Expunge Your Criminal Record in Panama City

What does an expungement do?

If you have previously been arrested for a crime, this background can cause you serious problems in life, even if you were not convicted. It can negatively affect your credit, can make it difficult to find suitable housing and can interfere with your employment opportunities, in addition to damaging your social reputation. Fortunately, you may be able to petition to have your record expunged, which would result in your criminal record being destroyed. You would essentially be given a fresh start in life, and would no longer have to disclose the fact of your arrest except for under rare circumstances. Alternatively you could apply to have your criminal record sealed, which would make the fact of your arrest confidential and available only to certain agencies such as the Board of Education and the Department of Children and Families.

Am I eligible for an expungement?

You will only qualify for an expungement of your criminal record if you can meet certain requirements: you must not have been convicted of an offense such as arson, aggravated assault, robbery, child abuse or burglary, you must not have previously received an expungement, and your case must not have resulted in a Withheld Adjudication. Contact us at Seaton Law Offices, P.A. if you think you may be eligible and want to take the first steps in your case.

How can I have my record expunged?

The first step is to secure a Certificate of Eligibility, which depends on filling out certain paperwork, being fingerprinted by a law enforcement agency and submitting court records relating to your arrest and the final disposition of the case. You will also have to pay a fee and get a prosecutor to assist in filling out your application. We can assist you with every step of the process, and will represent your petition in court. In the event that your application is wrongfully denied, we can represent you in an appeal of the decision.