Expungement Attorney in St. Petersburg, Florida

Even if charges were dismissed or you were never convicted, a criminal record in Florida follows you for life. That record can create barriers to employment, housing, professional licenses, and education.

Expungement physically destroys your criminal record and removes it from public view, allowing you to lawfully deny the arrest or conviction occurred. Record sealing, on the other hand, restricts public access but leaves the record visible to law enforcement and certain government agencies.

Lopez Law Group helps clients in St. Petersburg, Bradenton, and throughout Pinellas and Manatee County determine eligibility for expungement or sealing, file petitions with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and represent clients in circuit court hearings.

Whether you need to clear an old arrest, dismissed charge, or qualifying conviction, our criminal defense attorneys guide you through every step of Florida’s expungement process.

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Table of Contents

• Why Choose Lopez Law Group for Expungement in St. Petersburg?
• What Is Expungement in Florida?
• What Is Record Sealing in Florida?
• Which Crimes Can Be Expunged or Sealed in St. Petersburg?
• Will an Expunged Record Show Up on a Background Check?
• What Does an Expungement Attorney in St. Petersburg Do?
• FAQ for Expungement and Record Sealing in St. Petersburg
• Clear Your Criminal Record with a St. Petersburg Expungement Attorney

Why Choose Lopez Law Group for Expungement in St. Petersburg?

Lopez Law Group focuses on criminal defense and expungement matters in Pinellas and Manatee County, bringing decades of experience with local courts, prosecutors, and the Florida expungement process. We understand Pinellas County Circuit Court procedures, relationships with state attorneys who might object to petitions, and strategies that improve approval rates in front of local judges.

Our approach starts with an eligibility review before you spend money on FDLE applications. We review certified court dispositions, FDLE criminal history reports, and case files to determine whether your record qualifies for expungement or sealing before you invest time and money in applications that FDLE will deny.

We handle every step of the process:

• Preparing and filing FDLE applications with supporting documentation
• Obtaining certificates of eligibility, drafting and filing petitions with the Pinellas County Circuit Court
• Serving notice on all required parties
• Responding to objections from prosecutors or law enforcement
• Representing you at hearings if the judge schedules one
• Post-order compliance to ensure all agencies destroy or seal records

Consultation fees apply for expungement and record sealing matters. Call (727) 933-0015 to schedule a consultation with Lopez Law Group in St. Petersburg and take the first step toward clearing your criminal record.

What Is Expungement in Florida?

Expungement physically destroys your criminal record and removes it from public and law enforcement databases. FDLE retains a confidential copy accessible only in extremely limited circumstances, but the record is otherwise treated as if it never existed.

Expunged records do not appear on any background checks, and you may lawfully deny the arrest or charge occurred without exception for most employment, housing, or education applications.

Expungement applies to cases where you were not adjudicated guilty (charges were dismissed, dropped, or resulted in acquittal). Florida Statute § 943.0585 governs expungement eligibility and provides stronger protection than sealing because the record is destroyed rather than merely hidden.

Am I Eligible for Expungement in Florida?

You might be eligible for expungement if:

• Your case was dismissed, resulted in no information filed, or ended in acquittal. Cases resolved through pre-trial diversion, deferred prosecution, or prosecutor decisions not to file charges typically qualify.
• You have no prior convictions in Florida or any other state. A single conviction for any offense, even a misdemeanor, disqualifies you from expunging any record.
• You have never sealed or expunged another record in Florida. Florida law limits each person to one lifetime expungement or sealing, with limited exceptions for certain juvenile records.
• The offense is not on Florida’s list of disqualifying crimes. Violent felonies, sexual offenses, and certain other crimes cannot be expunged even if you were not convicted.

Lopez Law Group reviews certified court dispositions, FDLE criminal history reports, and case files to determine whether your record qualifies for expungement before you spend time and money on applications that FDLE will deny.

What Is Record Sealing in Florida?

Record sealing restricts public access to your criminal record but does not destroy it. Sealed records remain in the FDLE’s database and are accessible to law enforcement, courts, prosecutors, judges, and certain government agencies during future criminal investigations or sentencing proceedings.

Employers who conduct standard background checks through private companies will not see sealed records. However, positions requiring high-level security clearances or jobs in law enforcement, education, healthcare, or childcare may require disclosure of sealed records.

Sealing applies to cases where you were adjudicated guilty or entered a plea with a withhold of adjudication. You must complete all terms of your sentence before applying.

Once sealed, you may lawfully deny that the arrest or conviction occurred when applying for most jobs or housing. However, you must disclose sealed records when applying for positions in criminal justice, education, healthcare, or working with children or vulnerable adults.

Am I Eligible for Record Sealing in Florida?

You might be eligible for sealing under Florida Statute § 943.059 if:

• You were adjudicated guilty or received a withhold of adjudication. Sealing allows you to hide records from most employers even when you were convicted, if the judge withheld adjudication.
• You completed all terms of your sentence, including probation, restitution, community service, and court costs. You must wait until all obligations are satisfied before applying for sealing.
• You have no prior convictions in Florida or any other state. The same one-conviction rule applies to sealing as to expungement.
• The offense is not on Florida’s list of disqualifying crimes. The same list of violent felonies, sexual offenses, and other serious crimes that cannot be expunged also cannot be sealed.

Which Crimes Can Be Expunged or Sealed in St. Petersburg?

Florida law prohibits expungement or sealing of certain serious offenses regardless of the outcome of your case. Florida Statute § 943.0585(1)(d) lists disqualifying offenses that include:

• Violent felonies such as murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, robbery, carjacking, home invasion robbery, sexual battery, and aggravated assault or battery.
• Sexual offenses, including lewd or lascivious acts, child pornography, prostitution-related crimes, and sexual misconduct.
• Drug trafficking and other controlled substance offenses, while simple possession may still qualify under certain circumstances if charges were dismissed or diverted.
• Domestic violence offenses, under certain conditions, depending on charges and disposition

Many common misdemeanors and non-violent felonies qualify for expungement or sealing if you meet eligibility requirements:

• Theft and shoplifting (petit theft, grand theft if dismissed or no conviction)
• Drug possession (simple possession if dismissed or diverted)
• DUI arrests (if charges were dropped or reduced to reckless driving)
• Disorderly conduct, trespassing, and other minor misdemeanors
• Battery (if dismissed or resolved without adjudication)
• Fraud and white-collar crimes (if no conviction)

Lopez Law Group reviews Florida’s disqualifying offense list, your certified disposition, and the specific charges filed to determine whether your case qualifies before filing applications with FDLE.

Will an Expunged Record Show Up on a Background Check?

No, an expunged record in Florida should not appear on any background check conducted by employers, landlords, colleges, or private background check companies. Expungement requires physical destruction of the record and removal from FDLE’s public database, which eliminates the record from sources that background check companies use.

When Expunged Records Might Still Be Accessible

FDLE retains a confidential copy of expunged records that may be accessed in extremely limited circumstances, such as when you apply for employment with a criminal justice agency, seek certain professional licenses, or are investigated for a new criminal offense.

Courts and prosecutors may access the confidential copy during sentencing for future charges.

Private Database Delays and Compliance Issues

Private databases might retain old information if the background check company purchased data before the expungement was completed. Some commercial databases compile arrest records from public sources and fail to update when records are expunged.

Florida law requires these companies to remove expunged records upon request, but compliance is not automatic.

FBI Database Processing Delays

FBI records might show the arrest temporarily after expungement because the FBI maintains its own database that updates separately from FDLE. The expungement order directs the FBI to update its records, but processing delays might cause the record to appear on federal background checks for several months after the Florida expungement is complete.

Bottom Line for Most Background Checks

For most employment, housing, and education background checks, expungement effectively removes the record, allowing you to move forward without the barrier of a criminal history.

What Does an Expungement Attorney in St. Petersburg Do?

An expungement attorney in St. Petersburg handles every aspect of the expungement or sealing process, from determining eligibility to filing petitions and representing clients at court hearings. The process requires strict compliance, including FDLE applications, certified court dispositions, fingerprinting, service of process on state attorneys and law enforcement agencies, and court filings that meet procedural requirements.

The expungement process is complex, requiring:

• Accurate identification of eligible records
• Proper completion of FDLE applications, including correct case numbers and legible fingerprints
• Drafting petitions that comply with Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure and local Pinellas County court rules
• Service of process on all required parties
• Response to objections from prosecutors or law enforcement
• Representation at hearings if the judge schedules one

Many people attempt to expunge records without legal representation and discover too late that missing documents, incorrect case numbers, improper service, or procedural errors result in denial of the petition and forfeiture of filing fees. Lopez Law Group reviews your criminal history before you spend money on FDLE applications, identifies potential disqualifiers, and handles every procedural requirement to avoid costly mistakes that derail your expungement.

Contact a trusted Florida expungement attorney now.

FAQ for Expungement and Record Sealing in St. Petersburg

Can I Expunge More Than One Charge in Florida?

Florida law generally allows only one expungement or sealing per person in a lifetime, but multiple charges from the same arrest or incident may be expunged together in a single petition. However, if you have arrests from multiple separate incidents, you must choose which one to expunge, and the other will remain on your record permanently.

Can a Juvenile Record Be Expunged in Florida?

Yes, juvenile criminal records in Florida might be expunged if the juvenile completed a diversion program, was arrested without adjudication, or meets specific eligibility requirements. Florida law treats juvenile expungement more favorably than adult expungement, allowing juveniles to expunge records that would be ineligible if committed as adults.

What Happens if My Expungement Petition Is Denied?

If the Pinellas County Circuit Court denies your expungement petition, you may appeal the decision to Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal, refile after addressing the reasons for denial, or explore sealing as an alternative if you were convicted. Common reasons for denial include disqualifying convictions, pending charges, ineligible offenses, or failure to complete all terms of your sentence.

How Does Expungement Help with Employment and Housing?

Expungement removes your criminal record from background checks conducted by employers, landlords, and colleges, allowing you to compete for jobs, apartments, and educational opportunities without the stigma of a criminal history.

Do I Have to Disclose an Expunged Record to Employers?

No, Florida law allows you to lawfully deny that an arrest or conviction occurred once your record is expunged, with limited exceptions. You must disclose expunged records when applying for employment with criminal justice agencies, positions requiring security clearances, or jobs working with children, the elderly, or disabled persons. For most private-sector employment, housing applications, and college admissions, you may deny the arrest or conviction occurred without committing fraud or perjury.

Clear Your Criminal Record with a St. Petersburg Expungement Attorney

SeanCarlo Lopez, St. Petersburg Expungement Attorney

A criminal record in Florida creates barriers that follow you for life, affecting jobs, housing, professional licenses, and education. Expungement removes these barriers by physically destroying the record and allowing you to move forward without the stigma of an arrest or charge.

Lopez Law Group offers consultations for expungement and record sealing matters in St. Petersburg, Bradenton, and throughout Pinellas and Manatee County. We review your criminal history, determine eligibility, handle FDLE applications and court filings, and represent clients at hearings.

Call (727) 933-0015 to speak with a St. Petersburg expungement attorney who understands Florida’s expungement process and the steps required to clear your record. Schedule your consultation today. Consultation fees apply for expungement and record sealing services.

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