Does New York have expungement?

New York does not have a general expungement law. Traditional expungement - where records are sealed and destroyed - is not available for most criminal offenses. What New York offers is CPL § 160.59 sealing (up to 2 convictions, 10-year wait, with many exclusions) and MRTA automatic expungement for certain marijuana convictions. For non-conviction cases, CPL § 160.50 provides automatic sealing after acquittal or dismissal.

What is CPL 160.59 sealing?

CPL § 160.59 allows individuals with up to two criminal convictions (no more than one felony) to petition for sealing after 10 years have elapsed since sentence completion, with no new convictions in that period. Sealing restricts public access in the DCJS database and court clerk records. The record remains accessible to law enforcement, certain licensing agencies, and other entities listed in the statute. It does not erase records from third-party sites that previously indexed the court data.

Can I remove my case from NYSCEF?

NYSCEF is New York's e-filing portal for civil cases and is publicly searchable. Criminal sealing orders do not automatically restrict NYSCEF civil filings. If your case appears on NYSCEF and has been sealed or expunged, contact the court clerk's office with documentation. A separate motion to seal or restrict the civil filing may be required. Third-party sites that indexed NYSCEF data before any restriction must be addressed separately through individual removal requests.

How do I seal a marijuana conviction in New York?

Under the MRTA (2021), convictions for unlawful possession of marijuana and public smoking of marijuana are automatically expunged by DCJS - no petition required. For other marijuana convictions, individuals may petition under CPL § 160.50 or § 160.58 depending on the offense and case outcome. MRTA expungement only affects official state criminal records; third-party sites that indexed your case must still be addressed separately with proof of the expungement.

Why are New York court records so easy to find online?

New York maintains several highly accessible public court portals - NYSCEF for civil filings, iApps WebCivil Supreme, and county clerk systems - that are extensively indexed by Google. New York City's media density means court records are frequently covered by local and national news outlets with deep online archives. Legal databases like CourtListener index Second Circuit and New York appellate decisions. Combined, these factors make New York court records among the most findable online of any state in the country.

How much does CPL § 160.59 sealing cost in New York?

Filing a CPL § 160.59 sealing petition in New York does not require a court filing fee, but attorney fees typically range from $500 to $2,500 depending on the complexity of the case and the number of convictions being sealed. Because the 10-year waiting period must be satisfied and the petition requires supporting documentation and a formal court appearance, most petitioners work with a criminal defense attorney. After sealing, online removal from third-party sites and Google is a separate process - professional online removal services typically charge $1,000 to $4,000 depending on how many platforms carry the record, with many operating on a results-only basis.

Can employers see sealed records in New York?

After a successful CPL § 160.59 sealing, most private employers conducting standard background checks cannot access the sealed conviction through DCJS or court clerk records. New York Labor Law § 752 also generally prohibits employers from asking about or acting on arrests that did not result in conviction. However, sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement, criminal courts, certain licensing agencies (healthcare, education, finance, law), and entities listed in CPL § 160.59(10). For licensing boards and professional certifications, disclosure requirements vary by agency - consult an attorney before assuming a sealed record is fully off-limits. Separately, Google and data broker sites are not notified of sealing orders and may continue to display record information until individual removal requests are submitted.

How long does it take for New York court records to come down after sealing?

After the court grants a CPL § 160.59 sealing order, DCJS typically updates its internal records within 30 to 60 days. Court clerk systems are updated on a similar timeline. However, NYSCEF civil entries, WebCivil Supreme, and third-party sites - including CourtListener, Justia, background check aggregators, and news archives - are not automatically notified and will not update on their own. Online removal campaigns targeting these platforms typically take 2 to 6 months to achieve removal or de-indexing across major search results, depending on the number of platforms involved and how deeply the record has been indexed by Google.

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.

Does New York have expungement? +

New York does not have a general expungement law. Traditional expungement - where records are sealed and destroyed - is not available for most criminal offenses. What New York offers is CPL § 160.59 sealing (up to 2 convictions, 10-year wait, with many exclusions) and MRTA automatic expungement for certain marijuana convictions. For non-conviction cases, CPL § 160.50 provides automatic sealing after acquittal or dismissal.

What is CPL 160.59 sealing? +

CPL § 160.59 allows individuals with up to two criminal convictions (no more than one felony) to petition for sealing after 10 years have elapsed since sentence completion, with no new convictions in that period. Sealing restricts public access in the DCJS database and court clerk records. The record remains accessible to law enforcement, certain licensing agencies, and other entities listed in the statute. It does not erase records from third-party sites that previously indexed the court data.

Can I remove my case from NYSCEF? +

NYSCEF is New York's e-filing portal for civil cases and is publicly searchable. Criminal sealing orders do not automatically restrict NYSCEF civil filings. If your case appears on NYSCEF and has been sealed or expunged, contact the court clerk's office with documentation. A separate motion to seal or restrict the civil filing may be required. Third-party sites that indexed NYSCEF data before any restriction must be addressed separately through individual removal requests.

How do I seal a marijuana conviction in New York? +

Under the MRTA (2021), convictions for unlawful possession of marijuana and public smoking of marijuana are automatically expunged by DCJS - no petition required. For other marijuana convictions, individuals may petition under CPL § 160.50 or § 160.58 depending on the offense and case outcome. MRTA expungement only affects official state criminal records; third-party sites that indexed your case must still be addressed separately with proof of the expungement.

Why are New York court records so easy to find online? +

New York maintains several highly accessible public court portals - NYSCEF for civil filings, iApps WebCivil Supreme, and county clerk systems - that are extensively indexed by Google. New York City's media density means court records are frequently covered by local and national news outlets with deep online archives. Legal databases like CourtListener index Second Circuit and New York appellate decisions. Combined, these factors make New York court records among the most findable online of any state in the country.

How much does CPL § 160.59 sealing cost in New York? +

Filing a CPL § 160.59 sealing petition in New York does not require a court filing fee, but attorney fees typically range from $500 to $2,500 depending on the complexity of the case and the number of convictions being sealed. Because the 10-year waiting period must be satisfied and the petition requires supporting documentation and a formal court appearance, most petitioners work with a criminal defense attorney. After sealing, online removal from third-party sites and Google is a separate process - professional online removal services typically charge $1,000 to $4,000 depending on how many platforms carry the record, with many operating on a results-only basis.

Can employers see sealed records in New York? +

After a successful CPL § 160.59 sealing, most private employers conducting standard background checks cannot access the sealed conviction through DCJS or court clerk records. New York Labor Law § 752 also generally prohibits employers from asking about or acting on arrests that did not result in conviction. However, sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement, criminal courts, certain licensing agencies (healthcare, education, finance, law), and entities listed in CPL § 160.59(10). For licensing boards and professional certifications, disclosure requirements vary by agency - consult an attorney before assuming a sealed record is fully off-limits. Separately, Google and data broker sites are not notified of sealing orders and may continue to display record information until individual removal requests are submitted.

How long does it take for New York court records to come down after sealing? +

After the court grants a CPL § 160.59 sealing order, DCJS typically updates its internal records within 30 to 60 days. Court clerk systems are updated on a similar timeline. However, NYSCEF civil entries, WebCivil Supreme, and third-party sites - including CourtListener, Justia, background check aggregators, and news archives - are not automatically notified and will not update on their own. Online removal campaigns targeting these platforms typically take 2 to 6 months to achieve removal or de-indexing across major search results, depending on the number of platforms involved and how deeply the record has been indexed by Google.

New York State Guide · 2026

New York Expungement, Sealing & Court Record Removal

New York is one of the most challenging states in the country when it comes to criminal record relief. Unlike most other large states, New York does not have a general expungement law - the kind that seals and destroys records across the board. What it does have is CPL § 160.59, a narrowly defined sealing statute requiring a 10-year waiting period and limiting relief to a maximum of two convictions. For marijuana offenses, the 2021 Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) created a narrow automatic expungement pathway. Beyond these mechanisms, New York residents dealing with online court records face another distinct challenge: the state maintains several highly accessible public court portals - NYSCEF, WebCivil Supreme, and county clerk systems - that are extensively indexed by Google and third-party legal databases.

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

Free Consultation

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

Tell us about your situation and a removal specialist will personally review it and respond within one business day. No pressure, no obligation.

No upfront payment — you only pay if we succeed A+ BBB Rated · 5,000+ Cases Handled · Since 2013 100% Confidential · Response within 1 business day

Talk To Someone Who Can Actually Help Free consultation - confidential, no upfront cost.

Get Help Now →

New York Expungement, Sealing & Court Record Removal

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

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