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Opportunity Port is a program housed at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. We connect Ohio residents with the legal assistance they need to apply for sealing or expungement of Ohio criminal records.
Funding for Opportunity Port is provided by The Ohio State University Alliance for the American Dream and Columbus City Council.
The State of Ohio permits some criminal offenses to be sealed or expunged. These laws are complex and the application process can be tricky. That’s where Opportunity Port comes in! We do the heavy lifting to determine which cases are eligible and prepare the paperwork you need to apply.
The best part? We provide these legal services at no cost to you.
Get started in less than 5 minutes! Our online registration form collects information needed for a legal help organization to determine your sealing or expungement eligibility.
The legal help organization will review your information. If you are eligible for sealing or expungement, they complete a formal application for filing at the appropriate Ohio court.
After filing, a hearing will be scheduled and your application will be reviewed by the court. The judge will make a decision to grant or deny the application. A hearing is required to be considered for sealing or expungement.
If the judge grants your application, the court will complete the steps required by law to seal or expunge the record. From filing to hearing, the court process takes between 45 and 90 days to complete.
