How long you wait to clear a record in Florida
The Florida waiting periods case by case, with a helper that adds the wait to your date.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.
Short answer
In Florida you wait a set time before you can ask. The time depends on the case.
- Main remedy
- Court-ordered expunction
- Waiting periods
- No charges filed, dismissed, dropped, or acquitted: No waiting period, counted from end of the case and end of any court supervision
Adjudication withheld (record first sealed): 10 years, counted from date the record was sealed
Adjudication withheld (misdemeanor or felony): No waiting period, counted from end of court supervision (probation) for that case
When can I file in Florida?
Pick your kind of case and the date the waiting period runs from. We add the waiting period from the law; nothing else.
Waiting periods: 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
Waiting periods: 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
Records Florida clears on its own
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.
October 1, 2019; since July 1, 2023 the clerk must also keep the related court record confidential
Law: ch. 2019-167; ch. 2023-189
Law: Fla. Stat. § 943.0595
In nearby states
- Georgia: Dismissed, nolle prossed or acquitted after charges: No waiting period, counted from final disposition
- South Carolina: Summary court case dismissed or not guilty: No waiting period, counted from end of the appeal period
- Alabama: Dismissed with prejudice, no-billed, not guilty, or nolle prossed (any charge): You can file once more than 90 days have passed, counted from the dismissal, no-bill, acquittal or nolle pros
Steps after the wait in Florida
Check your dates
The dates on your papers decide when the wait ends.
Read the full rule
The wait is only one rule; the court looks at the whole record.
Get the forms
Once enough time has passed, see how to file. How to file.
Talk to legal aid
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 waiting periods in Florida
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).
What is the waiting period in Florida?
No charges filed, dismissed, dropped, or acquitted: No waiting period, counted from end of the case and end of any court supervision; Adjudication withheld (record first sealed): 10 years, counted from date the record was sealed; Adjudication withheld (misdemeanor or felony): No waiting period, counted from end of court supervision (probation) for that case.
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.
Where can I get free help in Florida?
Florida Law Help (legal aid directory) and The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service.