Helping Florida Clients With Getting Their Records Sealed or Expunged
If you have made a mistake in your past that led to a criminal arrest, criminal charges or even a criminal conviction, you do not have to let your record haunt you forever. Florida law offers a legal remedy for certain individuals who have paid their dues to society.
If you have a prior criminal history record — even if you were found not guilty or your case was dismissed — you may benefit from having your record expunged or sealed. At Robert Serrone, P.A., we offer decades of experience helping people throughout Florida clear their criminal record and start with a clean slate.
Understanding the Difference Between Record Sealing and Expungement
Fort Lauderdale record expungement attorney Robert Serrone can analyze your case to determine if you are eligible for record sealing or record expungement and effectively guide you through the legal process.
Record sealing: Record sealing is the process of removing your criminal history record from the clerk of court, sheriff's office and arresting agency's ability to view the record.
- Your record stays in existence, but is no longer accessible via a criminal background check.
- Certain government agencies or public entities may still have access to your record (such as if you are applying for a job with the government or for a job working with certain classifications of individuals, such as vulnerable adults).
- Records that have been sealed for 10 years may be eligible for expunction/expungement.
Record expunction/expungement: For those who are eligible, record expunction/expungement is more favorable than record sealing because it is a more thorough version of removing your criminal history record from the law enforcement and court systems.
- Your record is not available via a criminal background check and is removed from all databases.
- Government entities and public agencies with the authority to view sealed records only have the ability to see that your criminal history record has been expunged — they do not have the ability to view the contents of your expunged record.
- Only certain individuals are eligible for immediate expunction/expungement: if charges were not filed by the state, if charges were filed but later dismissed, or if you were found not guilty.
- If your record has been sealed for 10 years, you may be eligible for expunction/expungement.
Contact Us to Expunge or Seal Your Criminal History
If you have questions about your eligibility or want to learn more about sealing or expunging your criminal record, talk with an experienced, dedicated and informative lawyer. Call Florida lawyer Robert Serrone at 888-531-8969 or contact our law firm online. Robert Serrone, P.A., helps clients in sealing and expunging criminal records in the Fort Lauderdale area, Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties, South Florida and throughout the entire state of Florida.
