Your criminal case may be over, but the arrest can still show up when someone searches your name. A dismissed charge or an old case from your time in Gainesville can raise questions years later, just when you are applying for a job, looking for a home, or making a career change.
The Dunn Law Firm, P.A. helps people seal and expunge eligible criminal records throughout Florida, including Alachua County. We review your record, explain your options, and handle the application and court petition. You do not need to know which forms to file before you call.
Find out what can be done about your Alachua County record. Call (941) 866-4352 or contact Dunn Law to get started.
Can my Alachua County record be sealed or expunged?
The answer starts with how your case ended. If the charges were dropped, never filed, or ended in an acquittal, expungement may be available. If you entered a plea and the judge withheld adjudication, sealing may be an option. A withhold means the judge did not formally adjudicate you guilty; it does not, by itself, make a record eligible.
We also need to look at the charge, your other criminal history, whether supervision has ended, and any earlier Florida sealing or expungement. When one arrest led to several charges, the result on each charge matters. Reviewing the actual court records gives us a sound basis for advice.
You can read more about the statewide rules in our Florida record sealing and expungement guide. If you are unsure what happened in an old case, start with what you remember. A case number is helpful, but you can contact us without one.
What sealing or expungement can do for you
Sealing removes an eligible record from ordinary public access. Expungement goes further: most criminal justice agencies must destroy the covered record, while FDLE keeps a confidential copy under Florida law. Either process can make a meaningful difference when an old arrest remains part of your public record.
Florida law also allows you to deny or decline to acknowledge a covered arrest in many circumstances after relief is granted. There are exceptions, including certain employment and licensing applications. We can explain what the order means for the applications you expect to complete.
How Dunn Law handles an Alachua County case
We begin by reviewing the court file and obtaining the records needed to evaluate eligibility. For an Alachua case, that means working from the Clerk’s records, including the certified disposition showing how the charges ended. If you completed probation or diversion, the completion documents may also be needed.
Alachua County has a few requirements that are easy to miss. The Clerk directs petitioners to check the separate Official Records for documents connected to the case. The petition also needs the arrest date and arresting agency for each charge. These details help identify the records the proposed order should cover.
For expungement, the FDLE application requires prosecutor certification. The Eighth Circuit State Attorney’s Office directs those applications to its Gainesville office and currently accepts them by mail or in person, not electronically. That certification is not required for an ordinary sealing application.
Next comes the FDLE Certificate of Eligibility application, with the supporting records and fingerprints. Once FDLE issues the certificate, we prepare the Alachua court petition, affidavit, and proposed order, and provide the required copies to the prosecutor and law enforcement agencies. The judge decides the petition and may require a hearing.
If your arrest happened in Gainesville but you have since moved, you can still pursue relief. Much of the record review and paperwork can be handled remotely. We will explain any fingerprinting, notarization, or court appearance needed in your case.
Questions about clearing an Alachua record
The charges were dismissed. Why is the arrest still visible?
A dismissal resolves the charge, but it does not necessarily remove the arrest from public records. It is worth checking both your eligibility and which records remain available. The court docket alone may not tell the whole story.
How much are the filing fees?
FDLE currently charges $75 for its Certificate of Eligibility application. The Alachua County Clerk lists a $42 initial filing fee, plus certified-copy costs. Those are government charges, separate from attorney fees. Contact us to discuss the legal work and cost for your case.
How long does it take?
Plan for months. FDLE currently reports more than 12 weeks to process a complete application. Prosecutor review, when required, and the court petition add time. Alachua’s instructions also state that expungement orders have a 60-day delay before taking effect. If a job or licensing application is coming up, tell us at the beginning.
Will the record disappear from every website?
A court order does not automatically erase copies already collected by private websites or background-check companies. If a record continues to appear after sealing or expungement, those listings may need separate attention. Tell us where you are seeing it so we can discuss the next step.
Talk with Dunn Law about your record
Whether the arrest happened last year or years ago, the first step is finding out what Florida law allows in your case. Dunn Law handles sealing and expungement matters across the state and can help you address an eligible Alachua County record.
Call (941) 866-4352 or send us a message. If you have the case number or final court paperwork, have it handy. If you do not, tell us when and where the arrest happened.
Updated September 14, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Eligibility depends on your record and current law; the court decides whether to grant relief.
Official references: Alachua County filing instructions; Eighth Circuit prosecutor certification; FDLE application requirements; FDLE questions and processing times; Florida Statutes 943.0585 and 943.059.
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