inaction: A New Felony Conviction for Possession

Understanding the cost of restoration also means understanding the devastating cost of failing to do it right. If you are a convicted felon and you are caught with a gun, you face a new felony conviction for firearm possession.

• Standard Felon in Possession: Class E Felony, 1-6 years in prison.
• If Your Prior Conviction was a Violent Felony or Drug Offense: This is a Class C or B Felony, with a maximum fine and a sentence of up to 30 years in prison. This includes drug trafficking charges or any felony involving a deadly weapon.

The cost of a criminal defense attorney for a new “Felon in Possession” charge will be ten times the cost of a flat fee for a restoration petition. The “cost” of restoring gun rights is microscopic compared to the cost of a new felony conviction.

What About Domestic Violence Firearm Restrictions?

Even a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence results in a lifetime ban on gun ownership under federal law. This is known as the “Lautenberg Amendment.” This is often connected to an Order of Protection, which can also remove your gun rights. Unlike a felony conviction, certain misdemeanors like domestic violence are not eligible for expungement in Tennessee. This firearm restriction is permanent.

The Cost of Restoring Your Other Civil Rights (Voting & Public Office)

The cost and process for restoring civil rights like voting rights and the right to hold public office has recently become more complicated and expensive. Tennessee’s Constitution prohibits individuals convicted of an ‘infamous crime’ from registering to vote, and since 1981, this includes any felony conviction. (Note: Individuals with felony convictions prior to May 17, 1981 do not lose their right to vote in Tennessee.)

For years, Tennessee election officials and court clerks interpreted the law to mean you had to restore your gun rights before you could restore your voting rights. This was the result of the 2023 Falls v. Goins case law. Prior to legislative changes in 2025, individuals could seek a Certificate of Restoration (COR) to restore voting rights if they had completed their sentence, paid restitution, and were current on child support. But this created a “catch-22” where a person with a felony drug offense (who is banned from gun rights) could never get their voting rights back.

Tennessee law underwent revisions in 2025 (HB445) that made the process for restoring voting rights more stringent, but also separated it from other citizenship rights. The 2023 legislation aims to separate the restoration of voting rights from other citizenship rights, allowing individuals to petition for the restoration of one or more rights individually.

However, the process remains “costly, onerous, and [has] uncertain results.” Tennessee now ranks among the lowest states for voting rights restoration, with 470,000 disenfranchised individuals, accounting for 9% of the voting-age population.

The New, Expensive Process for Restoring Voting Rights

• Strict Judicial Process: The restoration of voting rights in Tennessee requires a judicial process for individuals who have been pardoned or discharged from their sentence. Under HB445, individuals with felony convictions must have their voting rights restored as prescribed by Tennessee law, and this applies to both state and federal convictions.
• No Guarantees: This process is difficult, and Tennessee has one of the lowest restoration rates in the country. From 2021 to mid-2023, there were only 731 restorations and 437 denials reported.
• Permanent Disqualification: You can never restore your civil rights or voting rights if your felony conviction was for first degree murder, aggravated rape, treason, or voter fraud.
• High Burden of Proof: Individuals seeking restoring voting rights in Tennessee must demonstrate proof of eligibility and may have to overcome opposition from prosecutors or other officials. You must prove you have paid all restitution, all court costs, and are current on child support.
• Cost: This requires a separate petition, a new filing fee, and additional legal fees for your attorney to navigate this second, complex legal proceeding. Once civil rights are restored in Tennessee, individuals must still demonstrate compliance with state requirements to effectively register to vote.