Your legal past shouldn’t be an open book. But thanks to the internet, court records, lawsuits, and personal legal history are often just a Google search away.

That’s a serious problem for security and privacy. Criminals, stalkers, and scammers can use court records to track down personal information. Even if a case was minor—or dismissed—it can still show up online and cause real harm.

Here’s why old court records pose a security risk, how they get online, and what you can do to remove them.

Why Are Court Records Public in the First Place?

Court records in the U.S. are public by default. That means anyone can access them unless a court orders them sealed.

They include:

• Criminal cases (even if charges were dropped).
• Divorce and family court records.
• Lawsuits and financial disputes.
• Restraining orders and other legal filings.

These records get picked up by government websites, data broker sites, and even Google. Once they’re online, removing them is difficult—but not impossible.

How Court Records Put Your Privacy at Risk

1. Personal Information is Easy to Find

Many court records include names, addresses, and other personal details.

Example: A lawsuit filing from ten years ago might still list your home address. Anyone who finds it now has that information.

2. Stalkers and Criminals Use This Data

If someone wants to find you, court records can help them.

• Harassers can track down personal addresses.
• Scammers use old financial disputes to target victims.
• Identity thieves collect names, birthdates, and case numbers.

A 2021 report found that one in three Americans have had personal data exposed online.Court records are a major part of that problem.

3. Employers and Landlords Can See It

Background checks often pull court records. Even a dismissed case might show up when applying for a job or renting a home.

• 72% of employers do background checks before hiring.
• 80% of landlords check tenant legal history.

An old lawsuit—or even a simple legal dispute—can create unfair judgment years later.

How Do Court Records Get Online?

Court records spread online in a few key ways.

1. Government Websites

Local courts post case information online. Even if you’re cleared of charges, the record often stays.

2. Data Broker and People Search Sites

Sites like Spokeo, Whitepages, and InstantCheckmate scrape court records and sell them. They profit from making your legal history public.

3. News Articles and Blogs

If your legal case was covered by the media, those articles can rank high on Google and never go away.

4. Google Indexing

Once a court record appears on a website, Google indexes it. That means anyone searching your name can find it instantly.

How to Remove Court Records from the Internet

Step 1: Request Removal from Government Websites

Some court systems allow record sealing or expungement. This removes the case from public access.

• Criminal record expungement: Available in some states for dismissed or minor offenses.
• Sealed records: Courts can restrict access in certain cases (like juvenile records or family disputes).

To check if removal is possible:

1. Look up your case on the local court’s website.
2. Contact the court clerk and ask about sealing or expunging records.
3. File a request if eligible.

If your record is sealed or expunged, you can ask Google to remove related links.

Step 2: Remove Your Info from Data Broker Sites

Data brokers make money selling your legal history. But many offer opt-out options.

To remove your info:

1. Search for your name on sites like Whitepages, MyLife, or Spokeo.
2. Go to their opt-out pages and submit a request.
3. Monitor these sites regularly—they often re-add data over time.

Step 3: Suppress Negative Search Results

If you can’t remove a court record, the next best option is burying it under new content.

• Create a personal website with your name.
• Use social media profiles that rank high in search results.
• Publish articles or blog posts to push down negative links.

Google favors fresh, relevant, and high-authority content. The more you control your online presence, the harder it is for old records to show up.

Step 4: Work with a Content Removal Service

If court records are hurting your privacy, hiring a content removal service can help.

These services specialize in:

• Getting court records removed from search engines.
• Filing legal takedown requests for outdated or harmful content.
• Suppressing negative search results with SEO strategies.

For serious privacy concerns, this may be the fastest and most effective option.

What If a News Article Won’t Go Away?

News sites rarely remove old articles, even if the information is outdated.

To handle this:

• Contact the website directly and request an update or removal.
• Use a reputation management service and SEO tactics to push the article down in search results.
• File a legal request if the article contains false or harmful information.

How to Protect Yourself Moving Forward

If your court records were online once, they can appear again. Stay ahead with these steps:

1. Set Up Google Alerts

Get notified if your name appears in new search results. This helps you act fast before information spreads.

2. Lock Down Personal Information

• Use a PO box instead of a home address.
• Limit what you share online (social media, forums, etc.).
• Opt out of data broker sites regularly.

3. Keep Positive Content Active

Consistently updating social media, blogs, or a personal website ensures you control what shows up first on Google.

Final Takeaways

Old court records can be a serious privacy risk. If they’re online, criminals, employers, and landlords can find them.

• Some court records can be sealed or expunged.
• Data broker sites profit from your legal history—but you can opt out.
• If records can’t be removed, suppress them with strong online content.
• For major privacy concerns, consider using a content removal service.

Protect your privacy before old legal records come back to haunt you.