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Expungement

Recent Posts in Expungement Category

  • FDLE Processing November 2018 Applications For Sealing/Expungement Applicants

    The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is just now beginning to process sealing and expungement applications submitted in November of 2018. While the backlog is slowly clearing up, I would estimate that from start to finish, it will take 9-12 months to complete a sealing or expungement of a record in the State of Florida. Eric Matheny is an attorney sealing and expunging criminal records ...
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  • FDLE Processing September 2018 Applications

    It is not unusual for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to take a considerable amount of time processing applications to seal or expunge your Florida criminal record . However, as of today, FDLE is only processing applications submitted in September of 2018. This means that FDLE is experiencing an 8-9 month backlog of applications. I am estimating that the total time it takes to ...
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  • FDLE Processing Times Only Getting Longer

    Unfortunately for Florida sealing or expungement applicants, the processing time has increased largely due to staff shortages with FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement). I encourage all applicants to being their sealing or expungement of their Florida arrest record sooner rather than later as FDLE processing times do not look like they will be improving any time soon. Eric Matheny seals or ...
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  • FDLE Processing June 2018 Applications

    If you submitted an application to seal or expunge your Florida criminal record in June of 2018, it is just now being processed. Eric Matheny seals and expunges Florida criminal records statewide.
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  • Out of State Convictions And Sealing or Expunging A Florida Criminal Record

    The Florida Department of Law Enforcement WILL NOT issue a Certificate of Eligibility to seal or expunge your Florida arrest record if you have ever been convicted (adjudicated guilty) of any criminal offense, even if that conviction occurred outside of the State of Florida. When you submit an application to seal or expunge your Florida criminal record, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement ...
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  • FDLE Currently Processing April 2018 Expungement/Sealing Applications

    FDLE is still backed up. They are just now processing applications to seal or expunge a Florida criminal record that were submitted in April of 2018. Expect long delays if you have applied for a sealing or expungement within the last calendar year.
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  • FDLE Now Processing February 2018 Expungement/Sealing Applications

    The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is now processing sealing and expungement applications submitted in February 2018. That means that FDLE is facing a 7-8 month backlog. FDLE processes applications and will either submit a Certificate of Eligibility or a Letter of Denial. Without an FDLE Certificate, judges will not sign an order to seal or expunge. Given the backlog, it is ...
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  • Significant Delays In Sealing/Expunging Florida Records - August 2018

    The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is experiencing one of the most significant delays in processing sealing and expungement applications I have ever seen. Right now, applications submitted to FDLE in December 2017 are being processed. This means that FDLE is experiencing an unprecedented eight-month delay. That means that from start to finish - and depending on which county your case is in ...
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  • August 2018 FDLE Sealing/Expunging Update For Applicants

    The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is currently processing sealing or expungement applications received in December of 2017. This means that there is a significant backlog and that processing times are likely at 8-12 months for completion of the sealing/expunging process. Eric Matheny is an attorney sealing and expunging criminal records throughout the State of Florida.
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  • There Is No Such Thing As Automatic Expunction

    One of the BIGGEST lies told to defendants in criminal court in Florida is that they will not have a criminal record once their case is resolved. County Court (misdemeanor) judges do this all too often when trying to convince defendants to accept no contest pleas, or accept a Pretrial Diversion-type program. Truth is, whether your arrest (doesn't matter if physical arrest or issuance of a Promise ...
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  • 2018 Sealing And Expungement Update

    The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently processing sealing and expungement applications received in September of 2017. This means that FDLE is experiencing a six-month backlog of applications. If you applied for a sealing or expungement and submitted your application to FDLE in September of 2017, you, or your attorney, should be receiving correspondence from FDLE shortly. This ...
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  • New FDLE Certficates

    As of December 2017, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will not longer issue their standard blue Certificates of Eligibility with the raised FDLE seal. The new certificates are simple computer printouts with the case information and FDLE Certificate number on it. The original Certificate must be filed with the Court, along with your petition, proposed order, and Affidavit in Support of ...
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  • 2018 FDLE Expungement and Sealing Update

    The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is processing July 2017 applications. If you submitted an application to seal or expunge your Florida criminal record in July of 2017, your application is currently being processed by FDLE. This delay has caused a backlog of applications, meaning that the total length of time for a sealing or expungement in Florida, from start to finish, is about 8-12 ...
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  • Why Theft Charges Must Be Sealed or Expunged

    A theft charge, be it a grand theft (felony) or a petit theft (misdemeanor), must come off of your Florida criminal record if you are eligible to seal or expunge . Why? A theft charge will tell employers that you are dishonest. If you are applying for a job that requires you to handle money or have access to sensitive information, such as customer payment information or personal identification, ...
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  • FDLE Expungement/Sealing Update For October 2017

    The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently processing sealing and expungement applications submitted in April and May of 2017. If you submitted your application around that time, expect a Certificate of Eligibility or a denial letter to arrive shortly. If you have retained an attorney to seal or expunge your Florida criminal record, reach out to them for an update. Eric Matheny is an ...
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  • May 2016 Expungement Update

    If you applied to seal or expunge your Florida criminal record in December of 2015, your application is now being processed by FDLE. FDLE is experiencing a backlog of applications. Due to this, processing times may be increased. FDLE, or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement , is the agency responsible for screening sealing or expungement applicants to determine if they are eligible to have ...
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  • October 2015 Sealing/Expungement Update

    As of October 2015, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is processing all sealing/expungement applications submitted in June 2015. This means that if your application to seal or expunge your Florida criminal record was filed in June, you should be getting your certificate of eligibility about now. The entire process of sealing or expunging a record in the State of Florida takes ...
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  • Why Should I Expunge or Seal My Record?

    A lot of people wonder why they should bother sealing or expunging their criminal record. People think that if the case is no longer open or has been dismissed, then they should no longer worry about it. While it is a good feeling when your charges have been dropped or your case has been closed, the record of that arrest will still linger until you take action to seal it or expunge it. It will not ...
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  • 5 Things You Should Know Before You Decide To Seal Or Expunge

    Before you decide to have an arrest record sealed or expunged, there are 5 things (in my opinion) that you should consider: 1) Do I need to get my record sealed or expunged? 2) Have I been convicted (adjudicated) of the offense I wish to seal or expunge? If you received a conviction (adjudication) for any charge, you cannot get your record sealed or expunged. This counts even if the charge you ...
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  • Sealing/Expunging Facts

    The benefit of having your record sealed or expunged is that under Florida law, you can legally deny or fail to acknowledge the arrests covered by the sealed or expunged record. You cannot deny the arrest if you are applying to change your immigration status, are a defendant in a criminal case or are seeking: employment with a criminal justice agency; employment or contract with, or license by the ...
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  • What Do I Need To Do When Sealing or Expunging A Criminal Record?

    Sealing or expunging a criminal record in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach is a process that is conducted primarily by a South Florida criminal defense attorney. However, there are a few things that are required of the client: APPLICATION As I have discussed before, the application is the first step when sealing or expunging a criminal record. If expunging your record, the application must be ...
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  • The Cost of Sealing or Expunging Your Criminal Record

    I have posted numerous blog entries regarding the issue of sealing or expunging your criminal record . Click on the link above to find out how sealing your record is different than expunging your record. I receive phone calls every single day from people who want their past arrests off of their records. These arrests come up during immigration interviews, mortgage applications, and most frequently ...
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  • Criminal Traffic Convictions And Sealing Or Expunging Your Record

    Any conviction (adjudication) on your record, no matter when it occurred, will make you ineligible to have your criminal record sealed or expunged . Oftentimes, people think that criminal traffic convictions will not count toward your sealing or expunging eligibility. However, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the agency that approves sealing or expunging applications, will not ...
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  • What Is The Difference Between Sealing And Expunging Your Record?

    By far, the most commonly asked question I get is, "What is the difference between sealing and expunging your record?" According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, "when a criminal history record is sealed, the public will not have access to it. Certain governmental or related entities, primarily those listed in s. 943.059(4)(a), Florida Statutes , have access to sealed record ...
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  • Sealing and Expunging Frequently Asked Questions

    The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has a great Frequently Asked Questions page on its website. I encourage you to take a look at it as most of your questions regarding sealing or expunging your record can be answered. My criminal defense practice is based out of Miami-Dade and Broward, but I handle expungment and sealing matters in nearly all Florida counties. In this tough economy, ...
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