Expungements Attorney
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

What Is an Expungement?

When you are arrested and your charges are later dropped by the state, you may be eligible to have your record expunged. This applies to most crimes so long as you have never been adjudicated guilty of any other crime and have never previously taken advantage of an expungement. A record expungement is important because, even if the state drops the charges, the fact of the arrest still appears on your criminal record. An expungement allows you to legally deny having ever been arrested, a necessity in today’s world of zero tolerance and intense competition.

Record Sealing: An Alternative

If, however, you enter a plea or are found guilty of a crime, but the Judge withholds adjudication of guilt, or you are acquitted after a jury trial, you are eligible for a record seal, rather than an expungement. This means you can legally deny having been arrested, but only to the public at large. Your criminal record would still be accessible by certain parties. For example, law enforcement, certain employers who provide services to children or the elderly, and certain government agencies will still be able to access your criminal record. A record seal will prevent most potential employers from learning of your criminal record.

A Record Seal or an Expungement is a detailed legal procedure, and there are requirements that must be met in order to be eligible. If you want your record expunged or sealed, contact Fort Lauderdale expungement attorney Lloyd H. Golburgh, Esq. for help. I have helped countless people seal or expunge their records.

It is important to understand that time is of the essence with respect to getting a record expungement or seal. Because of the proliferation of computers and the internet, the fact of your arrest and the disposition of your charges will quickly make their way into cyberspace. This means that you have to act quickly to seal or expunge your record before clerk’s offices, police departments or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement sells or publishes your record.