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Sealing of Juvenile Court Records

Attorney Michael Rehm - (800) 978-0754

In order to have Juvenile Court records sealed in California, the following rules apply:

  • A petition must be filed under Welfare and Institutions Code 781
  • Applicant is eligible when one of two events occurs, whichever comes first: 5 years after the termination of juvenile court jurisdiction or when the subject of the records reaches age 18.
  • Applicant cannot have been convicted in adult court of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
  • No civil litigation concerning the incident can be pending.
  • If the minor was age 14 or older, and convicted of an offense listed under Welfare and Institutions Code Section 707(b), no sealing or destruction is permitted.
  • If any offense charged in a juvenile petition is subject to the prohibition on sealing, no charge in the petition can be sealed, as opposed to adult expungements where different charges in a conviction can be dismissed through Penal Code 1203.4

Once sealed “the proceedings…shall be deemed never to have occurred and the person may properly reply accordingly to any inquiry.” W & I 781(a)

  • Sex offender registration will be terminated.
  • The records of the Department of Justice will be destroyed.
  • The defendant is the only person allowed to inspect the records with the following exception:
    • And subject to inspection by insurers concerned with certain vehicle code offenses. W & I 781(b)-(c)

Misdemeanor Convictions of Minors in Adult Court:

Although this is a rare situation, when it is applicable Penal Code 1203.45 controls. Relief under this section is available, when relief under Penal Code 1203.4 or 1203.4a would otherwise be applicable.

One major difference between relief under Penal Code 1203.45 and adult expungement, is that under this scenario the records are sealed, including the arrest records and the person may state that they were never arrested either.

Attorney Michael Rehm - (800) 978-0754

Southern California Areas Served:

Phone: (619) 787-3456 Areas Served: San Diego, Vista, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido, San Marcos, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, El Centro, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Clarita, Glendale, Lancaster, Palmdale, Pomona, Torrance, Pasadena, El Monte, Downey, West Covina, Norwalk, Burbank, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Temecula, Bakersfield, Clovis, and everywhere in between.

Bay Area Areas Served

Phone: (831) 431-0986 Areas Served: Santa Cruz, Aptos, Capitola, Watsonville, Salinas, Monterey, Seaside, Carmel, San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, Berkeley, Livermore, Concord, Richmond, Walnut Creek, Antioch, San Rafael, Novato, San Jose, Morgan Hill, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Napa, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Fairfield, Vallejo, Vacaville, Dixon, Solano County, San Benito, Daly City, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Redwood City, Belmont, San Carlos, San Bruno, Pleasanton, Union City, San Leandro, Milpitas, Pittsburg, Danville, Rohnert Park and the entire Bay Area.

Northern California Office & Areas Served

333 University Avenue; Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95825 Phone: (916) 233-7346 Areas Served: Sacramento, Elk Grove, Antelope, Citrus Heights, Carmichael, the friendly confines of Land Park, Folsom, Yolo, Woodland, West Sacramento, Davis, Placerville, South Lake Tahoe, Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Auburn, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Yuba City, Marysville, Wheatland, Colusa, San Joaquin County, Lodi, Manteca, Stockton, Tracy, Lathrop, Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale, Stanislaus County, Humboldt County, Arcata, Mckinleyville, Fortuna, Eureka, Butte County, Oroville, Paradise, Chico, Mendocino, Ukiah, Colusa, Shasta County, Redding, Calaveras, Yreka, Amador, Jackson, Lassen, Susanville, Plumas County, Quincy, Nevada County, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Truckee, Lakeport, Sonora, Madera, Crescent City, Trinity, and all of Northern California.