To remove court records from the internet, start at the source: petition the court to expunge or seal the record, then use that signed order to force data brokers, background check companies, and search engines to take down their copies. The court order is the lever. Without it, third-party sites have no legal obligation to cooperate. With it, most will, and the ones that don’t expose themselves to real liability under federal law.
Court records are public by default, which is why they end up in two places online. The first is the official court or county clerk website. The second is the ecosystem of data brokers and background check companies that scrape those official databases and republish the information. The removal strategy differs for each, and tackling the official record first makes everything downstream far easier.
Expungement or Sealing: Pick the Right Tool
Two legal remedies get a court record off the public record. Expungement erases it. Once granted, the case is treated as though it never happened. Sealing takes the record out of public view but doesn’t destroy it; certain government agencies can still access a sealed record with a court order, but it won’t appear on standard background checks or public court databases.
Which is available to you depends on your jurisdiction and the offense. Eligibility generally covers nonviolent offenses, misdemeanors, dismissed charges, acquittals, and cases resolved through diversion. Most jurisdictions impose a waiting period after you complete your sentence or probation. Serious felonies and sex offenses are rarely eligible. Rules vary enough between states that your first stop is your local court’s specific requirements.
Filing a Petition to Expunge or Seal
Before filing, pull the details of your case from the judgment or order of conviction. You need:
- The case number
- Your arrest date
- The charges filed
- The final disposition (dismissed, not guilty, or the specific conviction)
Then get the petition form from the clerk of court’s office in the county where your case was heard. Most courts post the forms online. They’re usually titled something like “Petition to Expunge” or “Petition to Seal.” Some jurisdictions also require a certified copy of your criminal history from a state agency, so check local rules before filing.
File the completed petition at the clerk’s office in the courthouse where the case was decided. Filing fees range widely. Some courts charge nothing; others charge several hundred dollars. If you can’t afford it, you can request a fee waiver. Courts evaluate waivers based on things like whether you receive public benefits, whether your household income falls below a threshold, or whether paying would prevent you from covering basic living expenses.
After filing, the court notifies the prosecuting attorney and the arresting agency. Those parties get a window to object. If no one objects, a judge may grant the petition without a hearing. If there’s an objection, the court schedules one. Start to finish, the process runs from a few weeks to several months.
You can handle a straightforward expungement without a lawyer, especially in jurisdictions that have simplified the paperwork. Many legal aid organizations run free expungement clinics. If you hire an attorney, flat fees typically run between $400 and $5,000, with simple misdemeanor cases at the low end and contested felony matters at the top.
Federal Convictions Follow a Different Path
Everything above applies to state court records. Federal convictions are a separate system with much narrower options. Federal courts have consistently held they lack jurisdiction to expunge accurate records of a conviction unless Congress has authorized it by statute.1U.S. Department of Justice. Whether a Presidential Pardon Expunges Judicial Records
The main alternative for a federal conviction is a presidential pardon. You must have completed your sentence entirely, including probation or supervised release, and at least five years must have passed since your release from confinement. More serious offenses involving drug violations, tax fraud, perjury, or violent crimes require a seven-year waiting period.2United States District Court Southern District of Mississippi. How Do I Have My Conviction Expunged A pardon doesn’t erase the record the way expungement does, but it restores certain rights.
Your Record May Already Be Cleared
A growing number of states have passed Clean Slate laws that automatically seal or expunge certain records without any petition. As of early 2026, more than a dozen states and Washington, D.C. have enacted them. If you were eligible to clear your record years ago but never filed, the state handles it for you.
These laws typically cover misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies. Waiting periods vary; some states clear misdemeanor arrests with no charges almost immediately, while felony convictions with prison time might require four or more years after release with no new arrests. Serious violent offenses and sex crimes are generally excluded. Check your state court’s website or contact the clerk’s office to find out whether your records already qualify.
Getting Records Off Data Broker and Background Check Sites
An expungement order doesn’t automatically scrub every copy from the internet. Data brokers and background check companies keep their own databases, and those don’t refresh the instant a court issues an order. You have to contact each site, which is tedious but effective once the court order is in hand.
Search your name on the major background check and people-search sites. For each one that displays your record, find the opt-out or removal request page. Most reputable sites have one, often buried in the footer or privacy policy. Submit a request stating the record has been legally expunged or sealed, and attach a copy of the signed court order. Keep a spreadsheet tracking which sites you’ve contacted, when you submitted, and when you followed up.
You also have grounds to demand removal even without an expungement order if the site is publishing information that’s factually inaccurate. Wrong charges, incorrect dispositions, or records belonging to someone else are all valid reasons to demand a correction or takedown. Document the inaccuracy clearly in your request.
Delisting Results From Search Engines
Removing the record from a data broker’s site is one problem; search engine results and cached pages can persist. Google offers two relevant tools. The first is its legal removal process, where you can report content that a court decision has determined is unlawful. Use Google’s Legal Help Center, select the product where the content appears, and submit documentation of the court order.3Google. Report Content On Google – Legal Help
The second tool handles personal information more broadly. Google will consider removing search results that display sensitive personal data such as government ID numbers, financial account numbers, or contact information combined with threats. Submit the specific URLs through Google’s content removal form along with screenshots.4Google. Remove My Private Info From Google Search Removal from Google doesn’t delete the content from the source site, but it stops it from surfacing when someone searches your name. Bing and other search engines have similar request processes.
Using the Fair Credit Reporting Act Against Background Check Companies
The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you real leverage against background check firms that report outdated or expunged records. Under federal law, records of arrest that did not result in a conviction generally cannot appear on a background check after seven years from the arrest date.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code Title 15 – 1681c Requirements Relating to Information Contained in Consumer Reports
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has issued guidance stating that background screening companies must maintain procedures to prevent reporting information that has been expunged, sealed, or otherwise restricted from public access. The CFPB has brought enforcement actions against companies that failed to filter out expunged records, including major employment screening firms.6Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Fair Credit Reporting – Background Screening
If a background check company reports your expunged or sealed record anyway, file a formal dispute directly with that company. Under the FCRA, the company has 30 days to investigate and correct the information. If they fail to, or if the violation was willful, you may be entitled to actual damages plus attorney’s fees. Willful violations also carry statutory damages. Companies exposed to that kind of liability tend to respond fast when a dispute letter spells it out.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. CFPB Addresses Inaccurate Background Check Reports and Sloppy Credit File Sharing Practices