Rule 5.830.Sealing records (§ 781)
Division 3. Juvenile Rules · Chapter 13. Cases Petitioned Under Sections 601 and 602 · Article 5. Reviews and Sealing · Last amended 2016 · Last verified September 10, 2026
Full Text of Rule 5.830
Plain-English Summary
A former ward may apply to petition the court to seal their juvenile records. The determination may be made in any county where wardship was terminated, and a court may seal another court’s records where it is appropriate — and must decide the question where the case was transferred to it.
The rule builds in a handoff at the end of every case. When jurisdiction is terminated or the case dismissed, the court must give — or have probation give — the ward the information sheet and the request form, so they know sealing exists. Where the court has already sealed the records for satisfactory completion of probation, the ward gets the corresponding information sheet and a copy of the sealing order instead.
The application goes to the probation department in the county where wardship was terminated, on form JV-595 or another form carrying the same information.
Where the applicant is at least 18, or at least five years have passed since probation ended or since their last contact with a probation officer or law enforcement agency, the probation officer must do four things: prepare the petition; investigate and compile a list of every agency or person known to hold a record of the case, with contact addresses, offense dates, case numbers and closing dates, attached to the petition; prepare a report recommending for or against sealing; and — within 90 days if only the investigating county’s records are involved, or 180 days if other counties are — file the petition, set a hearing which may be nonappearance, and notify the prosecutor.
The court reviews the petition and the report and grants or denies it. On a grant it orders the sealing of all the statutory records, on form JV-590 or similar, and the order applies both in its own county and in every other county holding juvenile records about the petitioner. Where the court decides it should not seal another court’s records in a case not transferred to it, it must tell the petitioner they can file there.
Non-wards described by the statute follow the same route, applying in any county holding a record — and the same forms must be handed over when jurisdiction ends or the case closes.
Sealed records are destroyed as the statute directs. The clerk sends a copy of the order to each agency and official listed and a certified copy to the clerk of every county where a record is to be sealed. And every agency and official notified must seal the records immediately.
Advisory Committee Comment
The following comment is published by the Judicial Council of California alongside the rule itself — not commentary from this site.
This rule is intended to describe the legal process by which a person may apply to petition the juvenile court to order the sealing—that is, the prohibition of access and inspection—of the records related to specified cases in the custody of the juvenile court, the probation department, and other agencies and public officials. This rule establishes minimum legal standards but does not prescribe procedures for managing physical or electronic records or methods for preventing public inspection of the records at issue. These procedures remain subject to local discretion. Procedures may, but are not required to, include the actual sealing of physical records or files. Other permissible methods of sealing physical records pending their destruction under section 781(d) include, but are not limited to, storing sealed records separately from publicly accessible records, placing sealed records in a folder or sleeve of a color different from that in which publicly accessible records are kept, assigning a distinctive file number extension to sealed records, or designating them with a special stamp. Procedures for sealing electronic records must accomplish the same objectives as the procedures used to seal physical records, and appropriate access controls must be established to ensure that only authorized persons may access the sealed records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does a former ward apply to seal records?
To the probation department in the county where wardship was terminated, using form JV-595 or another form containing all the required information.
How long does probation have to act?
Within 90 days of receiving the application if only the investigating county’s records are to be reviewed, or within 180 days if records of other counties are involved — by which time it must file the petition, set a hearing, and notify the prosecuting attorney.
Does the ward have to attend a hearing?
Not necessarily. The matter may be set for a nonappearance hearing.
Does the order reach other counties?
Yes. The sealing order applies in the county of the court hearing the petition and in all other counties holding juvenile records concerning the petitioner. Where the court declines to seal another court’s records in an untransferred case, it must tell the petitioner they may file there.
Is anyone told about sealing when a case ends?
Yes. At termination or dismissal the court must provide, or have probation provide, the information sheet and request form — or, where the records were already sealed for satisfactory completion of probation, the corresponding information sheet and a copy of the sealing order.
Amendment History
Rule 5.830 amended effective July 1, 2016; adopted as rule 1499 effective January 1, 1991; previously renumbered as rule 1497 effective January 1, 1999; previously amended and renumbered as rule 5.830 effective January 1, 2007.
(Subd (a) amended effective July 1, 2016; previously amended effective January 1, 2007.) (Subd (b) amended effective July 1, 2016; previously amended effective January 1, 2007.) (Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2007.) (Subd (d) amended effective January 1, 2007.) (Subd (e) amended effective January 1, 2007.)