How To Get Your Record Expunged In PA (Petition And Process)

Wondering How To Get Your Record Expunged in Pa?

Getting your record expunged in PA is a legal process that removes certain criminal records from public access. This applies to records that did NOT result in a conviction or, in specific cases, to misdemeanor or felony convictions that have been pardoned by the Governor.

Why Getting Your Record Expunged In PA Important

Having a criminal record can impact your ability to:

✅ Secure employment opportunities
✅ Obtain housing or loans
✅ Apply for professional licenses
✅ Qualify for certain government programs

For many individuals, expungement offers a second chance by clearing their record and allowing them to move forward without the burden of past offenses.

So, What is an Expungement?

An expungement is a Court Order that actually clears your criminal history from the PA State Police Criminal Repository. All other agencies that get that information then update their records. For many people searching for a way to erase my record, an expungement is often the first legal step to explore. This process comes closest to wiping the slate clean. Pardons are required from the Governor before trying to expunge a misdemeanor or felony conviction.

Other expungements include when you’ve committed a minor, summary offense or when the offense was committed as a juvenile. In this post, we share how to get your record expunged in PA.

Where to go to get your record expunged

Expungement Petitions are filed in the County where the conduct occurred. Expungements are authorized by the statute 18 PACSA 9122 (and subsections). Any petition filed on unqualified charges will be denied.  Any expungement requested for a misdemeanor or felony conviction that has not been pardoned will be denied (unless the Petitioner is 70 years old).

Expungements can only be filed in specific instances under Pennsylvania Law:

• A summary offense after five years of law-abiding behavior
  • The partial list of offenses are:
    • Disorderly Conduct (s) (5103)
    • Harassment (s) (2709)
    • Underage Consumption (s) (6308)
    • Retail Theft (s) (3929)
    • Other Summaries
    • NOT Traffic Offenses (the Motor Vehicle Code does not contain an expungement provision).
• An Underage Consumption (S) is expungable when the person reaches 21 years of age.
• Any docket where ALL charges have been withdrawn, nol prossed or dismissed
• Any docket resolved successfully with ARD, or Section 17 or Section 586
  • ARD is probation without a conviction
  • Section 17 was used for drug misdemeanors and is not a conviction
  • 586 dispositions mean the victim got paid back in full and is not a conviction
• Any docket that has NO disposition after 18 months
• Any convictions that have been pardoned by the Governor
• Felony and Misdemeanor convictions IF the Petitioner is over 70 years of age and has not been under supervision for ten years.

>>> Learn more on how to get a felony record cleared in PA

How Does the Expungement Process Work in Pennsylvania?

To get started with an expungement, you will need a copy of your court or docket records. An experienced expungement attorney can help you through the expungement process.  You will also need to give a copy to the district attorney who will be given time to agree or oppose your petition.

How to Clear Your Criminal Record with the Expungement Process in PA:

1. An expungement is prepared and filed in the County where the charge occurred.
2. Every County has a different filing fee and processes.
3. When a petition for expungement is filed in the County of Record, the District Attorney is allowed 30 days to consent to or oppose the Petition or ask for a hearing.
4. Meanwhile the Court Administrator may schedule an Expungement hearing which could require you to appear in Court.
5. When the Judge signs the Expungement Order, all records are ordered destroyed.
6. The Pennsylvania State Police will update their database, and the information will be deleted from the UJS portal after a few months.

If your record is sealed or expunged, it will no longer be visible to the general public, including potential employers. Find out if your criminal record is eligible for expungement or sealing.      

>>> Read how pardons for non-violent marijuana-related convictions have been expedited in PA

>>> Read about Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Law

Erase My Record

Cleaning up criminal offense history record information can be challenging, especially if you have a misdemeanor conviction or felony conviction. If you’re not sure of the first step to take for an expungement request in Pennsylvania, we can help. Contact Record Eraser to tell your story to a qualified expungement attorney (this is not the same as a criminal defense attorney).

When you partner with our PA Expungement lawyers, you get:

• 30+ years of legal experience

• Specialized relationships with key legal partners

• Our process to research, advise and file PA Expungement petitions, and Pardon Applications.

But most importantly, you get fast PA record expungement filings that end in better results.

Erase My Record