Expungements

Respected Criminal Defense Attorney Serving Clients in Tampa and Throughout Hillsborough County

If you’ve been arrested or charged with a crime in Florida, a public record is created and kept on file for quite some time. This is the case in every clerk’s office in every county in Florida. As a result, your record can be reviewed by essentially anyone. Whether you are applying for a job, trying to get a loan, or looking for an apartment, your criminal history will always be there for anyone to.

Don’t allow this to happen if you don’t have to. Every week, the Tampa expungement lawyers at the Mayberry Law Firm talk to good people who have previously been charged with crimes from reckless driving to marijuana possession and need their records cleared. And in many cases, we’re able to help them clear their record so they can put their past behind them.

Are You Eligible for an Expungement?

Expungements can provide you with much-needed relief from all the consequences of having an arrest history. However, they are not available to everyone. To have your record expunged in Tampa, the following must be applicable to your case:

• Your case was dismissed; you completed a diversion program; or your record has been sealed for at least ten years.
• You have no Adjudications of Guilt on your record for any criminal offense in any state.
• You have never applied for a record sealing or expungement in any other state.
• The conviction you are trying to expunge is not listed in Florida Statute 907.041 (sex crimes, violent crimes, etc).

Florida is unique in that you cannot expunge a conviction. However, you can expunge certain cases that ended in non-convictions, such as a withholding of adjudication of guilt. The rules for juveniles are relaxed and allow for some misdemeanor adjudications to be expunged or sealed.

What is the Difference Between Sealing and Expungement?

Our Tampa criminal attorneys hear this question all the time. When a record is sealed, the public will not have access to it at all; however, certain governmental entities will have access to a sealed record in its entirety. On the other hand, when a record is expunged, those same entities that have access to a sealed record will be told that the subject of the record has had a record expunged, but they cannot access the details without obtaining a court order. Thus, without a court order, the party seeking your records would receive a statement indicating, “criminal information has been expunged from this record.”

So, if your record is sealed or expunged, an employer won’t know about your record unless you’re applying for employment with a government entity. In the event you are applying for government work, the entity you are applying to will know your record has been expunged but will not learn the details unless the entity petitions the court for full access.

Speak with an Experienced Tampa Expungement Lawyer to Discuss Your Options Today

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is very strict in overseeing expungement applications. Each Tampa expungement attorney in our firm has successfully filed many applications for expunction and petitions for expungements. We know exactly what the requirements are and what is necessary for an Order to Expunge. Because the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is generally six months behind in processing applications, it is imperative not to unnecessarily waste time by making a mistake.

At the Mayberry Law Firm, our attorneys are immediately available to ensure that your petition to expunge your record is handled efficiently, from beginning to end. We’ve handled countless expungements in the past and know what it takes to ensure your request is given the attention and consideration it deserves. To learn more and to schedule a free consultation today, give us a call to see if your record is eligible to be expunged. You can reach us at 813-444-7435 or through our secure online contact form.