Listing Seal Document For Free

Filing a document ?under seal? is a way that a document's information can be kept hidden for a specified period. Documents under seal may be placed in an envelope and stored somewhere secure such as a safe until the seal can legitimately be broken and the information revealed.

A party requesting that a record be filed under seal must file a motion or an application for an order sealing the record. The motion or application must be accompanied by a memorandum and a declaration containing facts sufficient to justify the sealing.

The seal is used to execute a legal document or guarantee the document's authenticity. A seal is unique to a sealer and is used by government agencies, corporations and notaries public to show that the document is validly executed, acknowledged or witnessed. [Last updated in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

There are legitimate reasons to file documents, or portions of documents, under seal, as some of the cases suggest: Some documents are filed under seal to protect people in the federal witness protection program, and others redact the names of juveniles convicted of crimes or the identities of government informants.

If a case involves a sensitive matter, or a juvenile party in a civil case (like a car wreck), then that may be reason for the court to file documents under seal. Likewise, the case may be of such a sensitive nature that the court decides that the court documents need to be sealed.

The seal is used to execute a legal document or guarantee the document's authenticity. A seal is unique to a sealer and is used by government agencies, corporations and notaries public to show that the document is validly executed, acknowledged or witnessed. [Last updated in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Expungements and sealing typically require the individual to file a petition, appear in court, and serve a waiting period without reoffending. Taking these steps, however, can cost hundreds of dollars in legal and administrative fees, dissuading many who are eligible from expunging or sealing their criminal records.