Sarasota Record Sealing and Expungement Lawyer

A closed criminal case can still appear in public records. If you are seeking work, applying for a license, or moving forward after an arrest, start by checking what happened to every charge and whether Florida law provides a route to sealing or expungement. Daniel D. Nawara assists Sarasota and Manatee clients with that review.

Does a dismissed charge disappear automatically?

No. Dismissal and removal from ordinary public access are different things. An arrest record may remain even if the prosecutor declined to file, dismissed the charge, or you were acquitted. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement's explanation describes why the record can still exist.

Do not assume that completing diversion or receiving a favorable disposition finished the record-relief process. Obtain the final disposition and review the applicable procedure.

What is the difference between sealing and expungement?

Sealing generally makes an eligible record confidential and unavailable to the public, while preserving access for specified people and entities. Florida's ordinary court-ordered sealing procedure appears in section 943.059.

Expungement under section 943.0585 generally requires criminal-justice agencies to destroy or obliterate the covered records, while FDLE retains a confidential record. It does not erase every trace of an arrest from the internet.

Who may qualify?

Eligibility depends on the disposition, the offense, prior adjudications, court supervision, and previous record relief. A withheld adjudication does not make every charge eligible. Some offenses are excluded even when adjudication was withheld.

For ordinary court-ordered expungement, an unfiled charge, qualifying dismissal, or acquittal may support eligibility, but the other statutory conditions still matter. Multiple charges from the same arrest require careful review. A case with a plea or prior sealing can follow different rules.

Bring your complete history, including criminal traffic matters and juvenile history. Ask about record consequences before entering a plea in a pending case; do not rely on a general promise that it can be erased later. Special procedures, including some juvenile and lawful-self-defense expungements, have their own requirements.

What are the steps?

1. Review the record. Identify the arrest, all charges, certified dispositions, supervision status, and any earlier sealing or expungement.

2. Prepare the FDLE application. For the ordinary procedures under sections 943.0585 and 943.059, obtain a certificate of eligibility first. Follow FDLE's current instructions for supporting records, fingerprints, and required certifications.

3. Petition the appropriate court. The certificate is not a sealing or expungement order. The petition, sworn statement, service, and any required hearing still must be handled.

4. Follow through on the order. If relief is granted, confirm the required distribution and agency processing, and keep your own copies.

The ordinary statutory certificates are valid for 12 months. A certificate confirms eligibility to seek relief; the court decides the petition. Processing and court scheduling vary, so discuss any application deadline you are facing at the outset.

Can I deny the arrest on every application afterward?

No. Florida law contains disclosure exceptions for specified employment, licensing, and other circumstances. Read the exact application and obtain advice before answering. Sealing or expungement also should not be assumed to resolve federal or immigration disclosure questions.

Preserve certified records before relief is completed. A future application may require documents that become more difficult to obtain afterward.

Will it remove private websites and background-check results?

An order does not guarantee the removal of every privately held copy, news story, or search result. If an outdated or inaccurate record appears after relief, identify the source and discuss the appropriate correction or dispute process. Do not assume FDLE controls a private company's website.

Find out what is possible in your case

Have your case number, disposition, and supervision-completion records available. Call (941) 920-5514 or request a free consultation with Daniel D. Nawara. Read about juvenile defense, DUI defense, and fees and payment plans.

Updated September 25, 2026. General information only; not legal advice. Eligibility and outcomes depend on the record and applicable law. No outcome is guaranteed.