Being named in a protective order can follow you long after the case is closed. Even if the court dismissed the petition or denied it outright, the record may remain searchable in online court systems and law enforcement databases. Employers, landlords, and even social acquaintances can find this record and make unfair assumptions. If you're living under the shadow of a dismissed protective order, you have the right to reclaim your reputation—and Indiana law gives you the tools to do it.
Records of protective orders are widespread:
Court records (MyCase, Odyssey)
The Indiana Protection Order Registry (linked to law enforcement)
State and national databases like IDACS and NCIC
Background check services
Even if the protective order was denied or dismissed, it can still appear in background checks unless you proactively petition the court to have it expunged.
A dismissed protective order may still:
Jeopardize job opportunities, especially for roles requiring background checks or security clearances
Trigger housing denials from landlords using tenant screening services
Create reputational harm in personal and professional relationships
Complicate custody or divorce proceedings where character is called into question
And perhaps most frustrating of all: the person who filed the baseless protective order is still harming your future—without ever appearing in court or proving their claims.
Indiana law now allows for protective order expungement in the following situations:
The protective order was dismissed, denied, or never went to hearing because the petitioner didn’t show up
The order was issued but later vacated or reversed by an appellate court
Indiana Code § 34-26-7.5 empowers you to file a petition to expunge these records. If granted, it’s as though the order never existed. You can truthfully answer “No” to questions about protective orders on job or housing applications.
Gibson Law Office has offices in Lafayette, Bloomington, and Fort Wayne, and we represent clients throughout Indiana. If your protective order was filed in Tippecanoe County, Monroe County, Allen County, or nearby areas, we know the procedures, the courts, and how to get your record expunged.
If someone filed a protective order against you out of spite, revenge, or misinformation, and it was ultimately dismissed or denied, they may still be harming your future. That record can stop you from getting a job, finding housing, or being seen in the right light. It’s time to take back control.
Our attorneys understand the lasting damage a protective order can cause—even if it was never granted. We handle protective order expungements statewide, and we know how to get these records sealed quickly and legally. From our offices in Lafayette, Bloomington, and Fort Wayne, we handle expungement petitions in counties across the state.
Learn more about defending protective orders in Indiana »
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