If you have a criminal record, it can haunt you well after any legal consequences have been satisfied or sentence served. Getting a job or even renting an apartment can be extremely challenging with a criminal record. However, there are certain circumstances in which you can get a criminal record expunged for good.
For example, if you were charged with a crime in the past but the act was committed in self-defense, you could be eligible to get your record expunged. A knowledgeable expungement attorney can explain whether you may be entitled to seek lawful self-defense expungement in Orlando and help you through each step of this complex legal process.
Getting arrested or charged with a criminal offense can give you a permanent record unless and until you get it expunged. There are many ways in which having a criminal record can impact the trajectory of your day-to-day life. From creating barriers, to obtaining certain licenses or study at certain educational institutions, to drawbacks like loan application denials to restrictions on travel, a criminal record can haunt you for the rest of your life.
However, certain circumstances could actually make you eligible to get your criminal record expunged. Qualifying for criminal record expungement is no easy feat, and substantial legal requirements must be satisfied to achieve this outcome. One possible way to get a criminal record expunged in Orlando is when the original charge was never filed or was dropped because it was determined you acted in lawful self-defense.
There are three categories of actions that can qualify as lawful self-defense: defense of person, defense of property, and defense of home. For example, consider a situation where a person is arrested and charged because they used deadly force. Later, the prosecutor’s office drops the charge after determining that the accused engaged in lawful self-defense and only used deadly force because they had a reasonable belief that they were preventing their own imminent bodily harm or death.
If this occurs and the individual’s charge is dropped, they may also be eligible to get that criminal record expunged in full. It is important to speak with an Orlando attorney who can assess your ability to seek expungement for a criminal record arising from lawful self-defense. A lawyer can also advise about any other possible routes to expungement if you do not qualify for this one.
There is a difference between getting a criminal record sealed vs. getting it expunged. If your record is sealed, there are a limited number of parties, such as governmental agencies, who can still view that information.
On the other hand, expungement completely destroys that past criminal record for all practical purposes. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will still be able to confidentially view these details.
An Orlando attorney who has extensive experience helping clients achieve lawful self-defense expungement can help you fill out the application for the certificate of eligibility. We can also help you collect other necessary information that is required for the application, such as the charges, date of arrest, and fingerprints.
There are several other vital forms required to seek lawful self-defense expungement, including a certified disposition of the charges and a statement of approval by the prosecutor’s office. If anything is missing from your application, the FDLA could deny your request for expungement.
If your application for a certificate of eligibility to expunge is denied, we can review the circumstances of the denial and help you launch a timely appeal. We can make sure everything is submitted to the proper parties while examining all available solutions to achieve expungement, including representing your interests in a formal hearing.
After lawful self-defense expungement, these details will be totally cleared as a matter of public record. An attorney can collect the necessary evidence and documentation to show that you qualify for lawful self-defense expungement in Orlando.
Having a staunch defense attorney on your side can help you avoid any missteps during the legal process while ensuring that no stone is left unturned to secure the best possible outcome to your case. Contact our office today to speak with an attorney to review your expungement eligibility and get your case started.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
