Criminal Record Expungement and Record Sealing

One in three American adults has a criminal record, which can create significant barriers to finding suitable employment and housing. In Virginia, even arrest records that led to no conviction are public and can last a lifetime unless someone navigates the complex process of expungement. For people with criminal convictions, the outlook has been even more bleak—Virginia is one of just a handful of states where no relief is available for conviction records.

But this is all about to change. On July 1, 2026, a record sealing law passed by the General Assembly in 2021 and then substantially amended in 2025 will take effect after a long, difficult wait. For the first time in Virginia’s history, a person with a misdemeanor or low-level felony conviction will be able to have their record sealed from public view. Some of this record sealing will happen automatically.

This page seeks to answer basic questions about this law and how people can use it to get relief from burdensome criminal records.

What is a criminal record?

When a person is charged with most crimes* and served with notice in Virginia, two types of criminal records are created. The first is the police record, which is kept by the Virginia State Police in a digital database called the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) and shared with local entities such as courts, prosecutors, police departments, sheriffs, and regional jails. These records are accessible only by law enforcement or the subject of the record. Unless the person consents to disclosure (such as in a rental or employment application), a person’s police record is unlikely to cause a problem for their employment, housing, or education.

The second type of criminal record is the court record. When a person is charged with a crime in Virginia, they are typically issued a summons or served with a warrant. Sometimes, the first court record may be an indictment issued by a grand jury or an information filed by a Commonwealth’s Attorney. In circuit court, an indictment or information will typically be followed by an order of dismissal or a sentencing order. In all these situations, the court records are public documents accessible to anyone who looks for them. In Virginia, an incomplete version of the court record—but one that contains enough detail for many people to determine what happened in the case—appears on the state court website, vacourts.gov.

*Not all crimes are reported to the CCRE. Most criminal traffic offenses, such as reckless driving and driving on a suspended license, as well as other charges like underage possession of alcohol, do not generate a police record. For these charges, only the court record exists. For a complete list of which charges are reported to the CCRE, see Va. Code § 19.2-390.

What is record sealing? Is that different from expungement?

Sealing and expungement are the two major types of record clearance available under Virginia law. Once a record is sealed or expunged, public access to the record is restricted. Most landlords, potential employers, and educational institutions cannot ask about a sealed or expunged record, they cannot get a copy of it from the court and you have no obligation to report a sealed or expunged record.

Sealed and expunged records differ in three major ways: what types of records are eligible, who can access the record after sealing or expungement occurs, and what happens to the physical court record after it is sealed or expunged.

Types of records eligible for expungement

In Virginia, only a few types of records are eligible for expungement. If you had a criminal charge that was dropped (by nolle prosequi) or dismissed, or if you were found not guilty of a criminal charge, it may be eligible for expungement. Also, if you and your lawyer made an agreement with the Commonwealth under a 2020 law, Va. Code § 19.2-298.02, and your case was eventually dismissed, it’s eligible for expungement. Convictions and most first-offender dismissals, such as for possession of a controlled substance, are not eligible for expungement.

Types of records eligible for sealing

Under Virginia’s new record sealing law, many types of criminal records are eligible for sealing. The biggest difference between sealing and expungement eligibility, however, is that two types of records that cannot be expunged—criminal convictions and deferred dismissals—may be eligible for sealing, subject to certain conditions. See more details in the eligibility section below.

Who can access an expunged record? What happens to it?

An expunged court record is placed in a secure location where it can be accessed only by one or two authorized court officials. Disclosure of an expunged record by one of these officials is a crime. The only situations in which an expunged record can be accessed are if a prosecutor gets a court order to access the record a) for a law enforcement job application or b) for a pending criminal investigation, or c) if the expunged record is relevant to a lawsuit filed against a locality or law enforcement agency.

Virginia’s record retention rules require that courts destroy all expunged records after three years.

Who can access a sealed record? What happens to it?

Like an expunged record, a sealed record is not open for public inspection and cannot be shared, except as provided in the record sealing law. Unlike expungement, however, there are at least 30 different reasons a sealed record can be accessed. Many of these are because criminal convictions, and especially felony convictions, have more serious consequences than non-conviction records. For example, a person whose record is sealed cannot serve on a jury or possess a firearm unless they have gotten their civil rights restored and, in the case of a firearm, also gotten their firearm rights restored. Thus, a person called for jury duty must disclose the existence of a sealed felony conviction that would render them ineligible for jury service, and the Virginia State Police must have access to a sealed felony conviction that would make a person ineligible to have a firearm. Sealed records can also be accessed in various court proceedings, such as child custody matters, protective order hearings, and for bail determinations and sentencing in future criminal matters. See Va. Code §§ 19.2-392.5 & 19.2-392.13(C) for more details on how and when a sealed record can be accessed.

Unlike expunged records, sealed court records will not be destroyed.

If sealed records can be accessed, what’s the benefit of record sealing?

Criminal records can be a major barrier to employment and housing. Nearly all employers and landlords perform a criminal background check when screening applicants. This is where record sealing will prove most helpful, because most private and public employers, as well as private landlords, will not be able to access sealed criminal records. These records will not appear on background check screens, and you won’t have to explain them during an interview.

How do I know if I’m eligible to seal my record?

There are several considerations for eligibility to seal a conviction or deferred dismissal under the new sealing law.

No charges with an offense date before January 1, 1986 can be sealed.
The petitioner cannot have been convicted of a Class 1 or 2 felony, or any felony punishable by life in prison.
The petitioner cannot have been convicted of a Class 3 or 4 felony in the last 20 years.
The petitioner cannot have been convicted of any felony in the 10 years before the petition is filed.
During a period after the person’s conviction, deferred dismissal, release from incarceration on the charge, or after a finding that a person was in violation of a suspended sentence, probation or parole related to the charge, or release from incarceration after such finding—whichever occurred later—the person was not convicted of any crime* anywhere in the United States for a period of:

7 years for any misdemeanor offense to be sealed, or
10 years for any felony offense to be sealed.

If the records relating to the offense indicate that the occurrence leading to the deferral or conviction involved the use or dependence upon alcohol or any narcotic drug or any other self-administered intoxicant or drug of whatsoever nature, the petitioner has demonstrated his rehabilitation.
All victim restitution must be paid on the offense before a petition can be filed to seal it. NOTE: Fines and fees are not a barrier to sealing. Sealing does not remove those debts, but they need not be paid before a charge is sealed.
* The list of convictions that reset the waiting period for record sealing includes only crimes that are reported to the CCRE (or would be if the charge occurred in Virginia). Not all crimes are reported to the CCRE. Most criminal traffic offenses, such as reckless driving and driving on a suspended license, as well as other charges like underage possession of alcohol, do not generate a police record. For a complete list of which charges are reported to the CCRE, see Va. Code § 19.2-390.
About 90% of all misdemeanors and nearly two-thirds of all Class 5 and Class 6 felonies, plus all larceny felonies, are eligible for sealing under the new law. Under the 2021 version, only DUI-related offenses and domestic abuse offenses were ineligible. However, in 2025, hundreds more offenses were rendered ineligible for record sealing. Here is the list of ineligible offenses:

Any violation of any offense under § 9.1-902 for which registration with the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry is required;
Any violation of any violent felony offense under subsection C of § 17.1-805 (For purposes of this chapter, violent felony offenses shall include any felony violation of § 16.1-253.2; solicitation to commit murder under § 18.2-29; any violation of § 18.2-31, 18.2-32, 18.2-32.1, 18.2-32.2, 18.2-33, or 18.2-35; any violation of subsection B of § 18.2-36.1; any violation of § 18.2-40 or 18.2-41; any violation of clause (c)(i) or (ii) of subsection B of § 18.2-46.3; any violation of § 18.2-46.5, 18.2-46.6, or 18.2-46.7; any Class 5 felony violation of § 18.2-47; any felony violation of § 18.2-48, 18.2-48.1, or 18.2-49; any violation of § 18.2-51, 18.2-51.1, 18.2-51.2, 18.2-51.3, 18.2-51.4, 18.2-51.6, 18.2-52, 18.2-52.1, 18.2-53, 18.2-53.1, 18.2-54.1, 18.2-54.2, or 18.2-55; any violation of subsection B of § 18.2-57; any felony violation of § 18.2-57.2; any violation of § 18.2-58 or 18.2-58.1; any felony violation of § 18.2-60.1, 18.2-60.3, or 18.2-60.4; any violation of § 18.2-61, 18.2-64.1, 18.2-67.1, 18.2-67.2, former § 18.2-67.2:1, 18.2-67.3, 18.2-67.5, or 18.2-67.5:1 involving a third conviction of either sexual battery in violation of § 18.2-67.4 or attempted sexual battery in violation of subsection C of § 18.2-67.5; any Class 4 felony violation of § 18.2-63; any violation of subsection A of § 18.2-67.4:1; any violation of subsection A of § 18.2-77; any Class 3 felony violation of § 18.2-79; any Class 3 felony violation of § 18.2-80; any violation of § 18.2-85, 18.2-89, 18.2-90, 18.2-91, 18.2-92, or 18.2-93; any felony violation of § 18.2-152.7; any Class 4 felony violation of § 18.2-153; any Class 4 felony violation of § 18.2-154; any Class 4 felony violation of § 18.2-155; any felony violation of § 18.2-162; any violation of § 18.2-279 involving an occupied dwelling; any felony violation of subsection A or B of § 18.2-280; any violation of § 18.2-281; any felony violation of subsection A of § 18.2-282; any felony violation of § 18.2-282.1; any violation of § 18.2-286.1, 18.2-287.2, 18.2-289, or 18.2-290; any violation of subsection A of § 18.2-300; any felony violation of subsection C of § 18.2-308.1 or § 18.2-308.2; any violation of § 18.2-308.2:1 or subsection M or N of § 18.2-308.2:2; any violation of § 18.2-308.3 or 18.2-312; any former felony violation of § 18.2-346; any felony violation of § 18.2-346.01, 18.2-348, or 18.2-349; any violation of § 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, or 18.2-357.1; any violation of former § 18.2-358; any violation of subsection B of § 18.2-361; any violation of subsection B of § 18.2-366; any violation of § 18.2-368, 18.2-370, or 18.2-370.1; any violation of subsection A of § 18.2-371.1; any felony violation of § 18.2-369 resulting in serious bodily injury or disease; any violation of § 18.2-374.1; any felony violation of § 18.2-374.1:1; any violation of § 18.2-374.3 or 18.2-374.4; any second or subsequent offense under §§ 18.2-379 and 18.2-381; any felony violation of § 18.2-405 or 18.2-406; any violation of § 18.2-408, 18.2-413, 18.2-414, 18.2-423, 18.2-423.01, 18.2-423.1, 18.2-423.2, or 18.2-433.2; any felony violation of § 18.2-460, 18.2-474.1, or 18.2-477.1; any violation of § 18.2-477, 18.2-478, 18.2-480, 18.2-481, or 18.2-485; any violation of § 37.2-917; any violation of § 52-48; any violation of § 53.1-203; any conspiracy or attempt to commit any offense specified in this subsection, or any substantially similar offense under the laws of any state, the District of Columbia, or the United States or its territories.);
Any violation of any felony offense not listed as a violent felony offense under subsection C of § 17.1-805 where the person utilized a firearm, as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2, as part of the transaction or occurrence in the underlying offense to be sealed, unless such person's right to possess, transport, or carry a firearm, ammunition for a firearm, or a stun weapon has been restored pursuant to § 18.2-308.2;
Any violation of an emergency, preliminary, or permanent protective order issued pursuant to Article 4 (§ 16.1-246 et seq.) of Chapter 11 of Title 16.1 or Chapter 9.1 (§ 19.2-152.7:1 et seq.) of Title 19.2, or any family abuse protective order under § 16.1-279.1;
Any violation of any hate crime as defined in § 52-8.5;
Any violation of Article 9 of Chapter 65 of Title 3.2 (§ 3.2-6570 et. seq.) (cruelty to animals);

Any violation of Title 24.2 (election laws);
Any violation involving the possession and distribution of flunitrazepam (§ 18.2-251.2) or the possession of Gamma hydroxybutyric acid (some other names include GHB; gamma hydroxybutyrate; 4-hydroxybutyrate; 4-hydroxybutanoic acid; sodium oxybate; sodium oxybutyrate) (§ 18.2-250);
Any violation where a person was found not guilty by reason of insanity;
Any conspiracy, attempt, or solicitation, and any principal in the second degree, accessory before the fact, or accessory after the fact for an ineligible offense;
Any conspiracy, attempt, or solicitation, and any principal in the second degree, accessory before the fact, or accessory after the fact where the completed substantive offense would be punishable as a Class 1, 2, 3, or 4 felony or by a term of imprisonment of more than 10 years, with the exception of a violation § 18.2-95 or any other felony offense where the defendant is deemed guilty of larceny and punished as in § 18.2-95;
Any violation of any offense where the person was prohibited by the court from possessing or owning a companion animal as a result of the transaction or occurrence in the underlying offense to be sealed, while such prohibition remains in effect;
Any violation of Article 6 of (§ 3.2-6537 et seq.) of Chapter 65 of Title 3.2 that involved a dangerous or vicious dog as a part of the transaction or occurrence in the underlying offense to be sealed, while the person continues to own or possess such dog;
Any violation of Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 (criminal sexual assault);
Any violation of Article 3 (§ 18.2-344 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2 (commercial sex trafficking, prostitution, etc.), with the exception of § 18.2-346 (prostitution), former subsection A of § 18.2-346 (prostitution), and § 18.2-347 (keeping a bawdy place);
Any violation of Article 4 (§ 18.2-362 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2 (family offenses; crimes against children, etc.), with the exception of § 18.2-365 (adultery), § 18.2-371.2 (sale of tobacco or hemp to persons under age 21), § 18.2-371.3 (tattooing or body piercing of minors), and § 18.2-371.4 (sale of novelty lighters to juveniles);
Any violation of Article 5 (§ 18.2-372 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2 (obscenity and related Offenses), with the exception of § 18.2-388 (public intoxication); and,
Any offense where the victim of the crime to be sealed was a family or household member, as defined in § 16.1-228, of the person.

In addition to all the above ineligible offenses, the offenses listed in the chart below are also ineligible for sealing.

Are there limits to how many records I can seal or expunge?

There is no limit to the number of non-conviction records a person can expunge.

There is, however, a lifetime limit on sealing records. A person can only seal records from two sentencing events. A sentencing event is not the same as a conviction. A person who is tried and convicted of multiple offenses in the same jurisdiction at the same time will likely be sentenced for all the convictions on the same day. That counts as one sentencing event, no matter how many convictions the person received. Conversely, if a person receives one conviction in one jurisdiction and one conviction in another jurisdiction, those are two separate sentencing events. If a person is convicted and sentenced on different days in the same jurisdiction, that also counts as two sentencing events.

A person who has eligible records from more than two sentencing events will have to make a strategic decision about which records pose the biggest barriers in life. Has one of those convictions kept the person from accessing suitable employment or housing? Those are likely the best records to seal.

Records sealed automatically do not count against a person’s lifetime limit. There are also several types of conviction and deferral dismissal records that do not count against the lifetime limit, even if they are sealed by petition:

Underage possession of alcohol, § 4.1-305
Misdemeanor larceny, § 18.2-96, or concealment, § 18.2-103
Three types of trespass: § 18.2-119, § 18.2-120 or § 18.2-134
Misdemeanor possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, § 18.2-248.1
Marijuana paraphernalia, § 18.2-265.3(A)
Disorderly conduct, § 18.2-415

OK, it looks like I might be eligible. How do I seal my record?

In the new record sealing law, there are two different methods for sealing a record, automatic and by petition.

Automatic sealing

Automatic sealing requires no work by the person whose record is being sealed. When automatic sealing begins, the Virginia State Police will send lists of eligible records to the courts, who will seal these records from public view. There are only a few types of records that will be sealed automatically, and all of them are misdemeanor convictions:

Misdemeanor larceny, § 18.2-96, or concealment, § 18.2-103
Three types of trespass: § 18.2-119, § 18.2-120 or § 18.2-134
Misdemeanor possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, § 18.2-248.1
Disorderly conduct, § 18.2-415

To qualify for automatic sealing, a person must not have been convicted of any crime* for a period of seven years after the conviction. These convictions will not be automatically sealed if on the same day the person received the conviction, the same person was also convicted of a different offense that is not eligible for automatic sealing. For example, if a person was convicted on the same day of petit larceny and disorderly conduct, both convictions will be automatically sealed. But if a person was convicted of petit larceny and assault, neither conviction will be automatically sealed, because assault is not eligible for automatic sealing.

* The list of convictions that reset the waiting period for record sealing includes only crimes that are reported to the CCRE (or would be if the charge occurred in Virginia). Not all crimes are reported to the CCRE. Most criminal traffic offenses, such as reckless driving and driving on a suspended license, as well as other charges like underage possession of alcohol, do not generate a police record. For a complete list of which charges are reported to the CCRE, see Va. Code § 19.2-390.

In addition, all marijuana possession records will be automatically sealed. This includes non-convictions, deferred dismissals, and conviction records under § 18.2-250.1. Virginia legalized possession of marijuana for adults age 21 or older in 2021.

All traffic infractions will be sealed automatically after 11 years. This does not include criminal traffic offenses, which must be sealed or expunged by petition.

There are two other types of automatic sealing under the new record sealing law. A person who has no convictions or deferred dismissals on their record and has not been arrested for any crime in the last three years will have all their non-conviction criminal records automatically sealed.

Finally, any person charged with a misdemeanor offense who is acquitted or whose charges are dismissed with prejudice will have those records automatically sealed at the time of the acquittal or dismissal. Any person charged with a felony offense who is acquitted or whose charges are dismissed with prejudice will have those records automatically sealed at the time of the acquittal or dismissal, but only with the consent of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. If a felony record is not automatically sealed in this way, the person can still petition for expungement.

Sealing by petition

The petition-based sealing process will look very similar to the expungement process. However, the 2025 law will make things easier in two respects. First, there will no longer be filing fees or service costs to seal or expunge a record. Second, petitioners for sealing or expungement will no longer have to obtain a fingerprint card.

Here is a step-by-step guide for sealing or expunging a criminal record by petition, effective July 1, 2026. (NOTE: Fingerprint cards, filing fees and service costs are still required for expungement petitions filed before July 1, 2026.)

Get copies of the court records for the charge to be sealed or expunged. These records are maintained by the clerk of court—circuit, general district, or juvenile and domestic relations—in the city or county where the charge was initiated.

COST: Potentially the cost to make a copy—50 cents or $1 per page. Not all clerks assess this cost, but some do.

Complete the petition for sealing or expungement.
File two copies of a petition for sealing or expungement (one for the court, the other to be served on the Commonwealth) in the circuit court in the city or county where the charge was initiated. A copy of the court record to be sealed or expunged, if it still exists, must be attached to the filing. Circuit courts generally require that a cover sheet be attached to all new filings.
To avoid a hearing, a person may also want to file an affidavit of manifest injustice, stating in writing the reasons why continued dissemination of the record may cause circumstances that would be a manifest injustice to the person. Including the affidavit does not guarantee that there will not be a hearing, but in many jurisdictions, a hearing is likely if the affidavit is not filed.

COST: A notary public will need to witness and verify the person’s signature on the affidavit of manifest injustice. Notaries often charge between $5 and $15, though some provide the service for free.

Once the case has been filed, you may get a copy of the filed expungement petition with a case number from the circuit court clerk.
Send a copy of the petition to the Virginia State Police along with a request that they transmit a copy of the person’s criminal history record information to the court. It will take several weeks for the Virginia State Police to review the petition and return it to the court with a copy of the person’s criminal history. Call the circuit court clerk’s office to get updates on the case. The case can also be found on vacourts.gov under civil. Check the pleadings/orders tab to see whether the Virginia State Police has returned the criminal history record information to the court.
Once the Virginia State Police has returned the petition and criminal record history information to the court, the case is ready for a hearing. Call the clerk to get a court date. Depending on the court, the clerk may provide a hearing date or ask for the filing of a praecipe—a written request for the court to provide a hearing date. Send the praecipe or notice of hearing to the court and mail a copy to the Commonwealth’s Attorney. Keep in touch with the clerk’s office.
At the hearing, the Commonwealth’s Attorney can support the sealing or expungement petition, oppose it, or take no position but allow the court to decide. If the Commonwealth does not support the petition, the petitioner must prove to the court that continued existence of the record could cause them a “manifest injustice,” such as denial of employment, housing, or other opportunities.
If the court grants the petition, the judge will enter an order sealing or expunging the charge. This ends the court case, but it does not end the sealing or expungement process.
The clerk will forward the order to the Virginia State Police, which will send a letter to all local criminal justice agencies—law enforcement, courts, jails, and prosecutors—that may have a copy of the police record, instructing them to seal or expunge their copies of the police records of the sealed or expunged charge. Each agency has 60 days in which to notify the Virginia State Police that the local copy of the records have been sealed or expunged.
Once the local agencies and the Virginia State Police have sealed or expunged the police records, the petitioner or their attorney should get a letter from the Virginia State Police confirming that all copies of the criminal record have been sealed or expunged.

When can I seal my record?

Here are the important dates to know:

July 1, 2026—Most of the new record sealing law takes effect. Courts can grant a petition to seal a record any time on or after that date. The original sealing law passed in 2021 was slated to take effect on July 1, 2025, but legislation passed in 2025 delayed implementation by one year. Automatic sealing of marijuana possession records also takes effect on July 1, 2026, as well as contemporaneous sealing of acquittals and dismissals with prejudice when they happen in court.
October 1, 2026—The Virginia State Police will start sending lists of records to courts for automatic sealing on October 1, 2026. If your record is eligible for automatic sealing, this is the date to know.

I want to seal my record but I also have probation violations. What will happen to those records when I seal my conviction?

Under the new law, all ancillary matters associated with a conviction will also be sealed when the underlying conviction is sealed. That means all probation violations, failures to appear, bond appeals, and any other court records tied to that case will also be sealed. This is an important fix, because clerks often use versions of the same case number for probation violations and failures to appear as they use for the underlying criminal charge. The 2021 sealing law did not address this issue, but it was fixed in 2025.

The clerk told me my court record was destroyed. Isn’t that the same as expunged?

No. District courts are required by law to destroy physical court records after 10 years. Destruction of a record is not the same as expungement! Expungement of a court record removes the record from public view and expungement of a police record restricts the dissemination of that record. The requirement that courts destroy records applies only to the court record and not to the police record. Importantly, destruction does not have the effect of expungement—that is, a person whose record has been destroyed cannot deny the existence of the record, and entities such as employers can still inquire about it. In other words, an expunged record no longer exists (even though the physical record itself may or may not exist), while a destroyed record continues to exist (even though the record itself no longer exists).

Most circuit courts retain court records longer than district courts. If your case ended up in circuit court, the record likely still exists, though it could take some time to locate—many clerks keep old court records at off-site storage facilities.

Do I need a pardon to get my record sealed?

No. There are three types of pardons in Virginia. An absolute pardon absolves a person of a crime they did not commit. A conditional pardon lets the person out of prison before completion of the full sentence they received from a court. And a simple pardon is a letter from the governor, offering forgiveness on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia. None of these pardons is required to seal a criminal record.

A simple pardon could be helpful when arguing to a judge that a record should be sealed. But pardon applications can take years to process, and depending on the governor and the circumstances of the case, may or may not be granted.

Is record sealing the same as restoring my civil rights? What about firearm rights?

No. When a person is convicted of a felony in Virginia, they lose their right to vote, the right to hold public office, and the right to serve on a jury, as well as the ability to serve as a notary public. Under current law, these rights can be restored only by the governor on an individual basis.

It is possible to have your rights restored but not have your record of conviction sealed. It is also possible to have your record of conviction sealed but not have your rights restored. In fact, the sealing law expressly requires anyone called for jury service to disclose their sealed record if they have not gotten their civil rights restored. Failure to disclose the sealed record in this situation is the basis for a perjury charge.

Similarly, the process of restoring firearm rights is completely separate from record sealing. It is possible to have your firearm rights restored but not have your record of conviction sealed. It is also possible to have your record of conviction sealed but not have your firearm rights restored.

What happens if I seal or expunge my record but it still shows up when I apply for a job or housing?

Unfortunately, background check errors happen all too often. The National Consumer Law Center issued this excellent report a few years ago on how erroneous background checks harm consumers. If this happens, however, there are options. First, the Fair Credit Reporting Act provides remedies under federal law, and there are Virginia law firms who handle these cases. Second, the sealing law itself protects people with sealed records from “business screening services” who continue to report on records that no longer exist. Under the law, these companies will be required to register with the Virginia State Police, and anyone whose sealed record is still being distributed by one of these companies can sue them for money damages. Alternatively, the Virginia Attorney General can also sue a business screening service that does not comply by deleting all its copies of sealed records.

Rob Poggenklass is the attorney responsible for this information. None of this information is intended as legal advice.