Should you find yourself with criminal records, know that all hope isn’t lost for you. Expunging criminal records can help you progress more smoothly in your life, whether in your personal undertakings – such as when investing in a property – or at a professional level, such as when landing your dream job.
Are you a resident of Florida finding yourself in this situation? There are several law firms here, such as Erase the Case, that can help in the success of the process of expungement. But, one of the questions clients ask is, how many times can they expunge their criminal record? Let’s answer the query in this guide.
According to Florida Statute Section 943.059 and Section 943.0585, you can only expunge your criminal record once in your lifetime. This means that if you have multiple arrests or cases, you can only have one of them expunged.
However, before you can do so and perhaps coordinate with record expungement specialists, you must prove your eligibility.
You may be eligible for expungement if you were not charged with a crime, had your charges dismissed, or were found not guilty. Eligibility also makes it through if you were a juvenile who committed a non-violent crime and have not committed any other crimes since.
Florida law generally permits only one criminal record expungement or sealing in your lifetime. However, specific exceptions allow individuals to expunge multiple records under particular circumstances, adding flexibility to the general rule. These exceptions include:
If multiple charges are closely linked or stem directly from the same incident, Florida law allows these to be expunged collectively in a single petition. Courts typically assess factors such as the proximity in time, the similarity of offenses, and whether the charges arose from the same event or closely connected actions.
Florida Statute Section 943.0578 allows for an additional expungement if charges were explicitly dismissed due to lawful self-defense. Key eligibility criteria include:
Under Florida law, lawful self-defense is defined as the justified use of force—deadly or non-deadly—when you reasonably believe it necessary to defend yourself or others against imminent bodily harm or death. To qualify for expungement under this exception, the following conditions typically apply:
Clear evidence must substantiate claims of lawful self-defense for the court or prosecutor to dismiss charges and thus qualify for the additional expungement.
Expunging your criminal record in Florida involves several straightforward steps. First, you’ll need to obtain official documents proving the outcome of your case. Next, you’ll submit an application to determine eligibility, which is reviewed by Florida authorities. After receiving your eligibility confirmation, you’ll petition the court to finalize the expungement. For detailed guidance, refer to our comprehensive Florida expungement and sealing page.
Navigating Florida’s expungement process can be complex and time-consuming. At Erase The Case, we specialize exclusively in expungement cases, ensuring the fastest possible results and maintaining the highest 5-star client satisfaction rating. Our experienced Florida expungement lawyer is here to help you regain your peace of mind quickly and effectively.
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It typically takes five to seven months, depending on court and agency processing times.
Only certain felonies are eligible; violent or serious felonies are typically ineligible.
No, only one arrest or incident per expungement petition.
