Guide
Georgia Expungement Research Resources
Georgia calls expungement record restriction, under O.C.G.A. 35-3-37; for arrests since July 1, 2013 the prosecuting attorney must approve it. The official Georgia sources are listed below.
- Georgia Courts, Record Restrictions and ExpungementCourt self help page with the restriction request form
- GBI, Criminal History Record RestrictionsContact the prosecutor to have your record restricted
- Georgia.gov, File Request to Expunge a Criminal RecordState steps to restrict public access to your record
This directory is for informational and research use only. Expungement eligibility, waiting periods, filing fees, notice rules, and the effect on background checks can differ significantly depending on the state, offense level, case outcome, and later law changes.
Guide
Sealing a divorce or civil file in Georgia
Georgia starts from Uniform Superior Court Rule 21: all court records are public and available for public inspection unless public access is limited by law or by the procedure in the rules. Divorce files are not closed by any statute, so the complaint, the decree and any Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit in the file are open unless a judge limits them. Rule 24.2 gives the affidavit its own narrow route: on the request of either party and upon good cause shown, the affidavits, worksheets, schedules and other financial information may be sealed by order of the court.
For the file or any other document, Rule 21.1 governs. On motion of a party or the court's own motion, after a hearing, the court may limit access to the court files in that action, and the order must specify the part of the file to which access is limited, the nature and duration of the limitation and the reason for it. Rule 21.3 permits an ex parte temporary limitation of up to 30 days under compelling circumstances, on motion with an affidavit. The Supreme Court of Georgia amended Rule 21 by order of October 5, 2026, effective November 5, 2026; from that date Rule 21.1 requires a hearing within 30 days when a party or nonparty opposing the motion asks for one. The order is at gasupreme.us.
Guide
Research Notes
- Start with the court and the originating agency. Expungement or sealing requests are often handled through the court that heard the case, sometimes with supporting records from police, prosecutors, or corrections agencies.
- Terminology differs by state. Some jurisdictions use terms such as sealing, set-aside, vacatur, dismissal relief, or nondisclosure instead of expungement.
- Verify current law. Eligibility rules can change through legislation or court decisions, so always confirm the current process before relying on older instructions or third-party summaries.
- Understand downstream effects. Even after record relief, treatment of court, police, private-background check, and federal records may differ depending on the system involved.
By state