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Clear your Pennsylvania record DIY

You can clear your Pennsylvania record. Pennsylvania law lets you expunge certain arrest records and certain convictions under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 and seal certain records under the Clean Slate limited-access framework in § 9122.2. Some records clear automatically through the Clean Slate process, while others require a petition filed with the Court of Common Pleas that handled the case.

Expeal Ranking

Pennsylvania's Expeal ranking is 12 out of 15, or a B+. This is the average of five metric scores across four case types.

Metric Misdemeanor — Arrest Misdemeanor — Conviction Felony — Arrest Felony — Conviction
Clean Slate 3 3 3 3
Expeal 2 2 2 2
Tasks 3 3 3 3
Wait 3 0 3 0
Cost 2 2 2 2
Total 13 10 13 10

The metrics are defined as follows:

  • Clean Slate: 3 if implemented; 2 if proposed or in the process of being implemented; 1 if being discussed; 0 if nothing.
  • Expeal: 3 if records are erased or destroyed; 2 if records are hidden but still exist; 1 if records are given a notation or some other form of reduction; 0 if nothing or if the process requires a pardon or similar prerequisite.
  • Tasks: 3 if application alone or automatic; 2 if straightforward court or administrative engagement is required; 1 if administrative engagement is required before straightforward court; 0 if convincing the court is required.
  • Wait: 3 if immediate to 1 year; 2 if 1 to 3 years; 1 if 3 to 5 years; 0 if more than 5 years or an intermediate step is required before the clock starts.
  • Cost: 3 if under $50; 2 if $50.01 to $250; 1 if $250.01 to $500; 0 if more than $500.

Governing statutes

Fees

Fee Amount Source
Filing fee —
PA Common Pleas filing fees for petition-based expungement are set county-by-county; there is no single statewide-canonical figure. Examples: **Bucks County** charges $253.50 (+$5 add-on if the case did not originate at the Common Pleas level). **Montgomery County** charges $176.50 (+$13.50 per agency with records that needs to be served). Verify against the specific county's Clerk of Courts fee schedule before filing. 		Reference
Certified copy fee $11.50 Reference
Record request fee $20.00 Reference

Step-by-step process

Below are the five phases that take you through the Expeal process in Pennsylvania if you don't qualify for the automatic Clean Slate process.

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.

Phase 1: Verifying you Qualify

  1. Step 1: Request your Record. Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Pennsylvania State Police.

    Cost: $20.00

  2. Step 2: 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.

Phase 2: Collecting your Documents

  1. Step 3: 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.

    Cost: $11.50

  2. Step 4: 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.

Phase 3: Completing the Petition

  1. Step 5: 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.

  2. Step 6: 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.

Phase 4: Final Steps

  1. Step 7: File your Expeal Request. File the petition with the Court of Common Pleas that handled the case.

    Cost: $176.50 (Pending verification — PA-authoritative source needed. Legacy URL madisoncountycircuitclerk.com/fees-forms is cross-state contamination per state-guide-content-integrity.md §3.1 / §11 HIGH (NH/PA/UT cluster). 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.)

  2. Step 8: 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.

Phase 5: Confirming Your Record is Cleared

  1. Step 9: 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.

  2. Step 10: Verify the Record is Cleared. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 and § 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.

Official government links

The following pages are important to be familiar with as you work through the sealing process:

Forms

The following links lead to official forms required for the sealing process:

Common questions

Is this legal advice?

No. Expeal provides plain-language educational content and tools with direct citations to your state's statutes — not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

Why is this free?

The state-by-state guides — statutes, fees, steps, sources — are free for everyone. Expeal's revenue model is the optional DIY+ guided product available in select states, which funds the public-benefit educational content.