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What charges can never be sealed in Florida?

Attorney-Reviewed Answer
Reviewed by Jeff T. Gorman, Criminal Defense Attorney & Former 19th Circuit Prosecutor (Fla. Bar #538183). Last reviewed: September 2026
Short Answer
A statutory list of excluded offenses — and a conviction of any kind generally can't be sealed regardless.

Two separate barriers.

A conviction. If adjudication was entered rather than withheld, sealing is generally unavailable. That's why DUI convictions can't be sealed — Florida prohibits withholding adjudication on a DUI, so the mechanism that would allow sealing never exists.

The excluded offense list. Florida law enumerates offenses that cannot be sealed even where adjudication was withheld. The list includes serious violent offenses, sexual offenses, offenses against children, and others.

The practical consequence is significant at the plea stage. Whether a particular disposition preserves sealing eligibility should be part of the negotiation, and it's frequently more consequential than the length of probation attached.

Note the interaction with automatic sealing: that provision has its own eligibility criteria, keyed to forcible felonies and registration offenses, which are not identical to the court-ordered exclusion list.

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This page answers a common question for general informational purposes and is not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by reading it. Florida law changes; while this answer is reviewed by a licensed Florida attorney, the right answer depends on the specific facts of your situation — consult an attorney. Serving Martin, St. Lucie, Palm Beach, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties.