Florida record sealing and expungement
Florida law allows certain criminal records to be sealed or expunged, but the remedy is narrow and formal. Eligibility depends on the charge, the disposition, and your prior record. The Bonderud Law Firm advises people in Jacksonville and throughout Florida who want to know whether a sealing or expungement is available and, when it is, how to pursue it.
Sealing and expungement are not the same
In general terms, a sealed record is hidden from many public viewings but still exists and may be seen by particular agencies. An expunged record is treated more completely as a record that has been removed from public access, subject to statutory exceptions. Neither process is automatic, and neither applies to every outcome. A withhold of adjudication, a dismissal, or a completed diversion may open a path that a conviction closes. Some offenses are excluded by statute even when the formal outcome looks favorable.
The process typically involves an application to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, fingerprints, and a later petition to the court. Deadlines and completeness of the packet matter. A denial for a technical defect can cost months.
What we can do
We review the disposition and the statute, explain whether a petition is realistically available, and handle the filing when you retain us to do so. We will not tell you that every record can be cleared. If sealing or expungement is not available, we will say so and discuss what other options, if any, exist.
Call (904) 438-8082 weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. This page is general information, not legal advice, and is not a determination of eligibility.
Questions we are often asked
What are the office hours?
The office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, at 2130 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32204. Messages left after hours or on weekends are reviewed the next business day. For urgent matters, call (904) 438-8082.
Does contacting the firm create an attorney-client relationship?
No. Submitting this form or calling the office does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send confidential information before an engagement is agreed. This website is general information, not legal advice.
Do you have more than one office?
No. The firm's only office is at 2130 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville. We represent clients throughout Florida, and in selected federal matters elsewhere, from that office.