Many court records, if sealed, are sealed indefinitely.

Many documents are "sealed" informally -- no one has ever asked to see them, basically. That was the idea behind the Freedom of Information Act . So if something was just not well known, and a journalist were to dig up clues, and pursue details . . .

Census information becomes available after 72 years .

Other information may be destroyed (this is often illegal), if there is concern about it getting into the wrong hands.

Are you talking about some specific kind of information?

Do you know the most surprising thing about divorce? It doesn't actually kill you, like a bullet to the heart or a head-on car wreck. It should. When someone you've promised to cherish till death do you part says, "I never loved you," it should kill you instantly.

- Under the Tuscan Sun