If you are arrested and your charges are later dropped, the arrest is still
on your record. The public can view this arrest information using a clerk
of court's search database, or any of the private "criminal background
search" websites you find when trolling around on the Internet.
If you don't believe me, go check it out for yourself. If you were
arrested in Miami, go to
www.miami-dadeclerk.com and look it up. If you can find it, so can the rest of the world. Certainly
your future employers.
If you plead guilty or no contest but received a
withhold of adjudication, your record is still available for the world to see.
To determine your eligibility for either
sealing or expunging your criminal record,
click here.
For more information on the sealing/expunging process itself,
click here.
What I can tell you is that in this job market, an arrest or withhold of
adjudication on your record can be the kiss of death. Don't risk all
of your education and hard work for one mistake you made years ago. Be
smart. Get your record cleaned and do it now. Since the process takes
4-6 months, it is best to do it before you begin your job search.
Traditionally, my legal fees range from $1,500 for some misdemeanor offenses,
all the way up to $50,000+ for
murder, manslaughter, and serious
felonies. However, I charge a flat fee of $625 for all sealing and expungement
matters. This is a flat fee that includes all of the costs of expunging
or sealing your record, including the $7 certified disposition fee, the
$75 FDLE fee, and the $42 filing fee. There are no extra or hidden fees.
As I have said before, you will find attorneys who charge much less, and
some attorneys who charge much more. My fees are reasonable yet competitive
because I, a
criminal defense attorney, do all of the work myself. I do not employ paralegals, law clerks, or
interns to do my work for me. I believe that cleaning someone's criminal
record is a very important task and I would not delegate that responsibility
to someone unskilled in the law. I also perform a high-quality level of
work and believe that you get what you pay for. If you pay $200 for an
expungement, expect $200 worth of legal services.
All sealing and expungement matters have unique legal issues that should
be discussed. I handle sealing and expungement in Miami, Miami-Dade County,
and all of Broward County. However, I do handle Palm Beach County cases as well.
Call me today so we can get your record cleaned up!