Convicted, dismissed, or unsure what's on your record? We help you seal your Massachusetts record — a guided intake, a licensed attorney, and a complete kit that's ready to file.
Free 2-minute eligibility check · No court fee to seal · Attorney-reviewed
An open Massachusetts CORI record can surface every time someone runs a check. Sealing keeps it off most background reports — so you're judged on who you are now.
Your record type decides the statute, the form, and whether there's a waiting period. Not sure? The free eligibility check sorts it out — and keeps sealing and expungement separate.
Misdemeanor convictions can generally be sealed 3 years after the case ended or after any incarceration — whichever is later. Felonies after 7 years. Sealed by mail through the Commissioner of Probation.
Start a conviction kit →Cases that ended in a dismissal, nolle prosequi, no-bill, or not-guilty finding can often be sealed with no waiting period — by petition to the court.
Start a non-conviction kit →Expungement permanently destroys a record and is narrower than sealing, with its own forms and eligibility (time-based and non-time-based). We screen for it and never conflate the two.
Check expungement eligibility →Tell Allie about your record — the charges, dates, court, and outcome. One focused question at a time. The eligibility check is free, with no payment to begin.
Pick Solo, Guided, or the Expungement path. Pay securely through LawPay — funds are held in an attorney trust account until your matter is accepted.
A licensed Massachusetts attorney confirms eligibility, selects the correct statute, and delivers your completed petition, instructions, and timeline.
Convictions and non-convictions follow different statutes, forms, and reviewers. Filing under the wrong one gets your petition bounced. The attorney picks the right path.
The 3-year and 7-year clocks run from the disposition or the end of any incarceration — whichever is later — and a later charge can reset them. The review confirms you're eligible.
Your Petition to Seal is filled out for your case and reviewed by a Massachusetts attorney — built to clear the Commissioner of Probation or the court the first time.
A former Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney, Attorney Donovan now practices in Massachusetts district and superior courts. He reviews every record sealing kit personally — confirming eligibility, choosing the right statute, and preparing a petition built to clear review the first time.
Every kit starts free. No payment until your eligibility check clears and you decide to proceed.
Attorney-reviewed · No court fee to seal · Payments held in LawPay trust (IOLTA) · Full refund if your matter can't be accepted.
For most standard sealing matters, an attorney-reviewed kit is exactly what you need. Here's an honest comparison.
| Private attorney | Seal My Record MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility & statute determination | ✓ | ✓ |
| Completed Petition to Seal | ✓ | ✓ |
| Licensed MA attorney review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Filing instructions & timeline | ✓ | ✓ |
| Available in days, not weeks | Rarely | ✓ |
| Contested §100C hearing representation | ✓ | ✗ — refer out |
| Typical cost | $1,500–$5,000+ | From $149 |
Start your intake and find out whether your record can be sealed — no account, no payment required. You only pay after you decide to proceed.
Funds go into a Massachusetts attorney trust account (IOLTA) under Mass. R. Prof. C. 1.15. The attorney reviews your matter before any fee is earned.
If the attorney can't accept your matter after review — for any reason — a full refund is issued from the trust account. You're never charged for a service that can't be delivered.
Sealing in Massachusetts runs on M.G.L. c. 276 §§ 100A–100C, with expungement at §§ 100E–100U. Here's what actually governs your record.
A sealed record won't appear on the CORI reports most employers, landlords, and the general public can request, and you can lawfully answer "no record" to most standard questions. It isn't destroyed: courts, law enforcement, and certain sensitive employers — for example roles working with children, the elderly, or people with disabilities — can still see sealed records in defined circumstances.
§100A — convictions. Filed by mail with the Commissioner of Probation (1 Ashburton Place, Boston). §100C — non-convictions (dismissals, nolle prosequi, not-guilty findings): a petition to the District Court or Boston Municipal Court where the case started; a judge reviews it and, when required, a brief notice or hearing follows.
Misdemeanor convictions: 3 years. Felonies: 7 years. The clock runs from the guilty finding or your release from any incarceration — whichever is later — and a new conviction during that window can restart it. Non-convictions usually have no waiting period.
Certain firearms sale/licensing offenses, crimes against public justice (perjury, witness intimidation, aiding escape), and state ethics-law violations aren't sealable as convictions. Sex offenses can't be sealed for 15 years, and Level 2/3 classifications are barred. If any of these ended in a dismissal or not-guilty finding, they usually can still be sealed.
Expungement (§§ 100E–100U) permanently destroys a record and is far narrower — limited by the type and number of offenses, and in some cases your age at the time. It comes in time-based and non-time-based forms. We screen for it and never treat it as the same thing as sealing.
General information about Massachusetts law, not legal advice — your eligibility is confirmed by a licensed Massachusetts attorney. Read the full guide →
Start your free intake — no payment required. The eligibility check takes minutes. Attorney-reviewed sealing kits start at $149.
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