Quick Overview
- The notation itself is generally not visible on public background checks.
- This is where most people are surprised.
- When a court grants an expungement (also called expunction or record sealing in some states), it issues an order directing relevant agencies to remove or seal your criminal record from public access.
The Legal Definition of Expungement
When a court grants an expungement (also called expunction or record sealing in some states), it issues an order directing relevant agencies to remove or seal your criminal record from public access. The specific legal effect varies by state, but generally means the court clerk marks the record as sealed or expunged, law enforcement agencies update their databases, state repositories suppress the record from public background checks, and you may legally answer "no" to most questions about prior arrests or convictions. For more information, visit the NCSL expungement.
What "Expunged by Court" Appears on Your Record
In some states, rather than fully deleting a record, the system marks it "expunged by court order." This means the underlying record still exists in sealed government databases but is legally inaccessible to most requestors. The notation itself is generally not visible on public background checks. For more information, visit the BJA expungement.
What Expungement Does NOT Do
This is where most people are surprised. Expungement is a court order directed at government agencies. It does not reach Google search results (third-party websites that previously published your case information are not covered by the court order), data broker sites like Spokeo and BeenVerified, news articles about your arrest or case, most private background check companies, or federal records (state expungements do not affect federal databases).
The Internet Problem After Expungement
Millions of people have expunged records that still appear prominently in Google search results. Court records were public before expungement and were scraped by third-party sites. Those sites have no legal obligation to update when state courts expunge records. Search engines index and cache what they find - they do not monitor court orders. Learn more about court record removal on our blog.
The practical result: your record is legally clean but digitally visible. Employers, landlords, and dates can still find the old information through a simple name search. Learn more about background check reports on our blog.
| What Expungement Covers | What It Does Not Cover |
|---|---|
| State court records | Internet / data broker records |
| State police databases | Federal databases |
| Most employer background checks | Professional license boards (varies) |
| Most housing background checks | News media archives |
| Your right to deny on applications | Google search results |
"Transparent, specific, and honest from day one. They told me which records were removable and which weren't before I paid anything."
Was your record expunged? It may still show online. 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
