Expungement and Shielding

Expungement and Shielding are legal ways to limit public access to some Maryland court records. The option depends on the case type and the outcome.

With these options, users may be able to:

  • Remove some criminal records from public view
  • Limit access to some civil records
  • Request relief through the court

These options do not apply to every case.

To understand the difference, remember:

  • Expungement is used for some eligible criminal matters
  • Shielding may apply to some civil matters
  • Some peace or protective order cases may qualify in certain outcomes
  • Eligibility depends on the case details and Maryland law

Not every record qualifies.

Related resources

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www-marylandcasesearch.us is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with the Maryland Judiciary. We created this guide to help users better understand Maryland Judiciary Case Search, Maryland court case search, and public court records when they face problems or confusion.