How to Expunge Juvenile Records in Ohio
- 1). Obtain a copy of your juvenile court record to determine whether or not it has been sealed. Ohio law sets forth several conditions under which the juvenile court automatically seals your juvenile record, but in some cases you must apply for an order sealing the record, such as when you are adjudicated a delinquent child. (See Reference 1 - 2151.356(C)(1)) You can obtain a copy of your juvenile record from the clerk's office of the juvenile court where your case was filed.
- 2). Contact the juvenile court where your case was filed and inquire whether or not the court makes pre-printed forms available for requesting that your juvenile record be sealed, if you determined that it was not sealed in Step 1. Some juvenile courts, such as Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court, provide such forms on its website. (See Reference 4) The Ohio Legal Services Association provides an online search engine for all Ohio county courts that you can use to locate your juvenile court's website to determine if such forms are available. (See Resource 1)
- 3). Complete the form you located in Step 2 for filing with the juvenile court. If your juvenile court does not have its own form, use the form from another court as a guide for preparing one for your juvenile court. File the completed form with the court and await notification from the juvenile court regarding its decision.
- 4). Contact the juvenile court where your case was filed and inquire whether or not the court makes pre-printed forms available for requesting your juvenile to be expunged, after you have determined that your record was sealed. Such forms are available in the juvenile courts in Cuyahoga and Hamilton Counties. (See References 4 and 5) These forms can also be used as a guide if your juvenile court does not have its own expungement request forms.
- 5). Complete the form you located in Step 4, or your own application using the form as a guide, for filing with the juvenile court. File the completed form with the court and await notification from the juvenile court regarding its decision.
Source...