A sealed record is not publicly available. An expunged record is permanently deleted. The statutes authorizing sealing and expunging of records are Ohio Revised Code sections 2953.31 to 2953.39. This area of the law changes often and it is recommended that you consider consulting an attorney to help you with the sealing process.
The petition must be signed and filed with the court along with a $100.00 filing fee. If the charge was dismissed or if you were found not guilty, there is no filing fee. Once the petition is filed, the matter is set for a hearing at which time the judge will hold a short hearing and consider the merits of the application. You must be present or the request for sealing will be dismissed and the filing fee forfeited.
You should consult an attorney with any questions. The Erie County Bar Association may be able to provide a referral and may be reached at 419-627-2009.