How it works in Florida

Clearing a Florida record takes three parts: FDLE certifies that you are eligible, you petition the court, and a judge rules. Here is the whole path — what Expeal does, and what you do.

  1. Apply to FDLE for a certificate of eligibility

    You send FDLE an application with a fingerprint card, a certified disposition of your case, and the processing fee. FDLE says processing typically takes 12 weeks from the date a completed packet arrives, in the order received.

  2. We prepare your petition documents

    With the DIY+ package, we create all the necessary documents and send them to you — you handle the filing yourself. That is the whole arrangement: your case stays yours, and Expeal is not your attorney.

  3. File with your county clerk of court

    You file the petition with the clerk of court in the county where the case was handled. You pay the clerk's statutory service charge under Fla. Stat. § 28.24(26) when you file. Every county's clerk — address, phone, and fee — is on our county list.

  4. The judge rules

    The court may grant or deny the petition. If it grants, the certified order goes to FDLE, and the agencies act on it — destruction for an expunged record, confidentiality for a sealed one.

Ready to see whether this path fits your record? The eligibility check asks the same questions the application does.

Check eligibility Start the check in the app →

Last reviewed