Record Sealing & Expungement Attorney in Clearwater, FL

Record Sealing

When you seal a criminal record, it will not be accessible to the public or most private companies. This means that if someone runs a background check on you, they should not be able to see sealed information. In certain circumstances, government agencies and law enforcement may be able to see a sealed record. 

Expungement

Florida law describes expungement as the "court-ordered physical destruction or obliteration of a record or portion of a record." Should you expunge an arrest or conviction, it will be as if it never occurred. 

Expunging a record, on the other hand, means that it will be completely removed from your criminal history. This includes physical and electronic records, making it as if the arrest or conviction never occurred.

Who Is Eligible for Record Sealing & Expungement in Florida? 

While record sealing and expungement can bring immense benefits, not everyone is eligible.

The eligibility criteria for record sealing include the following: 

• You were not formally convicted in the case you want to seal
• You have not previously sought to seal or expunge another record 
• You have not been convicted of another crime 

The eligibility criteria for expungement include the following: 

• You were not convicted of the offense
• You have never been convicted of a crime before 
• You have not previously sought to expunge another record

Keep in mind that certain offenses are ineligible for record sealing and expungement. These include many sex and violent crimes.