Broward County’s Clerk separates felony from traffic and misdemeanor
records, and it warns that older misdemeanor and traffic files may have
been purged from the main online system. That makes record
collection—not a city-name landing page—the first genuinely local issue
for a Fort Lauderdale-area sealing or expungement matter.
The Broward County workflow
- Identify the correct Broward division and locate the entire
file. Circuit Criminal maintains felony cases; County Criminal
maintains misdemeanor, criminal-traffic, municipal-ordinance and
county-ordinance matters. If an older misdemeanor or traffic case is not
online, the Clerk directs requesters to a courthouse location or written
purged-record search using the defendant’s name, date of birth, incident
year and any known case or citation number. - Order certified dispositions before filing
anything. The FDLE packet requires a certified disposition for
every charge. Broward currently lists $1 per page and $2 to certify a
case document in its traffic and misdemeanor guidance. Verify costs and
availability for the actual division. - Complete the FDLE eligibility stage. An expunction
application needs the appropriate prosecutor’s certified statement;
sealing does not use that expunction-only step. FDLE then conducts the
statutory history review. - Prepare the petition after the certificate issues.
The Broward Clerk explains that the petitioner must prepare the
paperwork under the statutes; the low-cost Clerk packet does not
substitute for the petition documents themselves. The package should
include the petition, supporting affidavit, certificate, proposed order
and required service. - Pay the local processing and certification costs.
The Clerk’s felony page lists a $42 statutory processing fee in addition
to copy and certification costs and the separate FDLE fee. - Track the signed order and preserve necessary
records. If the judge grants relief, the Clerk distributes
certified copies to agencies reflected in its records. After sealing or
expungement, the Clerk says no case information is provided through the
ordinary public route. Obtain any records needed for later statutory
disclosure before access changes.
Why Broward’s archive issue matters
A missing online result is not proof that no case exists, no record
can be cleared, or no certified disposition is available. Broward
expressly describes purged misdemeanor and traffic records and provides
a search procedure. Intake should mark a record as
needs_archive_search, not treat it as an automatic pass or
failure.
The Broward State Attorney also publishes its own Seal and Expunge
program, downloadable applications and a preliminary questionnaire. It
offers periodic free one-stop workshops and lists 954-831-6955 for
eligibility or process assistance. That is an official public resource,
not a Dunn Law service or an assurance that the person qualifies. A
prospective client should be told about it while the firm explains the
separate value of legal screening and representation.
Frequently asked Broward County questions
Why can’t I find my old Broward misdemeanor online?
The Clerk states that misdemeanor and traffic matters filed before
2011 were routinely purged from its main system. A written or in-person
purged-record search may be needed. Lack of an online result is not a
legal eligibility determination.
Does a withhold of adjudication always qualify for sealing in
Broward?
No. The Clerk describes a withhold as one possible starting point,
but the charge itself, all counts from the incident, prior adult and
juvenile history, supervision completion and previous relief must be
screened under current Florida law.
Does Broward offer free government help?
The Broward State Attorney publishes a Seal and Expunge program,
application materials and periodic free workshops. Call its official
number or check its page for current availability. Government assistance
does not guarantee FDLE eligibility or a court order.
What happens after a Broward judge approves the petition?
The Clerk says it provides certified copies of the order to agencies
that hold the arrest record so they can comply. Copy, certification and
the $42 statutory processing charge are the petitioner’s
responsibility.
Can I retrieve the court file after it is expunged?
The Clerk states that no case information is provided after sealing
or expungement through ordinary access. Keep certified copies of
materials you may lawfully need before the order is processed.
Call (941) 866-4352 or request a Broward record-clearing
review. Older-file retrieval and charge-by-charge screening
should come before the certificate application.
Official sources
- Broward
Clerk felony sealing and expungement guidance - Broward
Clerk traffic and misdemeanor records guidance - Broward
Clerk records requests - Broward
State Attorney: Seal or Expunge a Criminal Record - FDLE
Certificate of Eligibility instructions
Information reviewed September 3, 2026 against the cited official sources. The Dunn Law Firm’s office is in Sarasota; no office in Broward County is claimed.
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