Attorney Eric J Dirga, PA

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Record Expungement and Firearm Purchasing Restriction

firearm purchasing restriction

People often ask if a Record Sealing can help them get out from under the temporary restriction on purchasing firearms after they have been found guilty of certain offenses. Under certain conditions, even a withhold of adjudication can result in…

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Criminal Records Do Not Go Away On Their Own

criminal records do not go away on their own

There is a misconception that Florida criminal records go away after a specific time. This is incorrect. This belief is based, not on the fact that the record has disappeared – which it hasn’t, but that certain employment background checks…

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Arrested When Visiting Florida

when florida visitors get arrested

Florida had over 113 million visitors in 2016. That’s a lot (considering the state’s population is just under 21 million). Unfortunately, not everyone who visited returned home without first being arrested. I have been a criminal defense lawyer since 1995…

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How Long Does a Florida Expungement Take

how long it takes to expunge a record in florida

One of the most often asked questions regarding a Florida expungement or sealing is “how long does it take to complete?” The quick answer today is anywhere between 8-12 months or longer*, and I’ll explain why below. *As of August…

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Alternative Methods of Sealing Records

Many people desperately seek any method to seal their court records once it is determined that they no longer qualify to have their arrest record sealed or expunged by the typical means (sections 943.0585 and 943.059, Florida Statutes). This naturally…

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An Arrest, A Background Check, Your Job

an arrest your job

Unfortunately, people often find themselves wondering what impact a recent arrest will have on their current or future employment. This usually occurs soon after the arrest occurs or, if young, years later when the impact is felt. An “arrest” is…

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Misconceptions About Expungements

expungement misconceptions

I wrote this post because of the misconceptions people have regarding an expunged (or sealed) record in Florida. This has led to a lot of confusion about these statutes. The first thing we need to define is what a “record”…

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Your Criminal Record and Your Job

criminal background and future jobs

A lot of people are concerned about how a criminal history record will affect them as it relates to their employment. Can they be fired, will they lose the promotion, what can they do to hide their criminal record from…

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“Relates To” – The Latest Expungement Objection

relates to

The latest expungement objection (more specifically toward the sealing of records) has to do with the statutory language (that can be found in both ss. 943.0585 and 943.059, Fla. Stats.); “A criminal history record that relates to a violation of…[.]”…

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Expunging a Sealed Record

Expunging the Sealed Record: Florida Expungements

Expunging Sealed Record in Florida: Under Florida law, a criminal arrest record that has been sealed for 10-years can be expunged so long as the petitioner still qualifies. This is something to think about when you qualify and have your…

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