Bradenton Expungement Lawyer

Getting arrested can be one of the toughest days of your life. A criminal charge might affect your job prospects, personal relationships, and even housing opportunities. When background checks are performed, past mistakes can resurface and create new challenges. Fortunately, Florida offers a chance to ease these burdens by allowing certain criminal records to be sealed or expunged.

Having your criminal record sealed can significantly lessen the impact of past charges on your future. Our team of Bradenton expungement lawyers is here to guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have about clearing your record. Contact Goldman Wetzel today to schedule a free consultation with a trusted defense attorney.

Expungement Options

Expunging a criminal record means that all court records related to an arrest are erased or destroyed. To initiate this process, an individual must file a petition. The law provides the following options for managing criminal records:

Expungement

This involves the complete destruction of arrest records by law enforcement agencies. However, a confidential record is maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

Sealing

This option makes the record inaccessible to the general public, but law enforcement and certain other entities can still view it.

Clearing a criminal record can be complex, often involving various forms and court procedures. A knowledgeable expungement lawyer in Bradenton can make this process smoother and faster, ensuring your record is cleared as quickly as possible.

Eligibility for Expungement or Sealing

To qualify for expungement in Florida, you must meet specific criteria:

• No Convictions: You cannot have any convictions on your record
• Charge Disposition: The case must have been dismissed, dropped (no charges filed), or resulted in a withhold of adjudication (no formal conviction)
• Waiting Period: The waiting time can vary based on the offense and your personal background, but is typically six months
• Multiple Arrests: Generally, you can only expunge or seal one arrest per incident, though there are exceptions for related charges
• No Pending Charges: It is necessary that there be no other pending criminal charges against the person seeking expungement
• Application for Certificate of Eligibility: Those seeking expungement must complete the application for a certificate of eligibility, which can be found here
• Specific Offenses: The petition must list the specific offenses for which expungement is sought
• Completion of All Terms: Complete all terms of the sentence, including probation, before applying for expungement

There might be a court hearing where the State Attorney’s Office could object, and you may need to present evidence to support your petition. If there are no objections, the court typically issues a decision within a few weeks. A Bradenton expungement attorney can help someone understand whether they are eligible to apply to seal or expunge their record and, if so, work with them through each step of the process.

Consult a Bradenton Expungement Attorney for Guidance

A Bradenton expungement lawyer can help you remove the shadow of past arrests or charges from your life, ensuring they do not hinder your future employment, housing, or education opportunities.

Our dedicated criminal defense attorneys have helped countless clients clear their names. Do not let a past mistake define your future. Contact Goldman Wetzel to discuss how we can help you clear your record and start fresh.