Expungement and Sealing Lawyer

Can you seal or expunge a criminal record in Florida?

Sometimes. Florida generally allows only one sealing or expungement in a lifetime, and the process starts with a certificate of eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). A case that ended in an adjudication of guilt, meaning a conviction, generally cannot be sealed or expunged, and some offenses are excluded entirely.

DUI convictions cannot be sealed or expunged in Florida, and a DUI conviction stays on the Florida driving record for 75 years. That makes how a DUI case is resolved especially important.

Sealing versus expungement

Both limit public access to a record, but they work differently. Sealing keeps the record in existence while restricting who can see it. Expungement generally goes further, and the eligibility rules for each are not identical. Which one fits depends on how the case ended and the person's history.

Because Florida generally allows only one in a lifetime, choosing which case to clear, if more than one might qualify, is a decision worth making carefully.

How the application process works

The first step is applying to FDLE for a certificate of eligibility, which requires paperwork and records showing how the case ended. If FDLE issues the certificate, a petition is then filed with the court, and a judge decides whether to grant it.

A certificate of eligibility is a required step, but the final decision belongs to the judge. Errors or gaps in court records can slow the process, so gathering accurate documents early helps.

Records that generally cannot be cleared

A case that ended in an adjudication of guilt generally cannot be sealed or expunged. Some offenses are excluded entirely, and a person who has already used their one sealing or expungement is generally ineligible for another.

Clearing a record also does not make it vanish for every purpose. Some agencies and employers may still have access to sealed or expunged information in limited situations, so the details are worth understanding before relying on a cleared record in an application.

Even when a record cannot be cleared, understanding exactly what appears on it can help when answering questions on job or license applications. DUI Lawyers Shield Firm offers a free case review to look at a record and whether any option may be available.

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General information only, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Questions about expungement and sealing

A dismissed case is often the kind of case people look to expunge, since it did not end in a conviction. Eligibility still depends on the full record, including whether the person has already used their one sealing or expungement and whether an excluded offense is involved. The FDLE certificate of eligibility process confirms whether the case qualifies.

No. In Florida, a DUI conviction cannot be sealed or expunged, even if it is the only offense on a person's record. The conviction remains on the Florida driving record for 75 years. A DUI arrest that did not end in a conviction is a different situation and may be reviewed for eligibility.

Florida generally allows only one sealing or expungement in a lifetime. Because of that limit, people with more than one eligible case often have to decide which one matters most. The rules contain specific details and exceptions, so a review of the full record helps clarify what is possible.

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