Expunging or Sealing a Juvenile Court Record in Maryland

In Maryland, juvenile court records are not made available to the public, but government agencies and even some private employers may have access to them. For this reason, you should be sure that your juvenile court record is officially sealed, as described below. No one is permitted to open a sealed juvenile record without a court order, and you are not required to disclose its existence to anyone.

Does Your Juvenile Record Qualify for Sealing? 

Your juvenile record automatically qualifies for sealing when you turn twenty-one. You may ask the court to seal your record before that date, but your request will be granted only if you can prove to the court that there is good reason for sealing it early.

How to File

If your record was not automatically sealed by the court, you must file a petition to seal your juvenile record in the Circuit Court for the city or county where your juvenile case was handled. Contact the court clerk’s office for more information and the necessary papers. (You can find contact information for each Circuit Court clerk’s office on the Maryland Courts website.)

Getting Legal Help

Clearing a juvenile record can be complicated. If you are not sure whether your Maryland juvenile record has been automatically sealed -- or for help making a case that it should be sealed before you reach the age of twenty-one -- you should contact a qualified criminal law attorney. A good lawyer can guide you each step of the way.