Florida Expungement Blog

Florida Expungement Explained

Having a criminal record can be a serious problem in your life, causing embarrassment in your personal life and difficulties in your professional life. In some case, those individuals with a past criminal record will be unable to obtain the career of their choice because some employers won’t even consider people with criminal records. In Florida, however, there is a chance that you may be able to “expunge” or hide your criminal record from the public and potential employers. Each month, thousands of people utilize Florida Expungement as a means to clean up a past criminal history.

A Florida Expungement is a way for you to clean your criminal history and make it disappear in the public eye. Once you have your records expunged, it is no longer able to be accessed or viewed in backgrounds checks, for any type of civil purpose, or for other types of general law enforcement. Your records will only able to viewed and/or retrieved if there is an order from a court or some sort of statutory authorization. With Florida Expungement, you can avoid social, economic, and legal difficulties by make your criminal records deleted from a public search or background check. In doing so, a public background check will show that you have no prior criminal record. It will then be legal to state that you have never been arrested for any criminal offense.

Once you are decided to pursue a Florida Expungement, it is important for you to have assistance from a Florida Expungement lawyer. A lawyer is needed to help you determine whether you are eligible for Florida Expungement or not and help you during the process of the expungement. Everyone has a right to have a second change in their life; this expungment will assist you to get your normal life back and to give you opportunity to fix all the mistakes that occurred previously in your life.

Contact us today for a Free consultation!

Conditions for Florida Expungement

In Florida, there are conditions that an individual must meet before expungement can occur. Not all crimes are eligible for expungement, and there are several crimes that are not allowed to be expunged. Additionally, there are certain conditions or guidelines that a person who wishes to have their Florida criminal record expunged must meet. Before you enlist an attorney to expunge your criminal record, it is important to make sure you are eligible to expunge your records.

If you do not meet all of the requirements to have your record cleared, you will not be eligible for expungement in Florida.  Here are the criteria or condition for someone who wants to submit for Florida Expungement:

  • You have never obtained a previous expungement or sealing
  • You have never been adjudicated guilty of any criminal charges
  • You are not currently under any type of supervision of the court, including house arrest, probation or pretrial release
  • You did not enter a plea of guilty or “nolo contender” (no Contest) to an offense that is not eligible under Florida law to be expunged

If you meet all the criteria above, then you can expunge your record and submit for Florida Expungement.  If you are thinking of pursuing an expungement in Florida, you should contact an experienced Florida Expungement lawyer to assitn you during the process.

Contact us today for a Free consultation.

Is Your Record Eligible for Florida Expungement?

Did you have a one-night stand with the law when you were young and foolish or in your past life? Sleep in jail one night after a huge party in College? If so, you likely have a criminal record to reflect that one night of indiscretion. Unfortunately, once you have a criminal record, it follows you forever.  Some people will feel haunted by their criminal record. Florida Expungement can help solve this problem.

The worst part of having a past criminal record is that it can prevent serious difficulties in obtaining gainful employment. This is because some employment set forth a “no tolerance” standard for hiring employees with criminal records. It can also present problems with anyone attempting to obtain a professional license or certification.

In Florida, a Florida Expungement can help close your permanent record to the outside world. to expunge your records.  Unfortunately, however, there are several crimes that are not eligible for expungement.  If you pled “guilty” or “no Contest” to any of the charges below, you are not considered eligible for a Florida Expungement. Those crimes include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Arson
  • Domestic Violence
  • Child molestation
  • aggravated assault
  • Drug trafficking
  • prostitution
  • aggravated battery
  • Sexual battery
  • pandering
  • aggravated stalking
  • homicide
  • lewd conduct
  • child abuse
  • murder
  • robbery
  • child sexual abuse
  • manslaughter
  • carjacking
  • child pornography
  • kidnapping
  • terrorism
  • elder abuse
  • illegal pornography
  • burglary.

Therefore, if you are convicted for any of the crimes above or pled “guilty”, you will not be eligible for a Florida Expungement of your record.

Contact one of our experienced expungement lawyer today for a Free consultation.

Steps to Protect Your Criminal Record With Florida Expungement

An arrest on your record leaves a permanent scar. If you have a prior criminal record, chances are it may have affected your life in one or several significant ways, such as affecting your ability to earn a living.  Your criminal record can be seen by other individuals or prospective employers and can cause a serious problem with several things in your life.  For example, simple things such as getting a new job or obtaining a student loan or grant are now more difficult.

Florida Expungement can be the solution for those of you who live in Florida.  This system gives you an opportunity to “expunge” or remove your criminal record from the public’s eyes.  There are several steps that you need to do to gain a Florida Expungement, some of those steps are:

Need to have an approval from state attorney: The first thing that you have to do is to get an approval from the state attorney on the petitioner’s application for Certificate of Eligibility

  • Obtain State Attorney Approval: Obtain approval from the State Attorney for Certificate of Eligibility
  • Submit application to Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE): Once you obtain approval from state attorney for the Certificate of Eligibility, you have to submit the application to FDLE so the judge can sign the letter.  Several supporting docs may be needed when you submitting the application to the court.
  • Submit additional Court Filings: Once you have obtained your Certificate of Eligibility from the FDLE, you must give it to the Clerk of Courts so it can be filed and signed by the judge.
  • Hearing of Petition of Expunge: This hearing will only be done if it’s required.  Usually this hearing is depends on where your live and the offense that you are seeking to expunge.
  • Notify Agencies of Expungement: Once you have been an expunged of your criminal history, you have to inform all the proper governmental agencies that have records of your crimes that the criminal records have been expunged.

Once you have completed the steps to expunge your Florida criminal record, you can feel comfortable that your past criminal history is safely guarded. If you are considering whether or not you should attempt to expunge your record, it is important that you speak to a Florida Expungement lawyer, who can advise you of your rights and help guide you through the process.

Contact us today for a Free consultation. Our expungement lawyers will prepare, file and attend any necessary hearings to have your record expunged for one low fee.

Benefits of Florida Expungement

Having a permanent criminal record can be very stressful, and can carry a heavy burden on your shoulder.  It can most definitely limit  your ability to obtain gainful employment and can make your life more difficult.  In order to gain a new lease on life without a past criminal record, you must take action to expunge your record.

There are a lot of benefits that you can have by obtaining a Florida Expungement.  Those benefits include:

  • Gain eligibility for student loan and grants
  • Gain eligibility for housing assistance
  • Gain eligibility for professional certifications
  • Gain eligibility for professional license

There are other benefits of obtaining a Florida Expungement of your criminal record. By obtaining an expungement of your Florida record, it will delete your criminal record and make it closed to everyone, including any government and public agency.  Even though a copy of your record is still retained by the FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement), it will not become the subject of the “Public records” statute and “access to public records/meetings” section of the Florida Constitution.  Your record will only be disclosed if there is an order from a court of competent jurisdiction in your area.

To begin Florida Expungement, it is imperative that you discuss the process with a Florida lawyer experienced in obtaining criminal record expungements. Contact us today for a Free consultation and determine whether you are eligible for a Florida Expungement.

Florida Expungement, a Way to Gain Your Freedom

There are sometimes in your life when you just are in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Either you were mistakenly identified as someone you are not or you were wrongly accused of something you simply did not do. However, sometimes this can lead to an arrest and serious consequences.  Even though you are finally found innocent in trial, you will still have a permanent criminal record.  Once you have a permanent criminal record, it can make certain things in your life very difficult to do, such as apply for a better job, obtain a driver’s license, vote or other important things in your life.  Often, it will make you feel like you are in prison, even if you are not in jail.

To gain your freedom again, and to get some peace of mind about your past, you have to do something about this matter.  If you live in the state of Florida, then you will have a chance to clean your criminal record.  With Florida Expungement, people who have criminal records can expunge their records.  When you expunge your criminal record, it has the affect of making your record closed to the public and there are no government or public agencies who can see  your criminal records.  While not all crimes can be expunged, Florida law provides that there are several conditions that can make you eligible for Florida Expungement.  However, if you are found guilty by a judge or jury, or pled “no contest”, then your criminal records can not be expunged for any reason.

With Florida Expungement, individuals who have been dealing with a permanent criminal record are finally able to continue their life without having trouble doing things many others take for granted.  It you are considering expunging your criminal record, it is imperative that you have a consultation with a Florida lawyer.  An experienced lawyer can assist you through the expungement process and answer any questions that you may have.  If you want peace of mind when it comes to your criminal record, Florida Expungement can be the solution.

Contact us today for a Free consultation!

What Is Florida Expungement?

In Florida, “expungement” is the legal way to clean up your criminal record. While the criminal record does not magically disappear, it can no longer be accessed or viewed in background checks, for any type of civil purpose, or for other types of general law enforcement.  After your criminal record has been successfully expunged in Florida, most, if not all, of the expunged records are sent to a specialized department or facility that is used to house expunged records. It is important that you have a Florida Expungement Lawyer help you determine your eligibility for expungement and assist you throughout the process.

A criminal record can seriously restrict your life and affect your ability to do some of the following items:

  • obtain gainful employment
  • vote in an election
  • serve as a juror
  • maintain child custody or visitation rights
  • hold public office
  • serve as a credible witness
  • obtain a bank loan or legal residence
  • obtain a professional license or drivers’ license
  • serve in the military.

A Florida Expungement will help you avoid the economic, social, and legal issues of a criminal record in two ways:

  • Public background checks will show that you have no prior criminal record
  • You can legally say you have never been arrested or convicted

While most expunged records are never seen again, there is the possibility that the expunged records can be searched, retrieved and used at a later date. However, this is almost always done by a court order or some sort of statutory authorization. so the ordinary individual who has their records expunged should rest-assured that their criminal record is permanently hidden.

Everyone deserves the right to clean up their criminal record. If you are considering a Florida Expungement, it is imperative that you contact our office for a Free consultation so you can learn your rights and begin the process feeling secure that your expungement will be handled properly.