Reviewed September 28, 2026 against Florida Department of Law Enforcement resources.

Florida record sealing and expungement

Florida distinguishes court-ordered sealing under section 943.059 from expungement under section 943.0585. Different dispositions, prior history and excluded charges can change which process may be available. A screening result is not an FDLE decision or a court order.

First get the FDLE Certificate of Eligibility

For these court-ordered routes, FDLE says a Certificate of Eligibility is the first step. It does not itself seal or expunge a record. FDLE describes a completed application, certified disposition, fingerprints, a notarized or clerk-witnessed signature and a nonrefundable $75 processing fee. Expungement applications also require a prosecutor-certified statement. Check the current FDLE instructions before mailing anything.

FDLE: Certificate application instructions

Then petition the appropriate court

FDLE says court-ordered relief occurs only after a court order is issued and received by FDLE. The agency says the certificate application generally takes about 12 weeks after a complete packet arrives, though timing varies. Court filing requirements can differ by county. Other routes, including administrative expungement and certain diversion or victim-related provisions, have their own rules.

FDLE: sealing and expungement process

What RecordReset offers

RecordReset currently offers an informational Florida eligibility screener, not a Florida petition workbook, FDLE filing service, or attorney review. If you need advice about prior relief, excluded offenses or how to file, consult a licensed Florida attorney.

Florida record-clearing law is primarily under Fla. Stat. §§ 943.0585, 943.059, 943.0584, 943.0583, and 943.0582. The information here is a summary and not a substitute for review by a licensed Florida attorney.