Last updated February 2026
If you were arrested once — but charged with multiple offenses — you may be wondering:
Can all of those charges be sealed or expunged together?
The answer is often yes — if they truly arose from the same criminal incident.
Florida’s one-time record-clearing rule is strict, but it focuses on whether arrests stem from the same episode — not simply how many charges appear on your record.
👉 For the full overview of Florida’s sealing and expungement rules, start here: Sealing & Expungement in Florida
⚖️ The Key Question: Was It One Criminal Episode?
Florida law generally allows only one sealing or expunction in a lifetime under:
Fla. Stat. § 943.0585 (expunction)
Fla. Stat. § 943.059 (sealing)
However, multiple charges may be cleared together if they:
Arose from the same arrest, and
Stemmed from the same criminal incident, and
All charges meet eligibility requirements
In that situation, the law treats the case as one record-clearing event — not multiple.
✅ When Multiple Arrest Charges Can Be Cleared Together
You may qualify to seal or expunge multiple charges if:
✔ All charges arose from the same traffic stop or incident
✔ The case resulted in dismissal, no action, or eligible withhold
✔ No adjudication of guilt was entered
✔ You have not previously used your one sealing/expungement opportunity
Common Examples:
DUI + open container + DWLS from one stop
Drug possession + paraphernalia from one arrest
Multiple theft counts from one alleged event
Companion charges filed under separate case numbers but tied to one incident
What matters is whether the charges arose from the same criminal episode, not how many counts were filed.
🚫 When You Cannot Clear Multiple Arrests
You are typically not eligible to clear multiple arrests if:
The arrests occurred on different dates
The charges arose from separate incidents
Any charge resulted in adjudication of guilt
You previously sealed or expunged another case
One of the offenses is statutorily disqualified
Florida’s one-time rule applies to separate criminal episodes — even if all cases were dismissed.
🧠 Why This Issue Is Often Confused
Eligibility is frequently miscalculated because:
Multiple charges appear under separate case numbers
Clerks treat companion charges as separate events
Arrest reports list different statute numbers
Cases are filed in different divisions of court
Background checks show arrests separately
But legally, what matters is whether they arose from the same underlying incident.
🔍 Sealing vs. Expungement: Does It Matter Here?
Yes.
If charges from the same incident were dismissed or no-filed, expungement may be available.
If adjudication was withheld, sealing may be the appropriate remedy.
👉 For a detailed breakdown of the difference, see: Sealing vs. Expunging Criminal Records in Florida
🛡️ How We Evaluate Same-Incident Cases
At Michael White, P.A., we:
✔ Review arrest reports to confirm a single episode
✔ Compare case numbers and statute references
✔ Confirm final dispositions for each charge
✔ Identify disqualifying offenses
✔ Determine whether all charges qualify together
✔ Prepare a unified petition to avoid technical denial
Small technical errors — like treating companion charges separately — can permanently affect eligibility.
📞 Don’t Assume Multiple Charges Mean Multiple Limits
If your record shows multiple arrests but they stem from one event, you may still qualify to clear them together.
Florida’s one-time rule is strict — but it is episode-based, not count-based.
👉 Schedule a consultation to review whether your charges qualify as one record-clearing event.
❓ FAQs — Same-Incident Arrests in Florida
Can I expunge multiple charges from the same arrest?
Often yes, if all charges arose from the same criminal incident and meet eligibility requirements.
Do separate case numbers count as separate cases?
Not necessarily. What matters is whether the charges stemmed from the same criminal episode.
What if one charge was dismissed but another resulted in adjudication?
If any charge from the incident resulted in adjudication of guilt, expungement is typically unavailable.
Does sealing count the same as expungement for the one-time rule?
Yes. Florida generally permits only one record-clearing event for separate criminal episodes.
What if I already sealed a different case?
If you previously sealed or expunged a separate criminal episode, you are usually barred from clearing another.