Seminole Seal and Expungement Lawyer
At The Reep Law Firm, our legal team can help people seal or expunge their criminal history. Unfortunately, this history doesn’t disappear on its own. Decades can pass—and you might still be answering questions about why you were arrested. This is a frustrating but all too common experience. Increasingly, employers and landlords pull a criminal history report when viewing an application.
Ready for a fresh start? Florida law allows some people to seal or expunge their criminal histories. From that point forward, you can truthfully report that you have no criminal history at all whenever you apply for a job. Ready to learn more? Call our firm to speak with a Seminole seal and expungement lawyer.
What is the Process?
Obtaining relief is never easy. Here’s an overview of the process:
- Meet with us to review eligibility. Florida does not allow everyone with a criminal record to request sealing or expungement. Instead, only certain people qualify, and only certain criminal offenses are eligible. We can meet to go over your criminal history and check eligibility. The sooner you get started, the better.
- Complete the required paperwork. We can fill out the forms so they are accurate and complete. This will help you gain relief much faster. Some people request a packet and try to request expungement themselves, but there’s a risk you will make some mistake.
- Submit a completed packet to the appropriate offices. Once we complete the packet, we can submit it to the State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). These offices need to review the packet and ultimately issue a Certificate of Eligibility.
- File your petition with the court. We file the petition along with the FDLE Certificate of Eligibility. We also send copies to the State Attorney’s Office.
- Wait for the state’s response. The State Attorney’s Office can choose to object—or not. If they object, then we can schedule your court hearing to present our argument to the judge.
- Attend the hearing before a judge. Ultimately, it’s up to a judge whether to grant your request to seal or expunge. We can present evidence in support and deal with any objections. Sometimes, a hearing is also necessary even where the state doesn’t oppose your petition.
This is a general overview of the steps involved. For some people, the process is simple, while others might face difficulty getting the Certificate of Eligibility or convincing a judge to seal or expunge a record.
If you are denied, then we can also talk about other options. It’s critical to work with someone experienced in this field to fully understand how you can obtain relief.
Schedule a Consultation with Our Seminole Seal and Expungement Lawyers
Sealing or expunging a record is an excellent way to put the past behind you. Work with a seasoned legal advocate with our firm. One of our Seminole seal and expungement lawyers can review whether this is an option for you based on your criminal history.
