Expungements Expungement Information: An Expungement is an action used to delete all police and court records pertaining to a criminal case when any of the following has occurred: acquittal, nolle prosequi, dismissal, absolute pardon, or an individual’s name used in error. The expungement process is not available when the person has been convicted, or the court has found evidence sufficient to convict the person. When a record is expunged, the record is not destroyed but removed from public access and sealed. (Note: Once the record is expunged, it can only be accessed by Court Order.) Please use and review the included Loudoun County Circuit Court expungement checklist before filing your petition and order for expungement. Required Documents:

  • An original Petition for Expungement (form CC-1473) (PDF)
  • A certified copy of the charge with the disposition of the charge to be expunged
  • A separate Order of Expungement (form CC-1474) (PDF) is required for each charge to be expunged. The order should only be submitted to the court when it is ready to be entered. You may submit a copy of the proposed order, which will be added to your case. Bring the original order to your court hearing.
  • Cover sheet for filing civil actions (form CC-1416) (PDF)
  • Two (2) additional copies of the completed Petition for Expungement
  • Two (2) additional copies of the charge with disposition to be expunged
  • There are no filing fees and no fees for sheriff service Process:
  • A copy of the petition will be served on the Commonwealth Attorney. The Commonwealth has 21 days from the date served to file an objection, answer or notice that there is no objection to the petition.
  • If your petition is related to identify fraud, you will take the second copy of the date-stamped petition to a law enforcement agency to obtain fingerprints. You must contact the records section of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at (703) 777-0407 to make an appointment to obtain fingerprints.
  • If your petition is being filed due to acquittal or dismissal, you must request that the Central Criminal Records Exchange electronically forward a copy of your criminal history to the circuit court where you are petitioning. You will need to fill out the Criminal History Request Form (SP-356). You can find this form on the Virginia State Police website. In the Form drop down menu, select SP-356.
  • After the court receives the criminal history check/fingerprints from Virginia State Police, a hearing may be set. It is the responsibility of the petitioner to confirm the fingerprint card (if applicable) and/or criminal history have been received. Hearing dates for expungement cases are set on the Circuit Court civil motions day docket.
  • To set a hearing, an original praecipe must be filed with the Civil Division no less than 14 days before the hearing date. Praecipe forms are available at the Circuit Court Clerk’s office and on the Clerk’s website at www.loudoun.gov/clerk. A copy of the praecipe must be mailed or hand delivered to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, 2 Church Street NE, Leesburg, VA 20176. Filing: In Person or by Mail If filing in person, bring your completed paperwork to the 3rd floor, Clerk of Circuit Court, Civil Division during normal business hours. Or you may mail your completed paperwork and copies to: Send via U.S. Postal Service Loudoun Clerk of Circuit Court Attention: Civil Division P.O. Box 550 Leesburg, VA 20178 Send Via FedEx, UPS, etc. Loudoun Clerk of Circuit Court Attention: Civil Division 18 East Market Street Leesburg, VA 20176 Checking On Your Case Once It Is Filed: Effective July 1, 2026, the law has changed to prohibit public access to expungement cases. Expungement cases will now be sealed. If you wish to obtain a status on your case, you will either need to come in person to the Clerk’s office and provide identification or provide information from your receipt if requesting a status update over the phone. Upon filing your case, you will receive a receipt and a letter further explaining these requirements. Expungement Checklist Va. Code Section 19.2-392.2 You May File a Petition If:
  • You have been acquitted.
  • Your charge was nolle prossed or otherwise dismissed, including dismissal by accord and satisfaction pursuant to 19.2-151.
  • You have been granted an absolute pardon for the commission of a crime, and you have been unjustly convicted.
  • Your name or other identification has been used without your consent or authorization, by another person who has been charged or arrested using such name or identification. Contents Of Petition:
  • The petition must have a copy of the warrant or indictment for each charge.
  • The petition must be filed in the county where the case was disposed of by acquittal or dismissal.
  • The petition must include the date of arrest.
  • The petition must include the exact agency that made the arrest.
  • If any of the information is not reasonably available, the petition shall state the reason for such unavailability.
  • The petition must state the specific criminal charge to be expunged. If you were arrested for one charge but the charge was amended, please state whether you are seeking to expunge the original charge or the amended charge. The charge that you list should be consistent throughout your documents.
  • The petition must state the date of the final disposition of the charge and the case number.
  • The petition must include the petitioner’s date of birth.
  • The petition must include the petitioner’s full name at the time of arrest. If the petitioner has a different name at the time of the filing of the petition, the petition should so state.
  • Handwritten petitions should be legible.
  • Attorneys should ensure that the signature line complies with Virginia Supreme Court Rule 1:4. Contents Of Proposed Expungement Order:
  • You must prepare a separate order for each charge to be expunged.
  • The order must include the date of the offense.
  • The order should specify the charge sought to be expunged (please make sure that the petition and order are consistent).
  • If your charge was amended, the charge that you are seeking to expunge, and code section referenced, should be consistent throughout your paperwork.
  • The order must specify the case number of the charge sought to be expunged.
  • The order must be fully endorsed by both you and the Commonwealth Attorney, or it will have to be docketed for a hearing.
  • All appropriate boxes on the form order (Form CC-1474), should be checked. Failure to do so will result in a denied order.
  • If you have checked off “manifest injustice” as the reason for the expungement, you will need to place your expungement on the docket for a hearing. The court requires a hearing to articulate the manifest injustice on the record.
  • Attorneys shall ensure that the signature line complies with Virginia Supreme Court Rule 1:4. Amended Petitions:
  • If your petition/order has been rejected and the court advised you need to amend your petition, you must file a motion for leave to file an amended petition along with a proposed amended order.
  • You may not file an amended petition unless you have been granted leave to file an amended petition, and the judge has signed an order granting such relief. Deferred Findings:
  • You must provide a copy of the court order that permits the offense to be expunged pursuant to Virginia Code Section 19.2-298.02(D). Failure to provide a copy of such an order will result in a delay in the entry of the expungement order. Please Note: Court personnel are prohibited by law from giving legal advice. If you need assistance or advice, please see our Legal Aid and Links page.
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Location18 E. Market Street Leesburg, VA 20176 Phone: 703-771-5644 Hours: Monday- Friday, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Mailing Address Clerk of the Circuit Court Attention: Civil Division P.O. Box 550 Leesburg, VA 20178