A criminal arrest record is not an advantage in life. Long after serving their time, those arrested can still face civil penalties and a stigma that translates into real, measurable negative effects on their lives. A criminal record, even a juvenile delinquency record, can hurt you in applications for a job, professional licenses, certain types of loans and financial aid and even housing. In Florida, your record can even include an arrest that led to dropped charges, no charges or an acquittal. Expunging or sealing your record allows you to truthfully say you were never charged with a crime, so you can put the episode behind you and move on.

Most former defendants in Florida are eligible for a sealing or expungement, except those charged with certain sex-related crimes, wire fraud, drug trafficking, public corruption and anything carrying a requirement to register as a sex offender. (Contact our Miami sealing and expungement criminal attorneys for a more detailed list of ineligible charges.) You may petition for a sealing or expungement if:

• You were never charged with the crime
• Your charges were dropped or dismissed
• You were found not guilty
• Your conviction was withheld
• You completed a pretrial diversion program

Sealing a criminal record in Florida means that the information will not be available to the public, although certain state agencies may be able to see it. Expunging a record, by contrast, removes the information even for those agencies. They will be able to see that the record has been expunged, but they will not be able to see the expunged information without a court order. Certain crimes cannot be expunged until they have been sealed for at least 10 years.

Unfortunately, the process for sealing or expunging a criminal record is complicated, requiring a successful petition for a Certificate of Eligibility and then a court case in the county where the original case was brought. You may have to appeal an agency's decision in order to continue this process. Balliro handles this process from start to finish, including filling out paperwork correctly and completely, appealing any unfavorable decisions and representing you in court. Our Fort Lauderdale expungement and sealing attorneys can also handle sealing or expunction of juvenile criminal records -- which is not automatic -- and restoration of voting rights and firearms rights for convicted felons.

Balliro represents clients throughout South Florida who need help sealing or expunging a damaging criminal record. We understand what criminal defendants go through, because our attorneys are former public defenders and prosecutors with years of experience defending people accused of serious crimes. Our Miami sealing and expungement lawyers have been part of the criminal system for years, so we understand how to navigate through it, and we can use that knowledge to help our clients cut through red tape and avoid mistakes that can cost them precious time and money. And with seven offices from Miami to West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale, we can be wherever in South Florida your case might take us.

If you're ready to expunge or seal a criminal record but you know you need help, you should call Balliro as soon as possible. For a free, confidential consultation, you can contact us anytime -- 24 hours a day and seven days a week -- via email or by calling toll-free at 1-866-ARRESTED.