An arrest in Broward County follows you long after the case ends. It comes up when you apply for a job in Fort Lauderdale, rent an apartment in Pembroke Pines, or volunteer at your child’s school in Coral Springs. That is true even if the charges were dropped.
Florida gives many people a way to close that door by sealing or expunging the record. The rules are strict, though, the process has several steps, and most people get only one chance in their lifetime. Below I explain who qualifies, what each option actually does, and how the process works in Broward County.
The short answer: In Florida, you can expunge a record if charges were never filed, were dropped or dismissed, or you were found not guilty. You can seal a record if the judge withheld adjudication. Either way, you cannot have been adjudicated guilty of any crime in Florida, you must be finished with probation, and you must get a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) before you petition the court. Florida allows only one court-ordered sealing or expungement per lifetime.
Sealing vs. Expunging in Florida: What's the Difference?
Sealing hides a record from the public. Expunging orders it destroyed. Both let you legally deny the arrest in most situations, but an expungement goes further and is harder to get.
| Sealing | Expunging | |
|---|---|---|
| Florida statute | ||
| Typical case outcome | Adjudication withheld (a plea with a withhold) | No charges filed, charges dropped or dismissed, or not guilty |
| What happens to the record | Kept, but confidential and closed to the public | Destroyed by police and court agencies; FDLE keeps one confidential copy |
| Can you legally deny the arrest? | Yes, with exceptions | Yes, with fewer exceptions |
| Who can still see it | You, your lawyer, police and prosecutors, judges, and certain licensing and employment agencies | Only certain agencies, and otherwise only by court order |
| Must you disclose it when buying a gun from a dealer? | Yes | Yes |
| Prosecutor sign-off required? | No | Yes, a written certified statement from the State Attorney |
| FDLE processing fee | $75 | $75 |
| Counts toward the one-per-lifetime limit? | Yes | Yes (a sealed record can later be expunged after 10 years) |
Who Qualifies to Seal or Expunge a Record in Florida?
Eligibility turns on two things: how your case ended, and your history in Florida. You must meet every one of the requirements below.
For both sealing and expunging, you must:
- Never have been adjudicated guilty of any criminal offense.
- Never have been adjudicated delinquent as a juvenile for a felony or certain misdemeanors, such as battery or petit theft, unless that juvenile record was expunged.
- Not have been adjudicated guilty of any charge from the arrest you want to clear.
- Be finished with all court supervision for that case, including probation.
- Never have obtained a court-ordered sealing or expungement before.
- Not be trying to clear an offense on Florida’s disqualifying list (covered in the next section).
To expunge, your case must also have ended in one of these ways:
- No charges were ever filed (the State Attorney declined to prosecute, often called a “no information”)
- The charges were dropped (nolle prosequi) or dismissed
- A judge or jury found you not guilty
- The record was previously sealed for at least 10 years after a withhold of adjudication
To seal, your case typically ended with a withhold of adjudication. That means you pleaded guilty or no contest, but the judge did not formally convict you. You can read more about how this works in our guide to plea bargains in Broward County.
One point surprises a lot of people. A single prior adjudication of guilt anywhere in Florida, even for a minor misdemeanor years ago, blocks you from sealing or expunging any other record. And if you are on probation or have a violation of probation pending, you have to wait until supervision ends.
Which Charges Can Never Be Sealed or Expunged in Florida?
Florida Statute Section 943.0584 bars sealing or expunging a conviction for a long list of offenses. The statute defines “conviction” to include a withhold of adjudication. So, a plea to any one of these charges, even with a withhold, makes the record permanent.
The disqualifying offenses include:
Domestic violence
Assault or battery on a family or household member, and domestic battery by strangulation
Violent crimes
aggravated assault, aggravated or felony battery, robbery, carjacking, home-invasion robbery, kidnapping and false imprisonment
Homicide
Murder, manslaughter and vehicular homicide
Stalking
And aggravated stalking
Sex offenses
Any offense under Chapter 794, lewd or lascivious offenses, voyeurism, and any offense that qualifies for sex offender registration
Offenses against children or the elderly
Child abuse, luring a child, and abuse of an elderly or disabled adult
Drug offenses
Drug trafficking and manufacturing a controlled substance
Other serious felonies
Arson, burglary of a dwelling, human trafficking, terrorism and Communications Fraud Act violations
What matters is the word conviction. If one of these charges was dropped, dismissed, or ended in an acquittal, the record can still be expunged. That is why fighting a charge such as domestic violence or aggravated assault matters so much. A plea deal that sounds lenient today can lock the arrest onto your record for life.
Does Florida Automatically Seal Dropped Charges?
In many cases, yes. Under Section 943.0595, FDLE automatically seals a criminal history record when:
- No charges were filed
- All charges were dropped or dismissed
- A judge or jury found you not guilty on all counts
There is no limit on how many times automatic sealing can happen, and it does not use up your one court-ordered sealing or expungement.
Automatic sealing has real limits, though. It does not apply if you were charged with a forcible felony or certain sex offenses. It also does not require local agencies, such as the Broward Sheriff’s Office or Fort Lauderdale Police, to seal their own files. Those agencies keep their records.
For that reason, many people whose charges were dropped still choose a court-ordered expungement, which requires those agencies to destroy their copies. If your case ended in a no-file or a dismissal, it is worth asking whether a full expungement makes sense for you.
How to Seal or Expunge a Record in Broward County, Step by Step
The process has two phases: FDLE first, then the court. You cannot skip the first phase. A Broward judge cannot sign the order until FDLE issues your Certificate of Eligibility.
- Get a certified disposition. Request a certified copy of your case’s final disposition from the Broward County Clerk of Courts. If you finished probation or a diversion program, get proof of completion too.
- Get the State Attorney’s certified statement (expungement only). For every expungement, the Broward State Attorney’s Office must complete a written certified statement confirming your case qualifies. The office explains its process on its seal or expunge page.
- Get fingerprinted. FDLE requires a fingerprint card taken by an authorized law enforcement or criminal justice agency, signed and stamped by the official.
- Apply to FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility. Submit the notarized application, certified disposition, fingerprints, any certified statement, and the nonrefundable $75 fee. The certificate is valid for 12 months.
- File your petition in Broward court. File the petition, a sworn affidavit, the Certificate of Eligibility, and a proposed order with the Broward County Clerk at the courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Lying in the sworn statement is a third-degree felony.
- Serve the State Attorney and the arresting agency. Both receive a copy and may respond to the court.
- Wait for the judge’s ruling. The judge has full discretion and can deny a petition even when you meet every requirement.
- Confirm the order is carried out. After the order is signed and the Clerk’s fee is paid, the Clerk sends certified copies to the agencies, and FDLE forwards the order to the FBI. Keep copies of everything before your record is cleared.
How Much Does It Cost to Seal or Expunge a Record in Broward County?
The government fees are modest. Most of the work is getting the paperwork right the first time, because FDLE rejects incomplete applications and does not refund the $75 fee.
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Eligibility processing fee | $75 (nonrefundable) | Florida Department of Law Enforcement |
| Petition filing fee | $42, plus copy costs | Broward County Clerk of Courts |
| Certified disposition and fingerprinting | Small fees that vary by agency | Clerk of Courts; fingerprinting agency |
Timelines vary. FDLE’s review is usually the longest step, and the court then needs time to rule and send out the order. A complete, accurate application is the best way to avoid months of delay.
When Do You Still Have to Disclose a Sealed or Expunged Record?
For most private employers, landlords and lenders, you may lawfully deny the arrest once your record is sealed or expunged, and Florida law says you cannot be charged with perjury for doing so.
There are important exceptions. You must still disclose the record if you:
- Apply for a job with a law enforcement or other criminal justice agency
- Are a defendant in a later criminal case
- Apply for admission to The Florida Bar
- Seek work or a license with agencies serving children, the elderly, or people with disabilities, such as the Department of Children and Families or the Department of Health
- Seek work with a public school district, charter school, or private school
- Apply for an insurance agent license or to be appointed as a guardian
- Are screened through Florida’s Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse
For a sealed record, the exceptions also include buying a firearm from a licensed dealer and applying for a concealed weapons license. If you have questions about gun rights after a case, see our post on owning a firearm after a conviction in Florida.
Sealing and expunging also do not reach every database. Private background check websites may have copied your mugshot or arrest information before the order was entered, and federal immigration authorities can still see expunged Florida records. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you should also talk with an immigration attorney.
Did Florida's Expungement Law Change in 2026?
No. Florida’s core eligibility rules did not change in 2026, despite what some websites suggest.
The confusion comes from House Bill 745. It would have let people seal certain nonviolent misdemeanor convictions and eased the one-time limit, while still excluding domestic violence, sex offenses and DUI. The bill passed one House subcommittee in January 2026, but it died in the House Judiciary Committee on March 13, 2026.
So the one-per-lifetime rule still applies, and any adjudication of guilt still blocks sealing. Similar proposals may come back in the 2027 session, and we will update this guide if the law changes. For the criminal laws that did take effect this year, see our breakdown of new Florida criminal laws effective October 1, 2026.
Your Defense Today Decides Your Record Tomorrow
The best time to protect your record is before your case ends, not after. Whether you can ever seal or expunge an arrest usually comes down to how the case is resolved, and a good defense keeps that door open.
- Fight it at the filing stage. If the State Attorney never files charges, the record qualifies for sealing and for expungement. Criminal defense lawyer Matthew Glassman presents evidence and mitigation to prosecutors before they make that decision, as explained in our post on how prosecutors determine criminal charges in Florida.
- Look for diversion. Completing a pretrial diversion program usually ends with the charges dismissed, which keeps expungement available. This comes up often in first-time drug possession cases and shoplifting cases.
- Negotiate for a withhold, not an adjudication. A withhold of adjudication can usually be sealed. An adjudication of guilt can never be sealed, and it blocks every future sealing or expungement as well.
- Know the DUI trap. Florida law does not allow a judge to withhold adjudication on a DUI, so a DUI conviction can never be sealed. Getting a DUI reduced to reckless driving with a withhold, or dismissed, may be the only way to keep sealing on the table. Learn more about DUI defense in Fort Lauderdale.
- Watch out for disqualifying charges. For charges like domestic battery, even a withhold makes the record permanent. A dismissal or acquittal is the only path to a clean record.
If you were just arrested, start with our step-by-step guide to what happens after an arrest in Broward County. You should also contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately. Broward County criminal defense lawyer Matthew Glassman provides a free consultation and can provide you with experienced defense representation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sealing and Expunging in Florida
Once. Florida allows one court-ordered sealing or expungement per lifetime. There are two exceptions: a record sealed for 10 years can later be expunged, and automatic sealing of dropped charges has no limit.
Only if it was dismissed, dropped, or ended in a not-guilty verdict. Florida does not allow a withhold of adjudication on a DUI, so a DUI conviction cannot be sealed.
Not if you pleaded guilty or no contest, even with a withhold. If the domestic violence charge was dropped, dismissed, or ended in an acquittal, it can be expunged.
The government fees are $75 to FDLE plus a $42 filing fee to the Broward County Clerk, along with copy, certification and fingerprinting costs. Attorney fees are separate.
Not on most private background checks run through official records. Police, courts, and certain licensing and employment agencies can still see it.
For most private employers, no. You must disclose it when applying to law enforcement agencies, schools, The Florida Bar, and jobs working with children, the elderly, or people with disabilities.
No. House Bill 745, which would have expanded sealing, died in committee on March 13, 2026. The existing rules still apply.
No, but mistakes are costly. FDLE keeps the $75 fee if your application is incomplete or you turn out to be ineligible, and a false statement on the sworn petition is a felony. A lawyer can confirm your eligibility before you use your only chance.
Talk to a Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Attorney About Your Record
You get one chance to seal or expunge a record in Florida, so it should be used on the right case. Whether you want to clear an old arrest or fight a new charge in a way that protects your future, criminal defense attorney Matthew Glassman can review your history and explain your options.
Mr. Glassman is a 10.0 Avvo-rated attorney with more than 300 five-star Google reviews, representing clients throughout Broward County and Palm Beach County. Every client gets his personal cell phone number.
Call 954-908-3399 or request a free consultation today. The Law Office of Matthew Glassman is located at 600 SW 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315.