Virginia Record Sealing: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Petition Process

Virginia’s record-sealing process can involve the circuit court, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, and the Virginia State Police. This plain-language PDF organizes that process into seven manageable steps, based on the author’s personal experience navigating it.

What the guide covers

• Requesting your Virginia criminal history and background information
• Understanding the two general sealing paths and checking current eligibility rules
• Finding the correct circuit court and completing the petition
• Working with forms CC-1201, CC-1203, and related addenda
• Delivering the petition to the Commonwealth’s Attorney
• Requesting the official CCRE criminal-history transmission
• Preparing for a possible hearing and confirming the final sealing order

Designed to make a difficult process easier to follow

The guide explains what is happening at each stage, identifies useful forms and agencies, and includes practical pointers that can help readers stay organized and avoid common procedural mistakes.

Digital product: One downloadable PDF. No physical item will be shipped.

Important: This guide provides general educational information based on personal experience. It is not legal advice, does not determine whether your record qualifies, and does not guarantee that a court will seal any record. Laws, forms, and local procedures can change. Check current information from the Virginia Court System, Virginia State Police, and the Code of Virginia before filing. Consult a licensed Virginia attorney or legal-aid organization when you need advice about your situation.