Filing Petition for Non Disclosure

A person may file a Petition for Non-Disclosure with the Jefferson County Clerk under conditions set out in Subsection (e) of Section 411.081, Government Code. The petitioner is required to pay the filing fees for a regular civil lawsuit and a special $28.00 fee at the time the petition is filed. The filer must contact the court to set a hearing after the petition has been filed.

What is an Order for Non-Disclosure?

An order of nondisclosure is a court order prohibiting public entities such as courts and police departments from disclosing certain criminal records. If you have a criminal record, you may benefit from obtaining such an order. An order of nondisclosure also legally frees you from disclosing information about your criminal history in response to questions on job applications. You do not need to mention information related to the offense that is the subject of an order of nondisclosure.

Please visit www.txcourts.gov/rules-forms/forms.aspx to access the OCA forms for Non-Disclosure.

A Petition for Non-Disclosure is not the same as a Petition for an Expunction. Under certain circumstances, a person who has been arrested for a misdemeanor is entitled to have all records related to the arrest expunged (destroyed). Petitions for Expunction are filed through the District Clerk’s office (Forms).

The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office recommends the petitioner seek legal assistance in filing either a Petition for Non-Disclosure or a Petition for Expunction. If you need assistance in finding legal services, please see our list of Legal Resources.