Fort Lauderdale expungement and sealing is the legal process that removes or restricts access to a criminal arrest record under Florida law, specifically §§ 943.0585 and 943.059. This process matters because background checks directly affect employment, housing, and professional licensing decisions in Broward County. A cleared record restores legal privacy rights and removes barriers that arise from public criminal records.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, expungement destroys a record, while sealing restricts public access. This distinction determines how individuals present their history in legal and professional contexts.
At Erase The Case, attorney David Weisselberger resolves Fort Lauderdale expungement cases in 3–5 months — compared to the 6–9 month average at general Broward County criminal defense firms.
Do I Qualify?
If your Fort Lauderdale arrest charges were dismissed, dropped, ended with a not-guilty verdict, or if the Broward County court withheld adjudication, you might qualify.
Get StartedWhat Is Expungement and Sealing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
Expungement in Fort Lauderdale is the court-ordered physical destruction of a criminal arrest record by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and other relevant criminal justice agencies, pursuant to Florida Statute § 943.0585. An expunged record is destroyed from public databases. Only law enforcement agencies retain a non-public copy.
Record sealing in Fort Lauderdale is a court-ordered restriction on public access to a criminal record under Florida Statute §943.059. A sealed record remains in existence but is removed from public background checks. City, county, state, and military agencies retain access to sealed records.
The practical difference matters for Fort Lauderdale residents:
- After expungement, a person may lawfully deny that the arrest occurred in most circumstances, including on job applications and rental applications.
- After sealing, the same right to deny applies, except that sealed records must be disclosed when applying for employment with a criminal justice agency, law enforcement, or the Florida Department of Education.
On the other hand, expunging a record involves the destruction of the record, and only the FDLE has a copy of your record. The expungement process may involve a court hearing. Thus, a Fort Lauderdale expungement attorney can surely help you throughout the process.
What Does Expungement Remove and What Does It Not Remove?
A Florida court expungement order removes a Fort Lauderdale arrest record from the FDLE criminal history database and from the Broward County Clerk of Courts’ public records.
It does not automatically remove the arrest from private background check companies or mugshot websites.
Private data brokers, including Checkr, Accurate Background, and First Advantage, do not update their records when a Florida court issues an expungement order.
Erase The Case resolves this gap. After obtaining the court order, the firm directly contacts private background check companies and submits legal takedown requests to mugshot websites. The result is the complete removal of the criminal footprint from public court records, private background databases, and online search results.
Who Qualifies for Expungement or Sealing in Fort Lauderdale?
Florida law sets specific eligibility criteria for expungement and sealing under Florida Statute § 943.045. Eligibility is determined by the outcome of the Broward County court case, the nature of the charge, and the applicant’s complete criminal history.
Eligibility for Expungement in Fort Lauderdale
A Fort Lauderdale resident qualifies for expungement if:
- The Broward County court dismissed the case, the State Attorney’s Office declined to file charges, or the applicant was acquitted at trial
- The applicant has never been adjudicated guilty (convicted) of any criminal offense in Florida, including misdemeanors
- The applicant has never previously sealed or expunged a criminal record anywhere in Florida
- The applicant is not currently under any form of court supervision
Eligibility for Record Sealing in Fort Lauderdale
A Fort Lauderdale resident qualifies for record sealing if:
- The Broward County court issued a withhold of adjudication, meaning the judge did not formally convict the applicant, despite a guilty or no-contest plea
- The underlying offense is not among the charges specifically excluded from sealing under Florida Statute § 907.041
- The applicant has no prior convictions and no prior sealings or expungements in Florida
Charges That Are NOT Eligible for Sealing or Expungement in Fort Lauderdale
Florida Statute §907.041 permanently excludes the following offense types from sealing or expungement, regardless of case outcome:
- Domestic violence offenses
- Aggravated assault and aggravated battery
- Robbery
- Child abuse and aggravated child abuse
- Drug trafficking
- Sexual offenses and crimes against minors
- Manslaughter and homicide
- Terrorism-related offenses
A withholding of adjudication on any of these charges does not create eligibility. David Weisselberger reviews each Fort Lauderdale case individually to confirm eligibility before beginning the filing process.
Why Fort Lauderdale Residents Choose Erase The Case Over General Criminal Defense Firms?
In Florida, expungement and sealing are once-in-a-lifetime legal actions. A single procedural error, an incorrect FDLE application, a missing certified court disposition, or a filing to the wrong Broward County Clerk division results in denial and permanent loss of eligibility. Erase The Case specializes exclusively in Florida expungement and record sealing. The firm handles no other practice area.
Erase The Case resolves Fort Lauderdale expungement cases in 3–5 months.
General Broward criminal defense attorneys who offer expungement as one of many services typically take 6–9 months. The difference is process efficiency built from handling more expungement and sealing cases than any other law firm in Florida, across all 67 counties.
| Factor | General Broward defense firm | Erase The Case |
|---|---|---|
| Specialization | Criminal defense (expungement is secondary) | 100% expungement and sealing only |
| Average timeline | 6–9 months | 3–5 months |
| Pricing | $500–$2,500 (variable) | $995 flat fee (all costs included) |
| Private data removal | Not included | Background check companies + mugshot sites |
| Client effort required | High — multiple in-person visits | Minimal — 5-minute video call for notarization |
| Payment option | Varies by firm | “Expunge Now, Pay Later” via Affirm |
David Weisselberger, Esq., is a former Miami-Dade County Assistant Public Defender. He understands both the prosecution and defense sides of Broward County’s 17th Judicial Circuit. Erase The Case has earned 300+ verified 5-star reviews for expungement and sealing, the highest volume of any expungement attorney in Florida.
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Do I Qualify?How the Fort Lauderdale Expungement Process Works?
The seal and expungement process can be difficult and time-consuming because you will need to contact several agencies, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the State Attorney’s Office, and the court system. To achieve the best possible outcome, you must have an experienced Fort Lauderdale expungement attorney on your side. Here’s a step-by-step of the process:
Step 1: Eligibility screening
We review the Fort Lauderdale arrest record, Broward County case disposition, and the complete criminal history. The firm confirms eligibility under Florida Statute § 943.045 before any filing begins.
Step 2: FDLE application for Certificate of Eligibility
The firm prepares the Application for Certificate of Eligibility. The application requires certified case dispositions from the Broward County Clerk of Courts and a completed fingerprint card. We prepare and submit this packet. The client completes a 5-minute notarized video call; no in-person visits are required.
Step 3: FDLE review
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reviews the application at its Tallahassee headquarters. FDLE issues the Certificate of Eligibility if the applicant meets all statutory requirements. General firms report FDLE review taking 6–9 months; Erase The Case clients typically receive the Certificate in 3–4 months due to accurate, complete initial submissions.
Step 4: Petition to the Broward County Circuit Court
After receiving the Certificate of Eligibility, Erase The Case files the Petition to Expunge or Seal with the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Broward County. The firm serves the Broward State Attorney’s Office and all required parties.
Step 5: Judge’s order and record destruction
The Broward County Circuit Court judge reviews the petition. In most Fort Lauderdale cases, no hearing is required. Upon approval, the court issues a signed order. The order is distributed to FDLE, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, and all other relevant agencies. We also submit the order to private background check companies and initiate the removal of mugshots.
Total timeline: 3–5 months from initial consultation to final record removal.
How Much Does Expungement Cost in Fort Lauderdale?
Erase The Case offers 3 expungement packages for clients in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. Each package includes expedited 3–5 month processing and full attorney representation. The package difference is the scope of digital record removal and additional legal support included.
Every individual’s criminal record in Fort Lauderdale is unique. The cost of expungement depends on the complexity of the Broward County case, the number of mugshot listings present online, and the level of background check defense required after the court order is issued.
What Fort Lauderdale and Broward County Clients Say?
“Quite honestly, there is no commentary that I can provide that would ever be sufficient in relaying how incredibly fantastic this experience with the Florida Expungement Lawyer has truly been…”
December 4, 2025 by Broward C. (FL, United States)“The service was great. If I had a question, they would respond within the day if it was a work day. Great experience but hope I never have to use them again.”
September 19, 2022 by Broward C. (FL, United States)
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