A criminal charge or conviction can have a significant impact on someone’s life, which is why if you believe your record is eligible for expunction or being sealed, you should speak with an experienced Pensacola expungement lawyer at once. Contact The Law Office of James M. Burns today to learn more about how our legal team can assist you.
Is Your Criminal Record Holding You Back? Hire a Pensacola Expungement Lawyer.
Have you struggled to find a new job or apartment because of a criminal charge or conviction on your record? An estimated 70 million Americans have a criminal record of some sort. This is the same number who have a college degree. Even if you were never convicted or charges were dropped, you may still need to ask to have all records sealed.
The sealing and expungement processes are complicated in Florida. You need to determine whether you qualify. Make a mistake and you won’t be able to clear your record. This is not a do-it-yourself area of the law; you need to speak with a lawyer.
In Gulf Coast communities within Escambia and Baldwin counties, Escambia County criminal defense lawyer James M. Burns can help you through the process. From an office in Pensacola, he has represented many clients over the years. He will review your situation and help seal or expunge your record as quickly as possible.
Expungement Vs. Sealing a Record
Though the purpose of expungement and sealing a record is virtually the same, they are not exactly the same in practice. In Florida, when a record is expunged, it means that the court physically destroys the criminal record and it is no longer viewable by the general public. However, when a record is sealed, it is not destroyed. Instead, it is kept under government protection, however, it is still not viewable by the public.
Understand that the expungement process should only be completed with the assistance of an experienced Pensacola expungement lawyer, as it is often complicated, document-heavy, and time-consuming. The sealing process, for instance, requires preparing a sworn statement and obtaining a certificate of eligibility. You will also need to have your fingerprints taken. Our firm is here to walk you through every step of the process.
Contact a Pensacola Expungement Lawyer
Find out what your options might be to deal with past mistakes–call 850-930-3018 to talk with attorney James M. Burns or contact The Law Office of James M. Burns online today. We are on your side, and we will work to attain a positive outcome on your behalf.