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Sealing Your Record in Sarasota
A criminal or arrest record can make a background check for a loan, employment, schooling, and various other organizations and associations a nail-biting process. A record of any kind can prevent these institutions from allowing you the opportunity to be a part of them. Not eligible for expungement? Your record could be eligible for sealing. At Pallegar Law, the sealing and expungement attorney in Sarasota has many years of experience working with clients to seal their records.
What is Sealing?
Sealing your record in Sarasota allows you to remove records of your arrest from your criminal record. With a sealed record, access is limited to your criminal background. You will have access to more opportunities after having your record sealed. You will not have to disclose to employers that you have been arrested. If you are trying to rent a home, you do not have to tell your landlord you were arrested. Sealing prevents your peers from having access to your arrest record, saving you from potentially embarrassing social situations. You might become eligible for more loan and housing opportunities when your record is sealed. Sealing your record can improve your quality of life immensely.
Am I Eligible to Seal My Record?
Eligibility for sealing your record depends on a few factors. The State of Florida allows an individual to seal their record when they have been acquitted or if adjudication was withheld. There are offenses that are prohibited from sealing altogether, even if the court withheld adjudication. Those offenses include:
- Arson
- Aggravated Assault
- Aggravated Battery
- Child abuse or Aggravated Child Abuse
- Illegal Use of Explosives
- Aircraft Piracy
- Abuse of Elder of Disabled Adult
- Kidnapping
- Homicide
- Manslaughter
- Sexual Battery
- Robbery
- Car Jacking
- Lewd, Lascivious, or Indecent Assault or Act with Child Under 16
- Sexual Activity with a child over 12 but under 18
- Burglary of a Dwelling
- Stalking and Aggravated Stalking
- Domestic Violence
- Home-Invasion Robbery
- Act of Terrorism
- Manufactoring Drugs
- Sexual Battery
- Voyeurism
- Florida Communication Fraud Act
- Registered Sexual Offense
- Trafficking Drugs
To successfully seal your record in Florida, you cannot have any other convictions on your record, or have expunged or sealed any other record in the past. After your records are sealed, your case information is protected. Criminal justice agencies are not authorized to release your case information, and that information is made unavailable to the general public.
The Sarasota sealing attorney at Pallegar Law has helped many clients successfully seal their records. After determining your eligibility to seal your record, we will apply for your Certificate of Eligibility with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Once the FDLE has reviewed your application and supplies the certificate of eligibility, we can then petition the court to seal your record. It usually takes about nine to twelve months to seal your record given the time the FDLE and courts take to process your application and petition.
Your Sarasota sealing lawyer at Pallegar law will research your case, fill out and send your application of eligibility, file the petition with the court, and advocate for you if any issues arise in the process. You will not have to show up in court, let us do that for you. A Sarasota sealing attorney can help you seal your record from the public and make your life less challenging. Are you eligible to have your record sealed? Contact a Sarasota sealing and expungement lawyer from Pallegar Law 941-893-5816 now for a free consultation.
