Before you apply, find out which record is causing the problem.
A dismissed charge can still appear in a background report. An old plea can make a job application hard to answer. Miller & Jacobs helps Hollywood clients check the official case result, understand the problem, and find out whether sealing or expungement could help.
Free initial consultation. Call 954-465-8733.
Broward Case Records
Check each count against the official disposition
Clear Limits
Know which access and disclosure rules remain
Partner Led
Discuss the matter with Mark J. Miller or Rick S. Jacobs
Defined Work
Understand the work, filing costs and next steps
Get the final result for each count, any plea papers, and proof that supervision ended. A closed case is not the whole answer. One count may have been dismissed while another ended in a way that changes your options.
Bring earlier cases and any prior sealing or expungement order too. A case missing from a private report may still matter under Florida law. Do not sign an eligibility form based on one search alone.
Ask for an Eligibility AssessmentA dismissal or decision not to file may support expungement if you meet the other legal rules. It does not erase the arrest on its own. We check the full history and required papers before you apply.
A withhold means the court did not formally adjudicate you guilty. Sealing may still be possible, but the charge and other rules matter. Certain pleas can bar relief even with a withhold. Bring the exact charge and final result.
Bring prior judgments and orders that sealed or expunged a record. Different legal routes have different rules. An earlier conviction or order can affect the ordinary process even if this case ended in your favor.
Save the full report, search result, or application question. A court docket, police report, FDLE history, and private database are different sources. Tell us what you want to change. We can explain which records an order could affect.
Sealing limits public access to a covered record under Florida law. Certain agencies and people can still see it. You may also need to disclose the case in some job, licensing, or other settings. Sealing does not let you deny it on every form.
Sealing: access and disclosure exceptionsCourt-ordered expungement generally requires covered agency records to be destroyed or removed. FDLE keeps a confidential record, and legal exceptions remain. An order does not promise to remove every old copy or online reference, or end every duty to disclose.
Expungement: legal effect and exceptions
An order may limit public access yet leave a licensing question unchanged. Bring the exact question and deadline. We can assess what the process could achieve before you apply.
DECIDE WITH THE LIMITS IN VIEW
The ordinary court-ordered process begins with an eligibility review. An FDLE certificate supports your petition, but does not seal or expunge the record. The judge makes that separate decision.
Match your name, arrest date, and case numbers to the official result for each count. Obtain the papers the application requires. A background report can point out a problem, but it does not replace certified court records.
Use the current FDLE instructions for the type of relief you seek. You may need fingerprints, certified case results, and a prosecutor's statement. Check names and case details before you sign. Resolve errors rather than guess.
A request for more papers is not always a final denial. Find out what is missing and how to get it. If the issue is legal eligibility, address that directly. Do not change the history on a new form.
The petition must be filed and served as required. Confirm the local steps and any hearing. A certificate does not guarantee court approval. The firm cannot control how long an agency or court takes.
Keep copies of the signed order and key papers. Confirm where the order must be sent. Check which disclosure exceptions still apply to you. A private report that remains wrong or shows the event may need a separate response.
Tell us about a job or licensing deadline when you call. Do not assume the process will finish by then. After reviewing the file, we can explain the steps and what remains uncertain.
Broward official record-relief resourcesCall with the arrest date, county, and case number if you know them. Tell us whether the problem is a public search, background report, or application question. We can explain which records we need and whether legal help fits the issue.
Call 954-465-8733Keep personal copies before access to official records is restricted.
Serving Hollywood from our Pompano Beach office: 1600 S. Federal Highway, Suite 1101, Pompano Beach, FL 33062.
Ask Mark J. Miller or Rick S. Jacobs what the fee covers. Does it include the eligibility review, FDLE materials, court filing, and later questions about the order? The first consultation is free. Legal fees and application costs should be explained separately.
Mark J. Miller is a partner at Miller & Jacobs. His biography outlines his background. Bring your records so you can discuss the work your case needs.
Read Mark’s biography
Rick S. Jacobs is a partner at Miller & Jacobs. Read his biography and ask which steps the firm would handle in your record-relief matter.
Read Rick’s biographyThese answers are a starting point, not a review of your history. Our Florida criminal-defense overview explains the broader practice. Sealing and expungement have their own legal rules.
Keep the full report and get the official court result to compare it. Fixing a wrong report is different from applying to seal or expunge a record. We can assess which response fits your problem. An expungement petition is not always the only option.
No. Ask about the legal fee and costs for the agency, court, fingerprints, or certified records. Check current requirements before you pay. A free first consultation does not make the rest of the work or application free.
Current FDLE application instructionsNot just because they happened in the same city. The ordinary process generally covers one arrest or incident. The law allows some directly related arrests to be included. Separate events and past relief need review before cases are grouped together.
No. Florida keeps certain disclosure exceptions in place. Bring the exact question and explain the job, license, or other setting. An order does not make the answer the same on every form.
No one should promise that every copy will disappear. Save the source and date of any report that remains. The order has legal limits. Private reports and older copies may need separate review. Ask what can be done after the order.
FDLE record-relief questionsThe Broward State Attorney publishes sealing and expungement guides. FDLE explains the state process. Review the current materials. A lawyer may help if your history is complex, a case result is unclear, or a specific form raises a disclosure question.
