Find Texas Apartments With a Nondisclosure Order

Know which case the order covers

A nondisclosure order limits who can get information about the offense it covers, and it isn't the same as an expunction. Keep the signed order and note which case it covers. Don't assume it reaches every case or blocks every agency. Some agencies can still see it.

If covered information shows up on a report

Save the report, mark the entry and dispute it with the screening company. If you don't know what the order covers, ask a lawyer. Planning to file a petition isn't the same as having a signed order.

When you fill out an application

Read the exact criminal history question. Get legal advice on what you have to disclose. Don't just list everything, and don't just leave it all off. We can't give you the legal answer.

See how nondisclosure affects screening. We can check communities in your area and budget and send you a list as you sort out a problem on your report. The property still checks the rest of its rental criteria and makes its own decision.

Sealed record vs. expunged record in Texas

An expunction under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A clears the record. A nondisclosure order under Government Code Chapter 411, Subchapter E-1, hides it from most of the public. Courts, police and some licensing agencies can still see it. Who qualifies depends on the offense and how the case ended.

Why sealed records still show on screening

• Screening companies may hold old copies of court data.
• Each company updates on its own schedule, so one report may be current and another may not.
• A company may not know about the order until it gets notice.