New Year, New You: Make 2026 the Year You Finally Clear Your Record
| By Jeff Lotter, Esq.
It's January 1st. You're making resolutions: hit the gym, save more money, spend more time with family. But there's one resolution you keep pushing to "someday" - finally dealing with that arrest from years ago that still shows up on background checks. This year, "someday" becomes today.
The Weight You've Been Carrying
Every time you apply for a job, there it is. That question: "Have you ever been arrested?"
Even if the charges were dismissed. Even if you were found not guilty. Even if you completed a diversion program and did everything right - that arrest still follows you. It's been years, maybe decades, but it's still there. Quietly sabotaging opportunities. Creating anxiety before every background check.
How many times have you:
- Hesitated before applying for a job you really wanted?
- Wondered if a landlord would deny your application?
- Worried about a professional license being affected?
- Felt anxious when someone mentioned "background check"?
That baggage from your past doesn't have to define your future. Florida law provides a way to seal or expunge your criminal record - removing it from public view and giving you the fresh start you deserve.
Why 2026 is Your Year
You've been meaning to do this for years. Life gets busy. Other priorities take over. But here's the truth: the process takes 7-12 months. Every year you wait is another year of:
Jobs Lost
Background checks reveal arrests, even dismissed ones
Housing Denied
Landlords screen tenants with criminal history searches
Anxiety Continues
The constant worry that someone will "find out"
If you start the process today, by this time next year you could be free. No more checking "yes" on applications. No more explaining old mistakes. No more living in the shadow of your past.
What Sealing or Expunging Actually Does
Under Florida Statutes 943.0585 and 943.059, eligible individuals can petition to have their criminal records removed from public access:
Sealing
Your record is hidden from public view. Available if adjudication was withheld on your case.
Result: Most employers and landlords won't see it
Expunging
Your record is physically destroyed. Available for dismissed cases or after 10 years sealed.
Result: The highest level of privacy protection
Once your record is sealed or expunged, you can legally deny the arrest occurred in most situations. Job applications, rental forms, casual inquiries - you can honestly say it never happened.
Read our complete guide to sealing and expungement eligibility for detailed information on requirements and the process.
The First Step is Free
Not sure if you qualify? That's exactly why we offer free consultations. In one conversation, we can:
- Review your criminal history
- Determine your eligibility under Florida law
- Explain the sealing vs. expungement options
- Answer your questions with no obligation
As a former State Trooper and Deputy Sheriff, I've seen the criminal justice system from both sides. Now I use that experience to help people move forward from their past. If you're eligible, I'll guide you through every step of the process.
Make 2026 Your Year of Freedom
Stop carrying the weight of your past. Start the new year by taking the first step toward a clean record.
Law Office of Jeff Lotter PLLC
200 E Robinson St Suite 1140, Orlando, FL 32801
"Your past is a chapter, not your whole story. Let's turn the page together."
- Attorney Jeff Lotter