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Clearwater, Florida

Expungements Lawyers

St Petersburg florida expungement lawyers - Fletcher & Fletcher

In addition to hindering employment opportunities, housing, and smooth reintegration into society, a criminal record can follow you for a very long time after you’ve completed your original sentence.

With expungement, you are legally able to remove past arrests from your criminal record, allowing you to restart your life and move forward.

Our Clearwater expungement attorneys at Fletcher & Fletcher can guide you through every step of the process, from filing your application to petitioning the court.

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“It was a pleasure working with Rick Fletcher. He is very dedicated to his job and went above and beyond. I can’t thank him enough for all that he has done.”

~ Angela B.

Criminal Record Expungement in Clearwater, Florida

A Florida expungement allows you to destroy past arrest records, so you don’t have to disclose them in interviews or other evaluations.

After a record has been sealed, it can only be expunged if the case has been dismissed or dropped (including pretrial intervention). You can also seal it if sufficient time has passed, or seal a withhold of adjudication after you’ve completed your sentence, depending on the crime charged.

Here are a few benefits of sealing or expunging one’s record in Florida:

  • Future background checks for housing or employment will not include your criminal history.
  • You will retain professional certificates that would otherwise be at risk with a record of criminal activity.
  • Your credit rating may improve, depending on the circumstances of your previous record.
  • You can legally deny that you’ve been arrested or convicted of the crime on rental and job applications.

Sealing and Expunging a Criminal Record in Florida

The circumstances of your past conviction or arrest will determine whether it is more appropriate to petition for a sealed or expunged record in Florida.

If a record is sealed, it cannot be accessed without a court order. The charging information remains in the Criminal Information Justice System. After it has been sealed for 10 years, you can request that it be expunged. It does not appear on criminal background checks.

When a record is expunged, a copy of the record will be kept by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the record will be deleted from the Criminal Justice Information System.

However, criminal justice careers do not allow access to expunged records. If you are applying to work in criminal justice, you must mention previous arrests and convictions, even if they have been expunged.

How to get your record expunged in Florida

In Florida, expunging a record is a difficult process that takes a lot of time and energy.

St Petersburg florida expungement lawyers - Fletcher & Fletcher

Here is how the process works:

  • File an application for the certificate of eligibility with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
  • If approved, wait a few months (in some cases, a few weeks) to receive a certificate of eligibility for the sealing or expungement process.
  • Petition the court that had jurisdiction over the original charge that you are asking to seal or expunge.

If you wish to have your initial application and final petition granted, the charges must have been dismissed, dropped, or resulted in acquittal. There are other criteria that must be met, as well.

Considering the amount of time and trouble associated with this process, we suggest employing the services of a knowledgeable Clearwater criminal defense lawyer who can fight to get your record expunged.

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    PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: The following questions will help us to understand more about you and your expungement. Please complete as much as you can. Your responses are protected by attorney/client privilege and will be held in strict confidence. Completion of this form does not mean that you have hired Fletcher & Fletcher as your attorney.

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    Call NOW or Click to schedule a free consultation

    Contact a Clearwater Expungement Lawyer Today

    Understandably, it’s easy to get lost in the details of the expungement process in Florida. Our team at Fletcher & Fletcher will guide you through the entire process and help you regain control of your life. Our firm has devoted its careers to defending those accused of crimes in Clearwater and throughout Florida. Contact us today to get started.

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      111 2nd Ave NE, Ste. 213, St. Petersburg FL 33701

      law pay - fletcher fletcher - St Petersburg Florida Criminal Defense Lawyer

      111 2nd Ave NE, Ste. 213,
      St. Petersburg FL 33701

      law pay - fletcher fletcher - St Petersburg Florida Criminal Defense Lawyer
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