Expungement Lawyers in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
One mistake can lead to a criminal record that poses many problems for an individual throughout their life. Someone with a criminal history may experience difficulty finding employment and housing, and a criminal record may hold other negative implications for the future. Fortunately, expungement may provide an individual with the ability to remove a crime from their criminal history.
The experienced team of expungement attorneys at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg, and Gifford, P.C. specialize in helping expunge the criminal records of our Pennsylvania clients so they can move forward with their lives.
Pennsylvania Expungement Process
The process of expungement is meant to remove information from an individual’s criminal record. The first step is to gather all information about your case, including the date of arrest, the offenses, the name of the law enforcement agency, the name of court-ordered programs, and the completion records. Once you have all documents and information together, you can file your petition to the Court of Common Pleas in the county in which you were charged.
You may have to pay a fee and once it is filed, you will have a scheduled hearing. At the hearing, a judge will determine if your case is eligible for expungement or not. If accepted, your charges will be expunged. If denied, you could pursue a pardon or some other type of sealing of your record. The entire process may take several months.
Who Can Get Their Record Expunged in Pennsylvania?
Not everyone in Pennsylvania is eligible for expungement. To qualify for this relief in Pennsylvania, it used to be the case that you could not have been convicted. This means that no disposition could show after your case, and you could not have pending charges on the case if you were looking to have it expunged. To be deemed a non-conviction in Pennsylvania, your case must have either:
- Been dismissed
- Been discharged
- Not been found guilty
- Been withdrawn
In 2008, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed Act 134. The Act allows convictions to be expunged under certain circumstances. Generally, Summary offenses can be expunged if you have been free of arrest or prosecution for at least five years after the conviction. You can also pursue expungement if you have reached age 70 and have been free of arrests and prosecutions for 10 years. Other cases that are eligible for expungement or sealing include:
- Second degree misdemeanors, if committed while under age 25 and have been free of arrests and convictions for between seven and 10 years
- Third degree misdemeanors, if you have been free of arrests and convictions for between seven and 10 years
Some misdemeanor offenses do not qualify for expungement, including:
- second degree assault
- sex offenses
- animal cruelty
Even if you do not believe you will not be able to have your record expunged, you should contact a Pennsylvania expungement attorney to learn more about your options for your specific situation.
Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation with An Experienced Bucks County Expungement Attorney
Having your record cleared can be a complex process. If you have been convicted of a criminal offense in Bucks County and believe that you meet the criteria for expungement, get in touch with the experienced expungement attorneys at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C. Our expungement lawyers can evaluate your case and, if you are eligible, petition the judge for expungement.
More importantly, you do not have to go through this challenging process alone. Our Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyers understand how tough it can be to secure a job, housing, and more, which is why our expungement lawyers are committed to defending your best interests through the judicial process. With our firm’s 65 years of experience, our trusted and award-winning team understands the complexities of Pennsylvania’s expungement process. Our office can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To get started with your free case evaluation, please give us a call at (215) 822-7575 or contact us using our contact form through our website.
