Cal. Civ. Code § 9-121
Sealing of court file
Operative Text
Sealing of court file. (a) Definition. As used in this Section, "court file" means the court file created when an eviction action is filed with the court. (b) Discretionary sealing of court file. The court may order that a court file in an eviction action be placed under seal if the court finds that the plaintiff's action is sufficiently without a basis in fact or law, which may include a lack of jurisdiction, that placing the court file under seal is clearly in the interests of justice, and that those interests are not outweighed by the public's interest in knowing about the record. (c) Mandatory sealing of court file. The court file relating to an eviction action brought against a tenant under Section 9-207.5 of this Code or as set forth in subdivision (h)(6) of Section 15-1701 of this Code or that has been dismissed under Section 9-106 of this Code shall be placed under seal. (d) This Section is operative on and after August 1, 2022.
Under 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5 § 9-121, Illinois courts have both discretionary and mandatory authority to seal the court file created when an eviction case is filed. A court may choose to seal a file when the eviction action lacks sufficient factual or legal basis, sealing serves the interests of justice, and those interests outweigh the public's interest in the record. Certain categories of eviction cases—including those brought under specific statutory provisions or dismissed under Section 9-106—must be sealed automatically. This section took effect August 1, 2022.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5 § 9-121, operators who file eviction actions should be aware that court files may be sealed either by judicial discretion or by operation of law. Cases that are dismissed or that fall under specific statutory categories trigger mandatory sealing, meaning the public record of the filing is restricted regardless of the landlord's preference. Compliant operators generally ensure that eviction filings are grounded in clear factual and legal bases, since actions found to be sufficiently without merit may result in discretionary sealing and reflect on the strength of the underlying claim.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5 § 9-121 provides tenants with meaningful protections against publicly visible eviction records in certain circumstances. If an eviction case against a tenant is dismissed, brought under specific protective statutory provisions, or found by a court to lack sufficient basis in fact or law, the court file may be sealed—either automatically or at the court's discretion—limiting who can see that a case was ever filed. Tenants who believe their case qualifies for sealing under this section may wish to raise the issue before the court, consult a tenant-rights organization, or seek guidance from a legal aid provider familiar with Illinois eviction procedure.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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