Record Sealing

If you were ever arrested and charged with a crime, the police created a criminal record that is public information. The police enter the record into a statewide database and then forward it to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

Even if acquitted, an arrest record can cause trouble for years to come. When a prospective employer does a background check before hiring, your record may show up. When a property owner checks your background before approving a lease, he or she may become aware of past arrests. Some colleges conduct background checks.

Getting on With Your Life after a Criminal Arrest or Conviction

If you are concerned that the mistakes of your past will ruin your future, contact Florida expungement lawyer Bruce H. Denson at The Denson Firm. Our attorney represents people throughout the St. Petersburg / Tampa Bay area who are seeking to seal or expunge a criminal record and move forward with their life. Call to schedule a free consultation. See if we can expunge or seal the record of arrests or convictions.

For information about our qualifications and the benefits of retaining our firm to assist with sealing or expunging your criminal record, please visit our Firm Overview and Attorney Profile.

Read more Sealing & Expungement Records FAQs.

When can a court expunge or seal a criminal record?

Not every criminal record can be sealed or expunged. For example, state law prohibits a DUI expungement. Felonies may not qualify for expungement. However, you could be eligible for Florida criminal record expungement if:

• Adjudication was withheld
• The court dismissed your criminal case
• The court declined to hear it
• The judge or jury came back with a not guilty verdict
• A deferred disposition resolved your case

Sealing your record is a simple three-step process with The Denson Firm.

1. Call or e-mail us with the details of the offense you want sealed. We will make a preliminary review to see if you may qualify.
2. If it appears you qualify we will send you a retainer agreement and complete the necessary paperwork for you.
3. You verify the information on the application is correct, sign the forms, have your fingerprints taken and return the documents to us.

We will file the paperwork with necessary agencies and see the process through to the end. We know how important it can be to have a past offense removed from your record. We will make every effort to see that your record is legally sealed and removed from public view.

At The Denson Firm, our Florida expungement lawyers help people recover their good name and gain a clear record. A petition for expungement or sealing takes a few months to complete. After the court expunges or seals your record, you will no longer need to acknowledge an arrest on most application forms and your record will not appear on a public record check.

Schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced expungement attorney at The Denson Firm by calling us at (727) 896-7000or filling out our intake form. We are happy to advise you on all available options.

The Florida expungement lawyer at the Denson Firm provides record expungement, record sealing, petition for expungement, felony expungement, and criminal record expungement legal services to people accused of misdemeanor or felony crimes in the Tampa / St. Petersburg, Florida, area of Pinellas County and Hillsborough County, including the communities of Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, St. Pete Beach, Gulfport, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Madeira Beach, and Seminole.