Indiana Eviction Records Expungement & Removal Lawyers

Legal Help with Old Eviction Records in Crown Point and Nearby Counties

An old eviction filing can affect rental applications even when the case was dismissed without a determination, resolved in the tenant’s favor, or later became eligible for sealing. The experienced Northwest Indiana expungement attorneys at Stracci Law Group help clients in Northwest Indiana review eviction records and file petitions to seal eligible cases under Indiana law.

Indiana’s eviction record statute, Indiana Code § 32-31-11-3, allows court records to be sealed in certain residential eviction cases. Relief depends on the case outcome, judgment status, payment record, appeal history, and age of the final judgment.

If an eviction record is affecting a housing application or background check, call Stracci Law Group at (219) 525-1000 for a confidential consultation.

What Is Eviction Record Sealing in Indiana

Eviction record sealing limits public access to court records tied to a qualifying residential eviction case. When a court grants relief, the clerk and any state, regional, or local case management system must not disclose covered case records to the public, including the landlord’s petition for possession.

Some access may remain available by court order, to law enforcement for authorized law-enforcement activity, or when another law requires disclosure. The court record does not disappear for all purposes, but public access to the covered eviction case is restricted by a proper order.

Why an Old Eviction Record Can Still Create Problems

Landlords, property managers, and tenant-screening companies may review public court records before approving a rental application. The Indiana Judicial Branch states that some court documents and filings are available online through MyCase. A dismissed eviction or old judgment may still create housing problems if it appears in a court search or background check report.

The Legal Services Corporation Civil Court Data Initiative reports that Lake County specifically has had 33,412 eviction filings since March 16, 2020. The same data set reports that landlords had attorney representation in 78.2% of Lake County eviction cases disposed of in 2024, while tenants had attorney representation in 1.3% of those cases.

An eviction record may affect a rental application when:

• The case was filed but later dismissed.
• The tenant won the case.
• A money judgment was entered and later paid.
• No money judgment was entered, but the record remains public years later.
• A tenant-screening report repeats old court information after the case becomes eligible for sealing.

Who May Qualify to Seal an Eviction Record in Indiana

A tenant may qualify to seal an Indiana eviction record based on the case outcome, judgment status, payment record, or age of the judgment. Indiana law also distinguishes these cases by the required action: some records should be sealed by the court, while others require the tenant to file a motion.

Under Indiana Code § 32-31-11-3, the court should act on its own motion when:

• The eviction action was dismissed: This may include a dismissal requested by the landlord or a dismissal entered after the landlord failed to prosecute the case.
• The tenant won the case: This applies when the court enters judgment in the tenant's favor.
• A judgment against the tenant was overturned or vacated: This applies when an appellate court decision removes the judgment.

A tenant usually must file a motion when:

• A money judgment was entered and later satisfied: The filing should show that the judgment has been paid or otherwise satisfied.
• No money judgment was entered and seven years have passed: The filing should show the judgment date and confirm that the final judgment did not include a money judgment.

The next step depends on the court record. If an automatic-sealing case remains public, the record should be reviewed to see whether the court entered the required order. If the case requires a motion, the tenant may need to file a verified petition with supporting proof.

An abandoned eviction case may also qualify after dismissal. Under Indiana Code § 32-31-10-4, a court may dismiss a case after at least 180 days of plaintiff inactivity and required notice. That dismissal may support a nondisclosure order under Indiana’s eviction record sealing law.

What the Court Record Should Show Before Filing

Before a petition is filed, the court record should support the grounds on which the eviction may qualify for sealing. The docket, judgment entry, financial record, and available proof should be reviewed together.

Useful records may include:

• Dismissal order: Shows that the court dismissed the eviction action.
• Judgment in favor of the tenant: Shows that the case was resolved in the tenant’s favor.
• Appellate order: Shows that a judgment against the tenant was overturned or vacated.
• Satisfaction of judgment: Shows that a money judgment has been paid or otherwise satisfied.
• Court financial record: Shows whether a balance remains due.
• Judgment date: Indicates whether at least 7 years have passed since a final judgment that did not include a money judgment.

The filing should match the proof available in the court record. If the docket still shows an unpaid balance or unclear judgment status, that issue should be reviewed before the petition is submitted.

The Indiana Eviction Record Sealing Process

The process usually begins with a review of the court record. A complete review should confirm the case number, court, parties, judgment terms, payment status, and proof needed for the petition.

A typical process may include:

1. Court record review: The eviction case is checked through MyCase or the county clerk’s office.
2. Case detail verification: The court, cause number, landlord, tenant, filing date, and judgment date are confirmed.
3. Sealing-path review: The case is matched to the automatic-sealing or motion-based path under Indiana Code § 32-31-11-3.
4. Proof collection: Records are gathered to support the sealing request.
5. Petition preparation: A verified petition and proposed order are prepared when a tenant motion is required.
6. Court filing: The petition is filed in the same court as the eviction case.
7. Required service: The landlord or other required parties are served with the filing.
8. Court response: Any hearing notice or request for added proof is addressed.

Filing fees may apply, depending on the court and filing method.

Indiana Legal Help states that a separate set of forms is needed for each qualifying eviction action. A tenant with multiple eviction cases may need a separate petition for each case.

What Records May Still Appear After a Sealing Order

After a court grants an eviction sealing order, some records or copies may still appear outside the court system. This may include:

• Private tenant-screening reports: Older screening reports may still contain eviction information unless the reporting company has updated or removed it.
• Nongovernment websites: A sealing order may not remove copies of records from private websites, data brokers, or archived pages.
• News pages or public posts: If the eviction case was mentioned outside the court system, those references may remain online.
• Private databases: Background check companies and rental-screening platforms may need separate notice or dispute requests after the court record is sealed.
• Records available by court order or legal exception: Some access may remain available to law enforcement, by court order, or when another law requires disclosure.

A tenant should keep a copy of the signed sealing order. The order may be needed for tenant-screening disputes, rental applications, or requests to update outdated background check reports.

Why Choose Stracci Law Group for Eviction Record Sealing

Stracci Law Group helps clients review old eviction records, determine whether the case may qualify for sealing, and prepare the court filing required under Indiana law. Our attorneys examine the docket, judgment status, payment history, and available proof before a petition is filed.

• Nearly 80 years of combined legal experience: Our attorneys bring substantial courtroom and record-review experience to matters involving public court records.
• Detailed eligibility review: Our firm reviews the case outcome, judgment entry, payment status, appeal history, and filing history before preparing a petition.
• Petition and court-document preparation: We prepare the sealing petition, organize supporting records, and address the filing requirements for the court that handled the eviction case.