What happens after my eviction record is sealed?

If the court allows the petition to seal, you should check the online records to be sure that the records are actually removed from public view.

1. Go to MassCourts.org.
2. Find the court where you filed the petition to seal.
3. Search for your case by the docket number.

If it says “No records found,” your record is sealed. If the record is still there, call the clerk’s office in the court where the petition was filed. 

Screenshot of search results page on Massachusetts Court Cases website.

If your eviction record has been sealed, you do not have to disclose it on an application to rent an apartment or for credit. If you have sealed all of your eviction records, you can write “no record” in response to questions about whether you have ever been evicted. If you have some eviction records that have not been sealed, you must still disclose those records.  

Under the eviction sealing law, if an application for housing in Massachusetts asks about evictions, it must include this statement:

“An application for housing or credit with a sealed record on file with the court pursuant to section 16 of chapter 239 of the General Laws may answer ‘no record’ to an inquiry relative to that sealed court record.”

If the application does not include this statement, or if it otherwise asks you to list sealed eviction records, you can file a complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General is responsible for enforcing this part of the law.

Yes, consumer reporting agencies must remove Massachusetts eviction records 30 days after your record is sealed.

If you have sealed an eviction record and a company still lists it on their report:

• You can request the company to correct its record. See How to correct errors or old information on a credit or tenant screening report. 
• You can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office is responsible for enforcing this part of the law.

Yes. Once your eviction record is sealed, you can still get access to it by filling out a court form called Request for Release of Information.

Note: 
Other parties to the original case, including the landlord from the case, can also still access the record after it has been sealed by filing the same request form.

No. Once a record is sealed, it can't be seen by the public. This includes both the paper file and electronic records. This means that no one will be able to find your record online or get a copy of it from the court except in very limited circumstances outlined in the law. Parties to the original case, including you and the original landlord, can still get court permission to access the eviction record.

Once a record is sealed, it cannot be seen by the public. The landlord from your eviction case can still access the record. Sealed eviction records may also be accessed by law enforcement and researchers in some limited circumstances with court permission. Sealed eviction records can also be used for the collection of the money judgment.

Because this law is new, we want to learn about what tenants are experiencing. 

If you have filed a petition with the court to have your eviction court record sealed, please consider filling out the Eviction Record Sealing Story Collection Form.

The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute will not share any information you give without your permission.