What records can be sealed in Colorado?

Colorado's sealing statute covers a broad range following significant legislative expansion in 2022–2024. Sealable records include: arrests without conviction, dismissed charges, acquittals, completed deferred judgments, petty offenses (1-yr wait), class 1–2 misdemeanors (2-yr wait), class 3–4 misdemeanors (1-yr wait), class 5–6 felonies (3-yr wait), and class 3–4 felonies (5-yr wait). Drug offenses have been significantly expanded. Excluded categories include class 1–2 felonies, crimes of violence, sex offenses, and certain other serious offenses listed in C.R.S. § 24-72-706.

How long do I have to wait to seal my Colorado record?

Waiting periods vary by offense class: non-conviction records can often be sealed immediately; petty offenses - 1 year; class 1–2 misdemeanors - 2 years; class 3–4 misdemeanors - 1 year; class 5–6 felonies - 3 years; class 3–4 felonies - 5 years. All periods run from the date of sentence completion (including probation, parole, fines, and restitution). No new criminal convictions can occur during the waiting period. Drug offenses may follow slightly different timelines depending on whether treatment was completed.

Does Colorado sealing remove records from Google?

No. Colorado sealing restricts your record in the Colorado court system and CICJIS database, but it does not notify Google, CourtListener, Justia, or data broker sites. Those platforms indexed your case independently and must each be contacted with documented removal requests and proof of your sealing order. After source pages are removed or restricted, a Google Personal Information Removal Tool request can help de-index remaining URLs in search results.

Can I seal a felony in Colorado?

Yes. Colorado allows sealing of class 3–6 felony convictions after applicable waiting periods (3 years for class 5–6, 5 years for class 3–4). Class 1 and 2 felonies are generally not sealable. Certain felony categories are excluded regardless of class - including crimes of violence under C.R.S. § 18-1.3-406, sexual offenses, and child abuse. Colorado's expanded sealing law has made felony sealing more accessible than in many other states.

How do I remove my case from the Colorado Courts website?

After your sealing order is granted, contact the court clerk's office with a certified copy to ensure the record is restricted on the coloradojudicial.gov public portal. The Colorado court system updates CICJIS after sealing orders are served, but this can take several weeks. Third-party sites that indexed Colorado court data before the sealing order - including CourtListener and data broker sites - must be addressed separately through individual removal requests with your certified sealing order as documentation.

Does removing a court record from Colorado's court portal also remove it from background checks?

No. Removing a record from the state court portal is a separate step from removing it from background check databases. Background check companies maintain their own databases and don't automatically sync with court portal changes. After your court record is sealed or removed from the state portal, you need to separately notify background check companies and submit documentation of the legal change.

How long does it take to remove Colorado court records from Google?

Removing Colorado court records from Google typically takes 4-10 weeks. The process includes: (1) requesting removal from source pages (state court website, legal databases), (2) submitting Google URL removal requests, and (3) following up as Google processes the de-indexing. We work all sources simultaneously to minimize the total timeline. Results are confirmed before charging.

Does expungement remove my records from the internet?

No - expungement is a court order that seals your record from government databases, but it does not automatically notify or update third-party websites, background check companies, or legal databases like Justia, UniCourt, or Spokeo. You must pursue online removal separately after obtaining your expungement. This is a critical distinction most attorneys do not explain upfront.

Can employers see expunged records?

In most states, private employers cannot access expunged records through standard background checks. However, certain licensed professions (healthcare, law, education, finance) and federal government positions may still require disclosure. The rules vary significantly by state and by type of employer, so consult a local attorney to understand your specific obligations.

How long does expungement take?

The expungement process typically takes 3 to 12 months depending on your state, the court's caseload, and whether the prosecutor objects. Some states have expedited processes for certain offense types. After the court grants the order, you should allow an additional 30 to 90 days for government databases to update - and online third-party sites may never update without a separate removal request.

What is the cost of expungement?

Expungement costs range from $150 to $400 in court filing fees, plus attorney fees of $1,000 to $3,500 depending on complexity. Some states offer fee waivers for low-income applicants. After expungement, online record removal is a separate service that operates on a results-only basis - you only pay after the records are confirmed removed.

What records can be sealed in Colorado? +

Colorado's sealing statute covers a broad range following significant legislative expansion in 2022–2024. Sealable records include: arrests without conviction, dismissed charges, acquittals, completed deferred judgments, petty offenses (1-yr wait), class 1–2 misdemeanors (2-yr wait), class 3–4 misdemeanors (1-yr wait), class 5–6 felonies (3-yr wait), and class 3–4 felonies (5-yr wait). Drug offenses have been significantly expanded. Excluded categories include class 1–2 felonies, crimes of violence, sex offenses, and certain other serious offenses listed in C.R.S. § 24-72-706.

How long do I have to wait to seal my Colorado record? +

Waiting periods vary by offense class: non-conviction records can often be sealed immediately; petty offenses - 1 year; class 1–2 misdemeanors - 2 years; class 3–4 misdemeanors - 1 year; class 5–6 felonies - 3 years; class 3–4 felonies - 5 years. All periods run from the date of sentence completion (including probation, parole, fines, and restitution). No new criminal convictions can occur during the waiting period. Drug offenses may follow slightly different timelines depending on whether treatment was completed.

Does Colorado sealing remove records from Google? +

No. Colorado sealing restricts your record in the Colorado court system and CICJIS database, but it does not notify Google, CourtListener, Justia, or data broker sites. Those platforms indexed your case independently and must each be contacted with documented removal requests and proof of your sealing order. After source pages are removed or restricted, a Google Personal Information Removal Tool request can help de-index remaining URLs in search results.

Can I seal a felony in Colorado? +

Yes. Colorado allows sealing of class 3–6 felony convictions after applicable waiting periods (3 years for class 5–6, 5 years for class 3–4). Class 1 and 2 felonies are generally not sealable. Certain felony categories are excluded regardless of class - including crimes of violence under C.R.S. § 18-1.3-406, sexual offenses, and child abuse. Colorado's expanded sealing law has made felony sealing more accessible than in many other states.

How do I remove my case from the Colorado Courts website? +

After your sealing order is granted, contact the court clerk's office with a certified copy to ensure the record is restricted on the coloradojudicial.gov public portal. The Colorado court system updates CICJIS after sealing orders are served, but this can take several weeks. Third-party sites that indexed Colorado court data before the sealing order - including CourtListener and data broker sites - must be addressed separately through individual removal requests with your certified sealing order as documentation.

Does removing a court record from Colorado's court portal also remove it from background checks?+

No. Removing a record from the state court portal is a separate step from removing it from background check databases. Background check companies maintain their own databases and don't automatically sync with court portal changes. After your court record is sealed or removed from the state portal, you need to separately notify background check companies and submit documentation of the legal change.

How long does it take to remove Colorado court records from Google?+

Removing Colorado court records from Google typically takes 4-10 weeks. The process includes: (1) requesting removal from source pages (state court website, legal databases), (2) submitting Google URL removal requests, and (3) following up as Google processes the de-indexing. We work all sources simultaneously to minimize the total timeline. Results are confirmed before charging.

Colorado State Guide · 2026

Colorado Expungement, Sealing & Court Record Removal

Colorado has significantly expanded its criminal record sealing framework - the state's equivalent of expungement - over the past several years, making it one of the more accessible states in the country for obtaining relief - particularly for drug offenses, misdemeanors, and lower-level felonies. The civil sealing statute (C.R.S. § 24-72-701 through 720) now covers a wide range of conviction types with manageable waiting periods, and recent legislation has extended automatic sealing eligibility for certain categories. But obtaining a Colorado sealing order is only the first half of the problem. The coloradojudicial.gov public case search, county-level clerk portals, CourtListener, and data broker sites all hold independently indexed copies of your records that persist long after the court system updates its own database. This guide covers Colorado sealing law in full and explains the complete online removal strategy needed afterward.

By Anthony Will Est. 2013 Published May 27, 2026 Published May 27, 2026 Read time: 16 min

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Colorado Expungement, Sealing & Court Record Removal

Can your Colorado court record be removed from Google?Find out — free.

Can your Colorado court record be removed from Google?
Find out — free.