You’ve gone through the court process. Your record is finally expunged, your background check is clean — but the internet hasn’t caught up. When you search your name, the same old arrest article still appears on Google, reminding the world of something that the law has already erased.

You’re not imagining the injustice. This is one of the most common and frustrating problems our clients face.

At National Security Law Firm (NSLF), our online content removal lawyers specialize in removing or deindexing news articles that continue to harm clients long after their records have been cleared. Our attorneys have successfully removed hundreds — even thousands — of damaging online articles from news sites, government press pages, and public databases.

If you’ve received an expungement but your arrest story is still online, here’s how the process really works — and how our firm can help.

Why Expungement Doesn’t Automatically Remove News Articles

Many people assume that once a record is expunged, every trace of it disappears. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works.

Expungement applies to government records, not private websites.

Your court order seals files held by the judiciary, police, or background check databases — not private news outlets.

News sites are protected by the First Amendment.

If a news outlet truthfully reported your arrest or charges, it’s legally allowed to keep the article online, even after your case was dismissed or expunged.

Search engines are independent entities.

Google and Bing index what’s already public. They don’t automatically remove links just because a court order exists.

That means the burden falls on you — or your lawyer — to take strategic, well-documented action.

Step 1: Identify Every Version of the Article

Before you contact any publisher, it’s crucial to identify all copies and republished versions of your story.

Use tools like:

  • Google Search (try your name in quotes)

  • Bing Search

  • Archive.org / Wayback Machine

  • Aggregators like Patch.com, Law.com, Justia, or NewsBreak

Make a list of direct URLs to the articles you want removed. (Never “Google and click” your own name repeatedly — it reinforces the connection between your name and that article.)

Step 2: Build the Strongest Case for Removal

Even though publishers aren’t legally required to remove articles, many will consider requests if approached the right way — with evidence, respect, and a solid ethical argument.

The most persuasive reasons for removal include:

  • Proof of Expungement: Demonstrates that the underlying matter no longer exists.

  • Demonstrated Harm: Showing that the article causes continuing professional or emotional damage.

  • Public Interest Has Faded: The story is no longer newsworthy.

  • Ethical Appeal: Many reputable outlets recognize the lasting harm of digital archives and voluntarily honor legitimate removal requests.

Some outlets — like The Boston Globe (“Fresh Start”) and Cleveland.com (“Right to Be Forgotten”) — now have official unpublishing programs. Others respond to well-written, lawyer-submitted requests backed by documentation and a persuasive narrative.

Step 3: Contact the Publisher Professionally

This step is where most self-submitted requests fail. Tone and credibility matter.

An effective removal request is:

  • Written by an attorney or law firm (not the subject of the story).

  • Supported by your expungement documentation.

  • Persuasive without being confrontational.

  • Clear about your goals — whether you seek full removal, redaction, or deindexing.

At National Security Law Firm, every request is drafted and reviewed by an attorney familiar with media law and journalistic ethics. Our letters combine legal reasoning, fairness arguments, and practical incentives for compliance — approaches that get results.

Step 4: Request Deindexing from Search Engines

If the publisher refuses to remove the article, the next best solution is deindexing — removing the link from Google search results.

Google and Bing accept legal removal requests when content is outdated, harmful, or misleading in light of new information (like an expungement order).

Our firm prepares detailed petitions that demonstrate:

  • The content no longer reflects the truth.

  • The matter has been legally cleared.

  • Continued publication serves no legitimate public interest.

When successful, the result is powerful: the link disappears from search results tied to your name — even if the original page technically remains online.

How NSLF’s Process Works

Our process is streamlined, attorney-led, and designed for one goal — results.

  1. Immediate Start: We begin preparing removal or deindexing requests.

  2. Attorney Oversight: Every request is personally reviewed by a licensed attorney for tone, strategy, and legal accuracy.

  3. Strategic Follow-Up: We maintain professional, steady contact with publishers and platforms until removal is confirmed.

  4. Proven Timeline: Some removals take a week; others can take up to six months depending on the outlet’s internal review process.

Our approach is tailored — never automated, never cookie-cutter.

NSLF’s Flat-Fee, Risk-Free Model

At National Security Law Firm, you’ll never be charged hourly fees or left with surprise invoices.

  • Flat Fee: $3,000 per source (covers all articles from that publisher).

  • Full Refund: If we’re unsuccessful, you receive a complete refund of our legal fee.*

  • Flexible Financing: Through Pay Later by Affirm, you can spread payments over 3, 6, 12, or 24 months with no credit impact for eligibility checks.

Refund policy applies to NSLF’s legal fee only and is not a guarantee of any particular outcome.

This model keeps our goals aligned with yours: we only win when you do.

The Attorney Behind the Strategy

Matt Pollack leads NSLF’s Content Removal Division. A nationally recognized media and privacy law attorney, Matt has helped clients remove thousands of online articles across major platforms — including Patch.com, Law360, Justia, and The Washington Post.

His insider understanding of how editors and publishers make decisions gives our firm an unmatched advantage in negotiating removals ethically and effectively.

Explore More Insider Resources

For more strategies, timelines, and examples of successful removals, visit our
👉 Internet Content Removal Resource Hub.

Inside, you’ll find:

  • Step-by-step guides to removing government press releases and mugshots.

  • Timelines and costs for each type of removal.

  • FAQs about deindexing, suppression, and appeal strategies.

  • The difference between hiring a real lawyer versus a reputation company.

Why Clients Nationwide Choose NSLF

  • 4.9-star Google rating (see reviews)

  • Nationwide representation in all 50 states

  • Attorney Review Board evaluates every complex case

  • Transparent, risk-free pricing and flexible payment plans

  • Proven record of permanent removals

When your name is tied to an outdated article, the stakes are too high to leave it to chance. Trust the law firm that removes what others can’t.

National Security Law Firm: It’s Our Turn to Fight for You.

Ready to Take Back Control of Your Online Reputation?

Your record is expunged. It’s time your search results reflected that.

📅 Book Your Free Consultation
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Let our internet content removal lawyers help you move forward — permanently.

National Security Law Firm: It’s Our Turn to Fight for You.