Gainesville Expungement Attorneys

Helping You Remove Criminal Offenses from Your Record

If you have been convicted of any type of crime – whether it is a misdemeanor or felony- it can have long-lasting and far-reaching consequences. Potentially the most harmful aspect of a conviction is that it leaves a black mark on your record and may negatively impact various areas of your life.

Being convicted and having a criminal record can:

• Prevent you from getting into grad school or university
• Make you ineligible to apply for certain loans
• Make you ineligible for federal student aid
• Make it more difficult to purchase a home
• Lead to a driver’s license suspension
• Prevent you from getting a new job
• Increase your insurance premiums
• Cause you to lose your current job

Fortunately, you may be able to seal your criminal records, thereby making them inaccessible to the public. The process of removing a criminal offense from your record is known as expungement.

In having your records expunged, you are legally able to claim that you were not convicted for that specific offense. Prospective banks, schools, lenders, and employers will no longer be able to view your record; it would only be available to certain governmental and law enforcement agencies.

How Long do You Have to Wait to Get Your Record Expunged in Florida?

You must wait at least one year after your conviction, meet the guidelines to be eligible for an expunction. Once you qualify for an expunction, you must also obtain a certificate of eligibility to petition the court for your expunction or seal. You must complete section A of the application, signing it before a notary public. You must also have your fingerprints taken by law enforcement and submit the properly completed fingerprint card with the application. You must also show a certified disposition of the case you are applying to have sealed or expunged, obtained from the Clerk of the Court in the county in which your charges were brought. Sometimes, you might also show a certified copy of Termination of Probation, and you must include a nonrefundable money order or cashier’s check in the amount of $75.00.

What if My Application for a Certificate of Eligibility to Expunge is Denied?

If your application was denied, you can ask for a review if you believe that it was a mistake. If your denial is based on criminal history information which you believe to be inaccurate or incomplete, you must follow the procedure for review and correction to those records, detailed under Florida laws.

Effective & Experienced Representation

While the process for expungement is fairly straightforward, you should retain the services of an experienced lawyer to ensure it is done properly and that nothing slips through the cracks.

At Dunham & Ingram, our expungement attorneys in Gainesville can effectively guide you through this process and help you clear your name. Backed by decades of legal experience, we are very familiar with the expungement process and can help you make well-informed decisions regarding your future.