An expungement attorney handles the legal court process. But once your record is expunged, a separate problem remains: those records are still showing up on Google, Justia, and background check sites. Understanding which professional you actually need-or whether you need both-can save you thousands of dollars and months of frustration.
By Anthony WillEst. 2013Published May 27, 2026Read time: 10 min
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An expungement attorney (also called an expunction lawyer) handles the legal petition process to have your criminal record sealed or destroyed by court order. Their work includes reviewing your eligibility under your state's expungement statute, drafting and filing the petition with the appropriate court, serving the prosecuting attorney, representing you at any required hearings, and serving the expungement order on relevant agencies (court clerk, state police, arresting agency) after the court grants it.
What an expungement attorney does not do: notify Google, contact legal databases like Justia or CourtListener, submit opt-out requests to background check companies, or monitor the internet for re-population of your data. The American Bar Association provides guidance on finding legal representation. For a clear overview of expungement basics by state, Nolo's expungement guide is a useful starting point. Learn more about expungement attorney costs and how to find one near you on our blog.
Two separate problems: Expungement handles official government records. Online record removal handles Google, Justia, and background check sites. Most people who've dealt with a criminal record need attention to both.
An expungement attorney (also called an expunction lawyer) handles the legal petition process to have your criminal record sealed or destroyed by court order. Their work includes: For more information, visit the ABA.
Reviewing your eligibility under your state's expungement statute
Filing a petition for expungement with the appropriate court
Representing you at any required hearings
Serving the expungement order on relevant agencies (court clerk, state police, arresting agency)
Following up to confirm agencies have updated their records
What an expungement attorney does not do: notify Google, contact legal databases like Justia or CourtListener, submit opt-out requests to background check companies, or monitor the internet for re-population of your data.
What Happens After Expungement - The Internet Problem
This surprises almost everyone. After a successful expungement, most people expect the internet to update automatically. It doesn't. Third-party websites - Justia, CourtListener, Spokeo, BeenVerified - scraped your case data before expungement. Your court order is directed at government agencies; it has no jurisdiction over private platforms. Those sites have no automatic legal obligation to remove data they already captured and indexed.
The result: your record is legally clean, but a Google search of your name still surfaces the old case information. Employers, landlords, and anyone else who searches your name can still find it. Addressing this requires separate action targeting each platform individually. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, background check companies must report accurate information - meaning your expungement order gives you grounds to demand updates from those services. See the FTC's background check guide at consumer.ftc.gov for your rights. Learn more about expunged records still showing online and expungement vs. sealing on our blog.
This surprises almost everyone. After a successful expungement, most people expect the internet to update automatically. It doesn't. Here's why: For more information, visit the Nolo expungement.
Your record is probably showing in more places than you realize - and each one can be addressed.
Most people who reach out to us had no idea how many places their record had spread. Justia, Google Scholar, UniCourt, background check sites - each one a new place where employers, landlords, or dates might find you. A free scan shows you exactly where you stand, so you can do something about it.
Third-party websites (Justia, CourtListener, Spokeo, BeenVerified) scraped your case before the expungement
Your expungement order is directed at government agencies - not private companies
Those private companies have no legal obligation to remove data they already captured
Google continues indexing whatever those sites show
The result: your record is legally clean, but a Google search of your name still surfaces the old case information. Employers, landlords, and dates can still find it. Learn more about expungement vs. record sealing on our blog.
Expungement Attorney vs. Court Record Removal Service
Expungement Attorney
Court Record Removal Service
Files legal petition in court
Contacts websites hosting your record
Handles court hearings
Submits Google de-indexing requests
Serves state agencies with order
Opts out of data broker databases
Clears official criminal record
Removes results from Google search
Typically $1,000–$3,500
Varies by scope; results-based pricing
Timeline: 3–12 months
Timeline: 2–8 weeks for search results
When Do You Need Both?
If you haven't yet pursued legal expungement, starting there is the right move - a court order gives you the strongest grounds for demanding removal from every platform. An expungement attorney handles that first phase. Learn more about court record removal on our blog.
After expungement, or if you're already expunged and records still appear online, a court record removal service handles the internet cleanup that expungement attorneys don't provide. Learn more about background check reports on our blog.
Many clients need both. The legal process and the internet removal process are parallel tracks that solve different problems.
Most people in your position reach out right here.
You've already done the hard part - finding out what's out there. We handle the rest: every platform removal, Google de-indexing, and background check site. No upfront cost. Completely confidential.
State bar referral services - Most state bars have lawyer referral programs with initial consultations for $25–$50
Legal aid organizations - Income-qualified individuals may receive free expungement help from nonprofit legal aid
Law school clinics - Many law schools offer free or low-cost expungement clinics
Private expungement attorneys - Search specifically for criminal defense or expungement attorneys in your state
Free Expungement Resources by State
Many states offer self-help expungement resources for straightforward cases. Your state court's website, legal aid organizations, and nonprofit record-clearing clinics are good starting points. However, if your case involves multiple charges, convictions in multiple jurisdictions, or complex eligibility questions, an attorney's guidance is worth the investment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an expungement attorney cost?
Expungement attorney fees typically range from $1,000 to $3,500 for a straightforward case, depending on your state, the complexity of your record, and the attorney's experience. Some attorneys charge flat fees; others bill hourly. Legal aid organizations and law school clinics may offer free or reduced-cost services for income-qualified applicants. Court filing fees ($75–$500) are typically separate from attorney fees.
Can I get my record expunged without an attorney?
Yes, in many states. Simple expungement cases - a single misdemeanor, no contested hearings - are manageable as pro se (self-represented) petitions. Your state court's self-help center or legal aid website often has forms and instructions. Complex cases (multiple charges, contested hearings, interstate records, or states like Indiana with one-time filing rules) benefit significantly from attorney representation. The American Bar Association at americanbar.org provides resources for finding affordable help.
How long does the expungement process take?
The legal expungement process typically takes 3–12 months from filing to court order, depending on court backlogs and your state. After the order is issued, agencies have 30–90 days to update records. Internet removal of expunged records is a separate process and depends on which platforms are involved - data brokers typically process in 1–4 weeks; legal databases in 2–8 weeks.
Does expungement remove records from Google?
No. Expungement is a court order directed at government agencies. Google and third-party websites that previously indexed your case information are not covered. After expungement, you still need separate action - Google Personal Information Removal Tool requests, direct platform requests, or a professional removal service - to address what appears in search results. This is often the most practically impactful step for employment and housing purposes.
What's the difference between expungement and sealing?
Expungement typically destroys or fully removes the record from government databases (effect varies by state). Sealing restricts public access to the record but the record continues to exist in sealed government files. Both make records inaccessible on standard background checks. Neither automatically removes information from third-party internet databases like Justia, data brokers, or news sites.
Do expungement attorneys handle online record removal?
No - expungement attorneys handle the legal court process only. Removing records from Google, Justia, background check aggregators, data broker sites, and news outlets requires separate action through a different type of service. Most people who've been through an expungement discover their record still appears online and need to pursue both tracks. We specialize in the internet removal side - no upfront cost, you only pay for results.
How do I find an expungement attorney in my state?
The most reliable methods: (1) your state bar's Lawyer Referral Service (every state has one); (2) legal aid organizations if you meet income requirements - the lsc.gov directory has state listings; (3) law school expungement clinics; (4) attorney directories like Avvo or Martindale-Hubbell filtered by 'expungement' in your state. Nolo's legal encyclopedia at nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/expungement-basics.html has useful state-by-state summaries to help you understand your options before consulting an attorney.
What are the limits of expungement - what doesn't it fix?
Expungement does not: (1) remove records from Google or third-party websites; (2) clear federal criminal records; (3) automatically update all background check databases (you may need to send your order directly); (4) restore rights under federal law (certain firearms restrictions, immigration status); (5) cover professional licensing boards with statutory access to sealed records; (6) affect immigration proceedings, which may still consider state-expunged convictions under the INA.