How to Seal or Restrict Your Criminal Court Records in Georgia

Case Dismissed in Georgia? You May Still Have a Public Record—Here’s What You Can Do About It

Just because your criminal case was dismissed doesn’t mean it has completely disappeared. In Georgia, even if your official criminal history is clean, your court records may still be publicly accessible at the local courthouse. This can affect job searches, housing applications, and other parts of your future.

At Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm, we help teens and young adults protect their future, including by assisting with record restriction and court record sealing. If your case was dismissed or you completed a special program, you may be eligible to have your records sealed.

⚠️ Important: This blog contains general information. If you’re unsure whether your case qualifies, contact our office to schedule a complimentary defense strategy meeting.

What Is Record Restriction and Court Record Sealing in Georgia?

In Georgia, record restriction (formerly known as expungement) removes a case from your public criminal history. But even after restriction, your court records may still be visible at the courthouse unless you also petition to have them sealed.

This is why sealing your court records is a vital second step to protect your privacy.

Who May Be Eligible to Seal Their Court Records?

You may qualify to have your court records sealed if your case was:

• Dismissed
• Completed through a pretrial diversion program, such as:
  • Drug Court
  • Mental Health Court
  • Veterans Court
• Resolved under conditional discharge for drug offenses
  • A form of first offender program for drug-related cases

📝 Even if your case doesn’t fall into one of these categories, you may still qualify under other legal grounds. It’s worth seeking legal advice to find out.

What is the Process to Seal Criminal Court Records?

To seal your court records in Georgia, you must:

1. File a petition in the court where your case was handled.
2. The court will consider:
   • Whether your right to privacy outweighs the public’s interest in accessing the record.
   • Whether the dismissal and circumstances qualify under Georgia law.
3. If the petition is granted, the court orders the sealing of your records, making them no longer visible to the public or searchable in courthouse databases.

Why Sealing Court Records Matters

Even with a clean background check, public court records can show up in:

• Online databases
• Background searches by landlords or employers
• County-level courthouse records

Sealing your records ensures your past doesn’t follow you around unnecessarily, especially if your case was dismissed or you met all the requirements of a diversion or conditional discharge program.

Want to Know If You’re Eligible to Seal Your Georgia Court Records?

If you’ve completed a pretrial diversion program, received a dismissal, or were placed under conditional discharge in Georgia, you may qualify to have your court records sealed.

At Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm, we’re here to help people in their teens through their mid-twenties protect their privacy and future.

Contact us to schedule a defense strategy meeting.