Sealing and expungement
An old arrest can follow you into every job application. If you were not adjudicated guilty and your charge is eligible, Florida law may let you seal or expunge the record.
Sealed vs. expunged
The two are different. A sealed record is hidden from public review but can still be viewed by certain government entities. An expunged record can only be viewed by certain government entities with a court order. Either way, the general public will not see it.
To qualify, you must not have been adjudicated guilty, and the crime itself must be eligible. Some crimes can never be sealed or expunged.
The honest way to start
It may not make sense to pay a lawyer a large retainer before you know whether you are eligible. Here is how I have clients begin:
- 01
Apply through FDLE
Go to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement website and find the Seal and Expunge section. Complete the application online or by mail, get fingerprinted at your local sheriff's office, and send it in with the $75 fee.
- 02
Get your answer
FDLE evaluates the application. If you are eligible, they issue a Certificate of Eligibility. If not, your total loss is $75, not a retainer.
- 03
Then call me
With your Certificate in hand, I draft the Petition, serve the necessary parties, and get you in front of the court to finish it.
Seventy-five dollars tells you if a fresh start is available.
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813.438.6869Let me draw on more than thirty years of trial experience to build the strongest possible case. Call or email to schedule a consultation.