{"id":5884,"date":"2026-10-21T05:53:56","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T05:53:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/seal-and-expunge-criminal-records\/expunge-petition-denied-risks\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T14:41:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:41:07","slug":"expunge-petition-denied-risks","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/seal-and-expunge-criminal-records\/expunge-petition-denied-risks\/","title":{"rendered":"Expunge Petition Denied Risks in Miami, Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-dark chg-hero\" style=\"min-height:460px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-70 has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg,rgba(32,36,46,1) 0%,rgba(32,36,46,1) 55%,rgba(32,36,46,0.7) 100%)\"><\/span><img class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-5882\" alt=\"Courthouse steps and legal documents on a desk, representing expungement petition risks in Miami, Florida.\" src=\"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/courthouse-steps-and-legal-documents-on-a-desk-representing-photo.jpg\" width=\"1376\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/courthouse-steps-and-legal-documents-on-a-desk-representing-photo-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/courthouse-steps-and-legal-documents-on-a-desk-representing-photo-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/courthouse-steps-and-legal-documents-on-a-desk-representing-photo-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/courthouse-steps-and-legal-documents-on-a-desk-representing-photo-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/courthouse-steps-and-legal-documents-on-a-desk-representing-photo.jpg 1376w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 825px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\"\/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"chg-eyebrow has-base-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.6),0 0 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)\">Seal &amp; Expunge Criminal Records | Miami, Florida<\/p><h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\" style=\"text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.6),0 0 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)\">Know the Risks Before an Expunge Petition Is Denied<\/h1><p class=\"has-base-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.769), 1.25rem);text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.6),0 0 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)\">An incomplete, ineligible, or improperly documented petition can be returned, delayed, or refused. Patrick Wilson Law, PLLC helps Miami-area clients understand those risks and prepare their filings with care.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867611719\">Schedule a Free Consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/contact\/\">Schedule a Free Consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.5rem\">By Patrick David Wilson \u00b7 Published October 21, 2026<\/p>\n\n<article lang=\"en\">\n\n<p>Filing a petition to expunge or seal a Florida criminal record is a court process with firm rules. When a petition is incomplete, ineligible, or missing a document, the expunge petition denied risks are real. The filing can be returned, delayed, or refused. This page explains those risks in plain terms. Patrick Wilson Law, PLLC is a Miami criminal defense firm, and Patrick David Wilson is the lawyer responsible for this page.<\/p>\n<h2>What Risks Come With Filing a Petition That Is Incomplete, Ineligible, or Missing a Required Document, Such as Losing Filing Fees or Having the Petition Denied?<\/h2>\n<p>An incomplete, ineligible, or under-documented petition can be returned, delayed, or denied. The time and money you put into it can be lost. The main risks fall into five groups:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Return:<\/strong> the filing is sent back because it is not complete.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Denial:<\/strong> the court refuses the request.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost:<\/strong> you pay for certified copies of records, unless you qualify as indigent.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Time:<\/strong> each return or denial adds delay, and a new filing starts the paperwork again.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Record unchanged:<\/strong> until a court order is entered, the record stays as it is.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A complete filing still leaves the decision with the court. Under <a href=\"https:\/\/www-media.floridabar.org\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2027_04-Oct-Criminal-Procedure-Rules-10-1-2026.pdf#page=251\">Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.692<\/a>, any request to expunge or seal &#8220;may be denied at the sole discretion of the court.&#8221; How a petition turns out depends on the facts of the record and the court involved. Patrick Wilson Law, PLLC handles seal and expunge matters across South Florida, from Broward County to the Keys.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a petition you filed was returned or denied, you don&#x27;t have to work out the next step alone, and our team offers a free, confidential first consultation with no obligation to continue. Talk it through with our team &#8212; the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867611719\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/contact\/\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/close-up-of-a-legal-case-file-a-pen-and-a-gavel-on-a-wooden-photo.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a legal case file, a pen, and a gavel on a wooden desk in a Miami, Florida courthouse setting.\" style=\"border-radius:8px;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2>How Missing Documents and Incomplete Forms Lead to Returned or Denied Petitions<\/h2>\n<p>A petition must arrive with specific documents, or it can be sent back or stalled. Florida&#8217;s rules require a written petition filed with the clerk. That petition must come with a valid certificate of eligibility and a sworn statement. The sworn statement says you meet the eligibility requirements, that you are eligible to the best of your knowledge, and that no other petition to seal or expunge is pending before any court (<a href=\"https:\/\/www-media.floridabar.org\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2027_04-Oct-Criminal-Procedure-Rules-10-1-2026.pdf#page=251\">Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.692<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>The completed petition, sworn statement, and certificate must also be served on the prosecuting attorney and the arresting authority. Filings must also follow the general court rules on form and filing (<a href=\"https:\/\/www-media.floridabar.org\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2027_04-Oct-Criminal-Procedure-Rules-10-1-2026.pdf#page=19\">Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.030<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Common gaps include a missing certificate, an unsigned or unsworn statement, and no proof of service on the state attorney and arresting agency. Case numbers or dates that don&#8217;t match the court file are another easy error. Each gap gives a reason to send the filing back. A return costs time even when the record itself is eligible.<\/p>\n<h2>How Ineligibility Stops a Petition Before It Starts<\/h2>\n<p>A record that Florida law marks as ineligible cannot be cleared by petition, no matter how complete the paperwork is. Eligibility depends on the record, not just the forms. Under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0900-0999\/0943\/Sections\/0943.0584.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 943.0584<\/a>, &#8220;conviction&#8221; includes a determination of guilt even if adjudication is withheld. Many readers don&#8217;t expect that.<\/p>\n<p>Section 943.0584 lists manslaughter or homicide, as defined in s. 782.07, s. 782.071, or s. 782.072, among its enumerated offenses (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0900-0999\/0943\/Sections\/0943.0584.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 943.0584<\/a>). Section 782.07 defines manslaughter as the killing of a human being by the act, procurement, or culpable negligence of another, without lawful justification, and it is a felony of the second degree. Section 782.07 defines manslaughter as the killing of a human being by the act, procurement, or culpable negligence of another, without lawful justification, and makes it a felony of the second degree; the list in s. 943.0584 also includes any offense defined in chapter 794 and assault or battery against a family or household member.<\/p>\n<p>Other limits apply too. A court may order expunction for one arrest or one incident only, unless additional arrests directly relate to the original one.<\/p>\n<p>Certificate eligibility comes first. A court may not order a criminal justice agency to expunge your record until you have applied for and received a certificate of eligibility. For sealing, you apply to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement first (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0900-0999\/0943\/Sections\/0943.059.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 943.059<\/a>). For the full list of eligibility categories, see our seal and expunge overview.<\/p>\n<h2>What Fees and Time Are at Stake When a Petition Fails<\/h2>\n<p>When a petition fails, the money and time you spent may not clear your record. Under Florida&#8217;s rules, the petitioner bears all costs of certified copies unless the petitioner is indigent (<a href=\"https:\/\/www-media.floridabar.org\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2027_04-Oct-Criminal-Procedure-Rules-10-1-2026.pdf#page=251\">Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.692<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>A defective filing can also waste an order. The agency does not have to act on an order that does not follow the statute. No cause of action, including contempt of court, arises against a criminal justice agency for failing to comply with a sealing order when the petitioner did not obtain the certificate of eligibility or the order does not otherwise comply with the requirements of the statute.<\/p>\n<p>Courts can extend deadlines, but only within limits. A court may enlarge a time period for good cause. After the period ends, it may act for excusable neglect (<a href=\"https:\/\/www-media.floridabar.org\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2027_04-Oct-Criminal-Procedure-Rules-10-1-2026.pdf#page=20\">Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.050<\/a>). The court may not extend the time for taking an appeal, except as a statute or rule allows. Because of that, act quickly after a denial.<\/p>\n<h2>What Stays on the Record After a Denied Petition<\/h2>\n<p>A denied petition leaves the record as it is under that request. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement states that a court, not the department, has discretion to grant a sealing or expungement petition (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fdle.state.fl.us\/seal-and-expunge-process\/frequently-asked-questions\">FDLE sealing and expunging FAQ<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Some records clear without a petition. Under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0900-0999\/0943\/Sections\/0943.0595.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 943.0595<\/a>, the department must automatically seal certain records in qualifying cases. Those cases include ones where no charging document was filed, or charges were dismissed or nolle prosequi as to all counts, or a not guilty verdict or judgment of acquittal was entered on all counts, but the record must not result from a charging document for a forcible felony as defined in s. 776.08 or for an offense enumerated in s. 943.0435(1)(h)1.a.(I), and a person is not eligible for automatic sealing if the defendant was found not guilty by reason of insanity. The statute sets the conditions, so compare your case against them.<\/p>\n<h2>How to Reduce the Risk Before You File<\/h2>\n<p>The most useful step is to check eligibility and the full package before anything goes to the clerk. Work through these points in order:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Confirm the charge and the disposition against the eligibility rules above.<\/li>\n<li>Get the FDLE certificate of eligibility first. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.polkclerkfl.gov\/167\/Expunging-a-Record\">Polk County Clerk<\/a> notes that FDLE oversees the application process.<\/li>\n<li>Check that the sworn statement is complete and signed.<\/li>\n<li>Confirm that the petition is served on the state attorney and the arresting agency.<\/li>\n<li>Check every case number and date against the court file.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Patrick Wilson Law, PLLC focuses on seal and expunge matters and first-time offender cases in Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe, and the Florida Keys.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talk it through with our team &#8212; the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867611719\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/contact\/\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/rascacielos-modernos-del-centro-de-miami-bajo-un-cielo-azul-photo.jpg\" alt=\"Downtown Miami skyscrapers under a clear blue sky, with pedestrians crossing a bridge.\" style=\"border-radius:8px;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2>Talk Through Your Petition Before It Is Filed<\/h2>\n<p>If you&#8217;re reading this after a petition was returned or denied, or while you prepare one for a family member, the pressure is real. A filing may have been sent back. A record may be missing. You may not be sure the record is eligible yet. Patrick David Wilson and our team can talk through those facts with you. The firm offers a free, confidential first consultation with no obligation to continue. Call 786-761-1719 or send a message through our <a href=\"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/contact\/\">contact page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/article>\n<footer class=\"disclaimer\"><em>The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Please consult a qualified criminal defense attorney regarding your specific situation. Patrick Wilson Law, 13501 SW 128th St Ste 205, Miami, FL 33186.<\/em><\/footer>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-583d630a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">How We Approach Your Petition<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--document\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Careful Document Review<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We review every page of the petition and its supporting records so that nothing required is left out.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--shield\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Focus on Your Record<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patrick Wilson Law, PLLC concentrates on criminal defense matters, including sealing and expunging Florida criminal records.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--chat\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clear Communication<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We explain each step of the process in plain language so you know what is happening with your case.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--users\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attorneys Who Work Together<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our attorneys, Patrick David Wilson and Sahara Fonseca, and our team of support staff work together on each matter.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Important Warning<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A petition that is incomplete, missing a required document, or filed without reviewing the full criminal record can be returned, delayed, or denied. Review your petition carefully before you file it.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867611719\">Call 786-761-1719<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/contact\/\">Call 786-761-1719<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-surface-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-583d630a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Common Reasons Petitions Run Into Trouble<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eligibility Questions<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Courts review whether a record meets the requirements for sealing or expunction. A petition that does not address those questions clearly can be refused.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Incomplete Case History<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Charges, dismissals, and related case numbers that are left out or described inaccurately can delay the process or lead to a denial.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-base-color has-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4d466591 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--primary,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-base-color has-text-color\">Talk With Patrick Wilson Law About Your Petition<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-0aa01211 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867611719\">Schedule a Free Consultation or Call 786-761-1719<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/contact\/\">Schedule a Free Consultation or Call 786-761-1719<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- chg:section-siblings -->\n<nav aria-label=\"More in this section\">\n<h2>More in this section<\/h2>\n<ul><li><a href=\"\/resources\/seal-and-expunge-criminal-records\/fdle-certificate-of-eligibility\/\">Fdle Certificate of Eligibility<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/seal-and-expunge-criminal-records\/how-to-expunge-a-criminal-record\/\">how to expunge a criminal record<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/seal-and-expunge-criminal-records\/seal-expunge-attorney-vs-pro-se\/\">Seal Expunge Attorney vs Pro Se<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/seal-and-expunge-criminal-records\/seal-expunge-record-process-timeline\/\">Seal Expunge Record Process Timeline<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/seal-and-expunge-criminal-records\/sealed-or-expunged-record-disclosure\/\">Sealed or Expunged Record Disclosure<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<!-- \/chg:section-siblings -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn what an incomplete or ineligible Florida expungement petition can cost in fees, time and denial, from a Miami criminal defense firm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":122,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"chg_review":"","chg_sendback":"","chg_canonical":"","chg_lang":"","chg_hreflang":"[{\"hreflang\": \"en\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/seal-and-expunge-criminal-records\/expunge-petition-denied-risks\/\"}, {\"hreflang\": \"es\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/es\/sellar-expungir-antecedentes-penales\/riesgos-expungacion-denegada\/\"}, {\"hreflang\": \"x-default\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/seal-and-expunge-criminal-records\/expunge-petition-denied-risks\/\"}]","chg_jsonld":"[{\"@id\": \"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/expunge-petition-denied-risks\/#article\", \"about\": [{\"name\": \"Florida criminal record expungement\", \"@type\": \"Thing\"}, {\"name\": \"Florida criminal record sealing\", \"@type\": \"Thing\"}, {\"name\": \"Denied or returned 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