Gainesville Expungement Attorneys

Do you have a criminal record that is negatively affecting your personal life or career?

If so, you should seek expert legal counsel to review the circumstances of your arrest, charges, or conviction. Under Florida law, criminal records are public unless they are sealed or expunged. The consequences of having a criminal background can last follow you as long as any record exists, even if the charges were dismissed. Naturally, there are numerous benefits to be gained from a misdemeanor or felony record sealing, such as no longer needing to list a prior conviction on a job application or worrying about the possible consequences of someone discovering that you have a criminal past. Criminal charges do not have to ruin your reputation for life. The state of Florida allows individuals to have their records sealed or expunged for certain offenses.

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Record Sealing Defense

At The Law Offices of Edwards & Jones, our defense lawyers have successfully represented clients to have their records:

• Sealed – Having you record sealed means that your criminal record will be confidential from future employers and the public. If you pleaded guilty (or no contest), received a withhold adjudication, or have never been adjudicated guilty of another crime, you may be eligible to have your records sealed from public view.
• Expunged – Expungement is a process by which your criminal records are physically destroyed. If the charges against you were dismissed or you were never adjudicated guilty of another crime, your criminal record can be destroyed with only one copy maintained for limited use by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Neither sealed nor expunged criminal records are made available for background investigations, property rentals, private employment, or view by the general public. Additionally, if your criminal record has been sealed or expunged, you may lawfully deny or fail to acknowledge the arrest. Depending upon the type of criminal offense involved, there can be a minimal waiting period before a petition can be filed for either record expungement or sealing. Since certain felony offenses do not qualify for petition, it is important to consult with a skillful defense attorney to review the underlying offense, find mitigating factors, discuss the evidence with the prosecutor and convince them not to object to the petition. A citizen is only entitled to one seal or expunge per lifetime, so it is critical to retain legal counsel to assist you through this process.

To learn more, contact a Gainesville expungement lawyer online or at (352) 329-3632.