What is a certificate of eligibility from FDLE?

Before a court can seal or expunge a record, FDLE must determine that you're statutorily eligible and issue a certificate.

The application requires: a completed FDLE form, a fingerprint card, a certified copy of the disposition, and a fee.

What FDLE checks: whether you've previously sealed or expunged in Florida, whether the offense is excluded, whether the disposition qualifies, and whether you have anything outstanding.

The certificate is not the relief. It establishes eligibility. You still file a petition with the court, serve the parties, and attend a hearing. The court retains discretion — eligibility doesn't compel an order, though petitions with a valid certificate are commonly granted.

The certificate has an expiration, so the petition should be filed promptly after it issues.

The most common reason for denial is an unsatisfied financial obligation the applicant didn't know about. Confirming that before applying saves both the fee and the months.