Hiring West Palm Beach Lawyers to Seal a Florida Criminal Record

Having a criminal record in Florida can make life real tough. It can be hard to get a good job, rent an apartment, or even get a loan. That’s why it’s important to get your record sealed if you can. This article talks about hiring lawyers in West Palm Beach who can help with sealing and expunging criminal records.

What is Record Sealing?

When a record gets sealed by a judge, it means it gets hidden from the public and most employers. Only some government agencies like law enforcement can still see sealed records. So sealing a record helps give people a clean slate and improves their chances of getting jobs, housing, loans etc. This site has good info on record sealing.

Finding Good Lawyers

There’s a bunch of lawyers in West Palm Beach that handle record sealing cases. I found a few good ones that seem to know what they’re doing:

• Ronald S. Chapman – His firm Justice Florida says he’s handled over 10,000 criminal cases. So he must be pretty experienced with record sealing too. His site talks about the specifics of sealing in Palm Beach County.
• Michelle Suskauer – Her firm specializes in record sealing and expungement cases across Florida. Michelle is even the president of the Florida Bar association! She wrote a good article on her site explaining sealing laws.
• Steven Logan – His firm Logan Law seems to have a lot of experience with sealing cases in Palm Beach and surrounding counties. Steven explains the step-by-step process for record sealing on his site.

I’d say any of those lawyers would be a good choice for helping seal a criminal record. It’s probably best to meet with a few of them before deciding who to hire.

How Much Does Record Sealing Cost?

The cost of sealing a criminal record can vary a lot based on your specific situation. According to the sites I found, fees seem to range from around $1,500 to $3,000 typically. Some factors that affect the cost are:

• – How many charges need to be sealed
• – If you need records expunged instead of just sealed
• – How much court paperwork is required
• – If you have arrests in multiple counties

So the best way to get an accurate estimate of costs is to consult with a lawyer. Many of them offer free consultations to review your case. They can then give you a price quote for the legal work needed.

What Types of Records Can Be Sealed in Florida?

Florida has pretty flexible laws that allow many types of criminal records to be sealed. Some key things to know:

• – Most felonies can be sealed after 10 crime-free years (some take longer)
• – Many misdemeanors can be sealed after 5 crime-free years
• – Most juvenile records get automatically sealed at age 26
• – Arrests without convictions can also often be sealed

There’s specific eligibility criteria to get records sealed in Florida though. That’s why it’s important to have a knowledgeable lawyer review your history to see if sealing is possible. They can look at your charges, dispositions, sentences served, and other factors to determine if you qualify.

The Record Sealing Process

Getting a record sealed in Florida involves a few key steps, typically:

1. Filing a petition – Your lawyer files this in court requesting your record(s) be sealed due to meeting eligibility criteria
2. Background checks – The State Attorney’s office runs checks to verify your history
3. Hearing – You may have to attend a short hearing where the judge reviews your petition
4. Court order – If approved, the judge issues an order to seal your criminal record(s)

This process can take 2-3 months typically. Most cases get approved if records meet the sealing eligibility standards. Your lawyer handles all the paperwork and court appearances for you.

Benefits of Getting Records Sealed

There’s lots of advantages that come with getting your criminal history sealed in Florida:

• – Better chances of getting hired for good jobs
• – Easier approval for professional licenses
• – Increased options for renting apartments or homes
• – Improved chances of getting approved for loans and credit
• – More travel visa options to other countries

As you can see, clearing up your criminal record through sealing can really open more doors in life. That’s why hiring an experienced lawyer to handle the process is so valuable.