Guide
New York Expungement Research Resources
New York seals records rather than expunging them, except for some marijuana crimes, and its Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024. The official New York sources are listed below.
- NY Courts, Sealed Criminal RecordsNew York seals records; it expunges only some marijuana crimes
- NY Courts, Clean Slate ActAutomatic sealing; courts have until November 16, 2027 to set up
- Criminal Procedure Law 160.59Sealing of certain convictions on application
- DCJS, Request Your New York State Criminal HistorySee your state record before or after sealing
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 New York
New York needs no sealing motion for a divorce, because the statute does the work. Domestic Relations Law 235(1) provides that an officer of the court with whom the proceedings in a matrimonial action are filed shall not permit a copy of any of the pleadings, affidavits, findings of fact, conclusions of law, judgment of dissolution, written agreement of separation or memorandum thereof, or testimony, or any examination or perusal thereof, to be taken by any other person than a party or the attorney of a party, except by order of the court. Subdivision 2 lets the court exclude the public from the courtroom and order the evidence sealed. Subdivision 3 creates the certificate of disposition that confirms a judgment without revealing it, and subdivision 4 requires marriage license clerks to accept it as proof of the dissolution. Subdivision 5 ends the confidentiality 100 years after the date of filing, when the records become public records available to public inspection.
For civil records outside matrimonial actions, 22 NYCRR 216.1(a) governs: a court shall not enter an order sealing court records except upon a written finding of good cause, which shall specify the grounds, considering the interests of the public as well as the parties. The statute is at nysenate.gov and the rule at nycourts.gov.
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