Fort Lauderdale Expungement Lawyers

Defending Your Rights from Start to Finish

Just because you’ve been arrested or charged with a crime doesn’t mean you’re a criminal for life. In many cases, Florida law provides opportunities to clear your record through a process known as expungement.

If you or someone you love is facing the possibility of a lifelong criminal record, it’s important to explore every option for clearing that record. An experienced Fort Lauderdale expungement lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options and guide you through the complex expungement process.

At George Reres Law, P.A., we have years of experience handling all types of criminal defense matters in state and federal courts throughout Florida. We know the ins and outs of the expungement process, and we’ll put our experience and knowledge to work for you.

What Is Expungement?

In Florida, expungement is the legal process of sealing criminal records so they are no longer publicly accessible. Once a record is expunged, it’s as if the arrest or conviction never happened.

However, it’s important to understand that an expunged record is not destroyed. The record still exists, but it is sealed from public view. In some cases, law enforcement and other government agencies may still have access to sealed records.

Who Is Eligible for Expungement in Florida?

Not everyone is eligible for expungement in Florida. The eligibility requirements vary depending on the type of criminal record you want to expunge.

Generally speaking, you may be eligible for expungement if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You have never been convicted of a crime (with some exceptions)
• Your arrest did not result in a conviction
• You have completed your sentence, including any probation or community service requirements
• You are not currently serving a sentence for any other crime
• You are not currently on probation for any other crime

If you were arrested but not convicted, you might be eligible to have your arrest record sealed through a process known as sealing. Sealing is similar to expungement, but it has different eligibility requirements. An experienced Fort Lauderdale expungement lawyer can help you determine if you are eligible for sealing or expungement.

What Are the Benefits of Expungement?

There are many benefits to having your criminal record expunged. Perhaps the most important benefit is that, once your record is expunged, you can legally say that you have never been arrested for a crime when applying for a job, housing, or educational opportunities.

In addition, an expunged record cannot be used against you in court if you are ever charged with a crime in the future. And, once your record is expunged, you may be able to possess firearms and vote again (if your rights were taken away as a result of your arrest or conviction).

How Does the Expungement Process Work?

When a person is arrested for a crime, that arrest becomes a part of their criminal record. Even after their case has been resolved, that criminal record continues to follow them around for the rest of their life. This can make it difficult to find employment, housing, or financing.

Fortunately, expungement can help erase a criminal record. Expungement is the legal process of destroying, sealing, or hiding records of a criminal conviction. This process can be beneficial for people who have made mistakes in the past and are looking to move on with their lives.

The first step in the expungement process is to determine if you’re eligible. Eligibility requirements vary from state to state but generally include having no felony convictions, completing all sentencing requirements, and waiting a certain amount of time (usually five or ten years).

If you are eligible, you will need to file a petition with the court. The court will review your petition and make a determination based on your eligibility and the severity of your crime. If the court approves your petition, they will issue an order of expungement. This order will cancel your conviction and destroy all records of the arrest and prosecution.

The expungement process can be complicated and confusing, so it’s important to seek legal advice from an experienced expungement attorney. An expungement lawyer can help you understand your eligibility and guide you through the petition process. If you’re ready to start fresh and move on from your criminal record, contact an attorney today and start the expungement process.

How a Criminal Record Affects Background Checks in Broward County

Even a single arrest on your criminal history record can create obstacles that follow you for years. In Broward County and throughout South Florida, most employers, landlords, and licensing boards run background checks as a standard part of their screening process. What they find on a criminal background check can determine whether you get the job, the apartment, or the professional license you’re applying for.

Florida law does provide some protections. Certain government agencies are restricted in how they can use sealed records, and most employers cannot ask about expunged offenses on job applications. However, these protections only apply if your record has actually been sealed or expunged. Without taking that step, your arrest record and any associated criminal charges remain visible on a standard background search, regardless of whether you were found guilty or the case was dismissed.

Health care administration, education, law enforcement, and financial services are among the industries where a criminal history record can be particularly damaging. Even positions that don’t require formal licensing may involve screening through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement database. A Fort Lauderdale expungement lawyer can evaluate your criminal record and determine whether you’re eligible for expungement or record sealing, giving you a realistic path toward clearing the obstacles that a past arrest has created.

What Offenses Cannot Be Expunged Under Florida Statutes?

While expungement offers a meaningful second chance, Florida statutes place firm limits on which offenses qualify. Understanding what cannot be expunged is just as important as knowing what can, because pursuing a petition for an ineligible offense wastes time and court costs without any possibility of a favorable outcome.

Under Florida law, certain crimes are permanently excluded from expungement or record sealing. These include arson, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, carjacking, burglary of a dwelling, kidnapping, sexual offenses, and crimes against the elderly. Domestic violence charges, robbery, and stalking also fall outside eligibility in most circumstances. If you were convicted of any of the above crimes, the record will remain accessible to criminal justice agencies, government agencies, and, in many cases, the general public.

There are also procedural disqualifiers. If you have a prior criminal record that was previously sealed or expunged, you generally cannot seek expungement or record sealing for a second offense. Similarly, individuals who were adjudicated guilty rather than having adjudication withheld face a more limited path, though recent changes to Florida statutes have expanded eligibility for certain offenses.

Because the rules are nuanced and fact-specific, consulting with a Fort Lauderdale expungement lawyer before filing any petition ensures you understand exactly where your case stands and whether expungement is a realistic option.

The Role of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in the Expungement Process

Many people assume that expungement is handled entirely by the court, but the Florida Department of Law Enforcement plays a central role in the process that most applicants don’t anticipate. Before you can even file a petition with the court, you must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the FDLE, and this step alone can take several months.

To apply for the certificate, you’ll need to submit a completed application, a certified disposition of your case from the clerk of court, and a $75 processing fee. FDLE then reviews your criminal history record against Florida statutes to confirm that your offense qualifies and that you meet all eligibility requirements. If anything in your record is inaccurate or incomplete, the process can stall. A state attorney review is also part of this stage, as the state attorney’s office in the jurisdiction where your case was handled has the opportunity to object to your application.

Once FDLE issues the Certificate of Eligibility, your expungement lawyer can file the formal petition with the court. The judge will then hold a hearing or review the petition to make a final determination. From start to finish, the entire process often takes six months to a year, which is why working with an experienced partner who understands each step is critical to avoiding unnecessary delays and keeping your case on track toward a brighter future.

How Can an Expungement Lawyer Help Me?

An expungement lawyer can help you clear your criminal record. If you have been arrested or charged with a crime, you may be eligible to have your record sealed or destroyed. This means that the public will not be able to see your criminal history.

An experienced expungement lawyer will know the laws in your state and can help you navigate the process of getting your record sealed or destroyed. An expungement lawyer can also help you understand the potential steps of having your record expunged. Expungement lawyers can also represent you during any hearings and can help you prepare what is needed.

If you are seeking employment, an expungement can give you a clean slate and allow you to move on with your life. If you have been denied housing or credit because of your criminal record, having your criminal records expunged can help you move forward with your life. While criminal justice agencies will still have a record of your criminal arrests and criminal charges, it will be wiped clean from public records.

Call Our Fort Lauderdale Expungement Lawyers Today!

At our criminal defense law firm, we value the attorney-client relationship. We understand how sensitive your case is and will do everything in our power to help you through this difficult situation. You are not alone when you hire us.

Attorney George Reres has been a criminal defense attorney for years. He knows the ins and outs of the legal system and has a wealth of experience to offer his clients. He is incredibly familiar with the legal process of getting a criminal history record expunged. Whether it is for juvenile crimes or other misdemeanors, attorney George Reres can work to have your criminal records sealed or expunged – helping you move on with your life. Contact George Reres Law, P.A. today at 954-543-1186 to get the criminal defense attorney you need for your case.