How it works in Pennsylvania
These steps cover the court-petition process — the path that applies if you don't qualify for the automatic Clean Slate process.
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Request your Record
Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Pennsylvania State Police.
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Review your Record
Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.
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Request Certified Documents
Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements.
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Verify the Final Documents
Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.
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Prepare your Petition
Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, the waiting periods are tiered: certain arrest records require thirty days to pass, certain summary convictions require five years, certain misdemeanor convictions require seven years, and certain felony convictions require ten years — confirm the applicable wait for your charge class before submitting.
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Finalize your Petition
Take the completed petition from Step 5, the documents collected in Step 3, and the background check from Step 1, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.
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File your Expeal Request
File the petition with the Court of Common Pleas that handled the case.
Cost: $176.50 — Pennsylvania expungement-petition filing fees vary by county Court of Common Pleas and may be subject to poverty-affidavit waivers; consult the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas that handled the case for the current fee schedule.
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Work with the Court
After the Pennsylvania court confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a hearing notice or a request for additional documents. Respond promptly to anything the court asks for, and prepare for the hearing if one is scheduled.
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Receive the Court's Order
Once the judge rules, the court issues a written order either granting or denying your petition. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out exactly which records are covered and whether the outcome is an expungement (record erased) or Clean Slate limited-access sealing (record hidden from most public view). Keep a certified copy for your own files.
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Verify the Record is Cleared
Under 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9122 to 9122.2, the Pennsylvania State Police and the original arresting agency update or remove the records covered by the order. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the court's order is your authoritative reference. Confirm with the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and the arresting agency that their records reflect the order as well.
If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.
Official agencies
Court forms
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