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Clear your Florida record DIY+

You can clear your Florida record. Florida law lets you expunge certain arrest records under Fla. Stat. § 943.0585 and seal other non-conviction records under § 943.059. Both routes use a petition and may involve a court hearing.

Expeal Ranking

Florida's Expeal ranking is 5 out of 15, or a D. This is the average of five metric scores across four case types.

Metric Misdemeanor — Arrest Misdemeanor — Conviction Felony — Arrest Felony — Conviction
Clean Slate 1 0 1 0
Expeal 3 0 3 0
Tasks 1 0 1 0
Wait 3 0 3 0
Cost 2 0 2 0
Total 10 0 10 0

The metrics are defined as follows:

  • Clean Slate: 3 if implemented; 2 if proposed or in the process of being implemented; 1 if being discussed; 0 if nothing.
  • Expeal: 3 if records are erased or destroyed; 2 if records are hidden but still exist; 1 if records are given a notation or some other form of reduction; 0 if nothing or if the process requires a pardon or similar prerequisite.
  • Tasks: 3 if application alone or automatic; 2 if straightforward court or administrative engagement is required; 1 if administrative engagement is required before straightforward court; 0 if convincing the court is required.
  • Wait: 3 if immediate to 1 year; 2 if 1 to 3 years; 1 if 3 to 5 years; 0 if more than 5 years or an intermediate step is required before the clock starts.
  • Cost: 3 if under $50; 2 if $50.01 to $250; 1 if $250.01 to $500; 0 if more than $500.

Governing statutes

Fees

Fee Amount Source
Filing fee $42.00
Statutory floor; counties may charge above this for local surcharges (Story 1.3.14 populates per-county overrides for the 67 FL counties). 		Fla. Stat. § 28.241
Fingerprint fee $15.00 Reference
Certified copy fee $8.00 Reference
Eligibility certificate fee $75.00 Reference
Record request fee $24.00 Reference

Step-by-step process

Below are the five phases that take you through the Expeal process in Florida if you don't qualify for automatic sealing.

If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.

Phase 1: Verifying you Qualify

  1. Step 1: Get Fingerprinted. Visit your local police or sheriff's station and have your fingerprints taken.

    Cost: $5.00 to $15.00 (depending on the provider)

  2. Step 2: Request your Record. Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record.

    Cost: $24.00

  3. Step 3: Review your Record. Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.

Phase 2: Collecting your Documents

  1. Step 4: Request Certified Documents. Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed the requirements.

    Cost: $2.00 to $8.00 (up to $1.00 for every page that needs to be photocopied; varies by county clerk)

  2. Step 5: Verify the Final Documents. Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.

  3. Step 6: Obtain a Certification of Eligibility. Put together your package, get your application notarized, get the state prosecutor to fill out the required section if you are getting your record expunged (skip this step if you are sealing your record), and request a Certification of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

    Cost: $75.00

    Note: If you qualify, the FDLE issues you a unique certification number that expires after a set period.

Phase 3: Completing the Petition

  1. Step 7: Prepare your Petition. Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. If you are expunging your record, remember to send the petition to the State Attorney's Office — you don't have to do this if you are sealing your record. There are no timing restrictions to note (ie, you can submit as soon as you have your certificate of eligibility).

  2. Step 8: Finalize your Petition. Take the completed petition from Step 7, the documents collected in Step 4, and the background check from Step 2, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.

Phase 4: Final Steps

  1. Step 9: File your Expeal Request. File the petition with the court that handled the case.

    Cost: $42.00 (Statutory floor; counties may charge above this for local surcharges (Story 1.3.14 populates per-county overrides for the 67 FL counties).)

  2. Step 10: Work with the Court. After the court confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a hearing notice or a request for additional documents. Respond promptly to anything the court asks for, and prepare for the hearing if one is scheduled.

Phase 5: Confirming Your Record is Cleared

  1. Step 11: Receive the Court's Order. Once the judge rules, the court issues a written order either granting or denying your petition. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out exactly which records are covered. Keep a certified copy for your own files.

  2. Step 12: Verify the Record Update. Florida law directs the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the original arresting agency to update or remove the records covered by the order. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the order is your authoritative reference. Under Fla. Stat. § 943.0585 and § 943.059, you can lawfully decline to disclose the cleared charges in most non-government contexts.

Official government links

The following pages are important to be familiar with as you work through the expungement process:

Forms

The following links lead to official forms required for the expungement process:

Common questions

Is this legal advice?

No. Expeal provides plain-language educational content and tools with direct citations to your state's statutes — not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

Why is this free?

The state-by-state guides — statutes, fees, steps, sources — are free for everyone. Expeal's revenue model is the optional DIY+ guided product available in select states, which funds the public-benefit educational content.