Court-ordered expunction in Florida: which records can be cleared
Which records Florida lets you clear, who is not eligible and what changes after the court says yes.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.
Short answer
In Florida it is called expunction (expungement) and sealing: expunction means police and court records are physically destroyed. Florida also clears some records automatically.
- Main remedy
- Court-ordered expunction
- What it covers
- Arrests where no charges were filed, or charges that were dismissed, dropped (nolle prosequi) or ended in acquittal or a not-guilty verdict.
- Ways to clear a record
- 5
- Automatic relief
- Yes
Which records can be cleared in Florida
Expunction (expungement) and sealing — Expunction means police and court records are physically destroyed, but the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) keeps a confidential copy that is released only by court order. Sealing keeps the record but makes it confidential; police, judges, and certain employers and licensing agencies can still see it.
Florida has 5 ways to clear a record. Each covers different records and has its own waiting period.
Court-ordered expunction
Arrests where no charges were filed, or charges that were dismissed, dropped (nolle prosequi) or ended in acquittal or a not-guilty verdict. Also a record that has already been sealed for at least 10 years after adjudication was withheld.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
No charges filed, dismissed, dropped, or acquitted | No waiting period You can apply once the case is over and you are no longer under court supervision. | End of the case and end of any court supervision |
Adjudication withheld (record first sealed) | 10 years If you pleaded and adjudication was withheld, you must first have the record sealed for at least 10 years before you can ask to expunge it. | Date the record was sealed |
- Not eligible
- You cannot expunge if you have ever been adjudicated guilty of any crime in Florida, or were adjudicated delinquent as a juvenile for any felony or certain misdemeanors (unless that juvenile record was expunged). Withheld-adjudication cases for offenses listed in s. 943.0584 (for example murder, manslaughter, domestic assault or battery, aggravated assault or battery, stalking, kidnapping, sexual offenses, arson, burglary of a dwelling, robbery, carjacking, child abuse, drug trafficking, manufacturing drugs) are not eligible.
- Limits
- Only one sealing or expunction in your lifetime, except that a sealed record may later be expunged after 10 years. Each order normally covers one arrest or incident.
Law: Fla. Stat. §§ 943.0584, 943.0585
Source: Official text
Court-ordered sealing
Cases where you pleaded guilty or no contest (or were found guilty) but the judge withheld adjudication, and other cases not ending in an adjudication of guilt. Adult convictions where adjudication was entered are not eligible.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Adjudication withheld (misdemeanor or felony) | No waiting period There is no waiting period, but you must have finished probation or any other court supervision in the case. | End of court supervision (probation) for that case |
- Not eligible
- Any offense listed in s. 943.0584 (for example sexual misconduct, murder, manslaughter, domestic assault or battery, aggravated assault, felony or aggravated battery, stalking, kidnapping, human trafficking, chapter 794 sexual battery, lewd offenses, arson, burglary of a dwelling, robbery, carjacking, home-invasion robbery, child abuse, elderly abuse, drug trafficking, manufacturing drugs, sex-offender predicate offenses). Also ineligible if you were ever adjudicated guilty of any crime in Florida, or adjudicated delinquent for a felony or certain misdemeanors as a juvenile.
- Limits
- Only one sealing or expunction in your lifetime.
Law: Fla. Stat. §§ 943.0584, 943.059
Source: Official text
Lawful self-defense expunction
Arrests where the State Attorney did not file charges, or charges were dismissed, because you acted in lawful self-defense.
- Limits
- Does not count against the usual eligibility rules for expunction in s.
Law: Fla. Stat. § 943.0578; 943.0585(1)-(2)
Source: Official text
Human trafficking victim expunction
Arrests and convictions for offenses committed (or reported as committed) while you were a victim of human trafficking, with some exceptions.
- Not eligible
- See s.
- Limits
- Several cases can be combined in one petition.
Law: Fla. Stat. § 943.0583; 943.0583 for excluded offenses
Source: Official text
Administrative expunction (arrest contrary to law or by mistake)
Non-court records of an arrest made unlawfully or by mistake (for example wrong person).
Law: Fla. Stat. § 943.0581
Source: Official text
After your record is cleared
After sealing or expunction you may lawfully deny or not acknowledge the arrest, and cannot be charged with perjury for doing so. Exceptions: you must disclose it when applying to a criminal justice agency, as a criminal defendant, when applying to The Florida Bar, for jobs or licenses with agencies serving children, the elderly or the disabled (DCF, AHCA, Health, Education, schools, child care), insurance agent licensing, guardianship, and screening through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. For sealed records also firearm purchases from dealers and concealed weapon licenses.
Law: Fla. Stat. §§ 943.0585(6), 943.059(6)
Records Florida clears on its own
- Law
- Automatic sealing of criminal history records
- What is cleared
- FDLE automatically seals the record, and the clerk makes the court file confidential, when no charges were filed, all counts were dismissed or dropped, or you were acquitted or found not guilty on all counts. It does not apply if the charge was a forcible felony or certain sex offenses, to not-guilty-by-insanity verdicts, or to dismissals for incompetency. There is no limit on how many times you can get automatic sealing, and it does not use up your one-time sealing or expunction. Other police agencies are not required to seal their own copies.
- Started
- October 1, 2019; since July 1, 2023 the clerk must also keep the related court record confidential
Law: Fla. Stat. § 943.0595; ch. 2019-167; ch. 2023-189
Juvenile records in Florida
FDLE automatically expunges most juvenile records at age 21 (age 26 for serious or habitual juvenile offenders), unless the person is later charged with or convicted of a forcible felony as an adult. Between ages 18 and 21 you can apply to FDLE for early expunction if you have no new charges in the last 5 years and the State Attorney approves ($75 fee). Records of minors who completed diversion can also be expunged.
Law: Fla. Stat. §§ 943.0515, 943.0582
Pardons in Florida
- Who decides
- Board of Executive Clemency (the Governor and Cabinet), with investigations by the Florida Commission on Offender Review
- How
- Apply to the Office of Executive Clemency under the Rules of Executive Clemency. A full pardon does not erase the record.
Law: Fla. Const. art. IV, § 8; Fla. Stat. ch. 940
In nearby states
- Georgia: Record restriction and sealing (often called expungement)
- South Carolina: Expungement
- Alabama: Expungement
- Mississippi: Expunction (expungement)
Your next steps in Florida
Get your own record
Get a copy of your record so you know each case and how it ended. FDLE - Seal and Expunge Process and Brevard County Clerk of Court - Seal or Expunge.
Count the waiting period
Each kind of case has its own waiting period. Waiting periods.
File with the court
Most remedies start with a petition to the court. How to file.
Ask for free help
Ask for free help: Florida Law Help (legal aid directory) and The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service.
Where to get free help in Florida
Questions about clearing a record in Florida
What is the legal term in Florida?
Expunction (expungement) and sealing. Expunction means police and court records are physically destroyed, but the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) keeps a confidential copy that is released only by court order. Sealing keeps the record but makes it confidential; police, judges, and certain employers and licensing agencies can still see it.
Which records can be cleared in Florida?
Court-ordered expunction: Arrests where no charges were filed, or charges that were dismissed, dropped (nolle prosequi) or ended in acquittal or a not-guilty verdict. Also a record that has already been sealed for at least 10 years after adjudication was withheld. Court-ordered sealing: Cases where you pleaded guilty or no contest (or were found guilty) but the judge withheld adjudication, and other cases not ending in an adjudication of guilt. Adult convictions where adjudication was entered are not eligible. Lawful self-defense expunction: Arrests where the State Attorney did not file charges, or charges were dismissed, because you acted in lawful self-defense. Human trafficking victim expunction: Arrests and convictions for offenses committed (or reported as committed) while you were a victim of human trafficking, with some exceptions. Administrative expunction (arrest contrary to law or by mistake): Non-court records of an arrest made unlawfully or by mistake (for example wrong person).
Is there a Clean Slate law in Florida?
FDLE automatically seals the record, and the clerk makes the court file confidential, when no charges were filed, all counts were dismissed or dropped, or you were acquitted or found not guilty on all counts. It does not apply if the charge was a forcible felony or certain sex offenses, to not-guilty-by-insanity verdicts, or to dismissals for incompetency. There is no limit on how many times you can get automatic sealing, and it does not use up your one-time sealing or expunction. Other police agencies are not required to seal their own copies.
Are juvenile records sealed in Florida?
FDLE automatically expunges most juvenile records at age 21 (age 26 for serious or habitual juvenile offenders), unless the person is later charged with or convicted of a forcible felony as an adult. Between ages 18 and 21 you can apply to FDLE for early expunction if you have no new charges in the last 5 years and the State Attorney approves ($75 fee). Records of minors who completed diversion can also be expunged.
Who can still see a cleared record in Florida?
After sealing or expunction you may lawfully deny or not acknowledge the arrest, and cannot be charged with perjury for doing so. Exceptions: you must disclose it when applying to a criminal justice agency, as a criminal defendant, when applying to The Florida Bar, for jobs or licenses with agencies serving children, the elderly or the disabled (DCF, AHCA, Health, Education, schools, child care), insurance agent licensing, guardianship, and screening through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. For sealed records also firearm purchases from dealers and concealed weapon licenses.