What does a court sealed record mean?
Sealing case records originates with a requirement to protect confidential information from public access. Specific reasons for sealing a case may vary. Certain case types such as adoption, paternity and juvenile abuse or neglect matters are automatically sealed by state statute. In addition, the court may order the sealing of individual civil, domestic, temporary protective order, probate, guardianship or involuntary civil commitment cases. Criminal records may be ordered sealed upon meeting certain statutory requirements. An order to seal includes all records, papers and exhibits in the custody of court. Other records relating to the case, in the custody of such other agencies and officials as are named in the order, must also be ordered sealed. All proceedings recounted in the record are deemed never to have occurred. In some circumstances, the court may seal only certain documents in a case, without sealing the entire file.
