Sealing court records can be done for a variety of reasons, such as if a court's conviction will have harmful implications--either public or private--on the convicted person. Businesses routinely request court records to be sealed to keep negative light from being shed on their companies. The process of sealing records is challenging but once they are sealed, information can no longer be accessed by law enforcement, employers or the clerk of court, without a judge's orders.
Step 1
File a motion to seal any court records, criminal or civil. If you have an attorney he can help you obtain the paperwork or even fill it out for you. A motion for sealing court records includes a reason why records should be sealed, case and docket numbers, and any supporting evidence that keeping records public could be detrimental.
Step 2
Arrive at your court hearing on the correct date and time. A judge will go over your motion to seal court records and ask you questions regarding your stated reasoning. Once questioning is complete, the judge will make his decision to seal if adequate evidence has been presented.
Step 3
Sealing of records is a duty given to the Clerk of Superior Court for your town. The clerk will seal the records in a sealed envelope or folder and affix the county and state seals onto the paperwork. The records will then be put into a vault that is located in the office of the clerk of courts and remain there indefinitely.
Step 4
Know that you have secured these records to avoid personal or emotional harm. Once the records are locked away, nobody can access them without a judge's orders. These records are no longer available for public inspection by anyone, and any criminal or civil background cannot be accessed by potential employers, law enforcement or credit reporting agencies.
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