PA Summary Offense Expungement Lawyer

A summary offense charge or conviction can follow you long after the case is over.  Unfortunately, summary offenses show up on background checks, creating obstacles to getting a job, housing, and college admissions.  As a PA Summary Offense Expungement Lawyer, I can help erase summary offense records, so they don’t harm your future.  Whether your case involves underage drinking, disorderly conduct, harassment, or retail theft, I will work to clear your record.  Ready to take the next step?  I’m here to help.

Quick Summary of Key Points

• You can clear a summary offense from your record after 5 years, as long as you haven’t been arrested or convicted of anything during that time
• If your summary offense was dismissed, withdrawn, or marked “nolle prossed,” you can file for expungement right away
• Common Pennsylvania summary offenses that can be expunged in Pennsylvania include retail theft, underage drinking, disorderly conduct, and harassment
• Expunging your summary offense record can significantly improve your chances of getting a job and open up other career opportunities
• Hiring an experienced summary offense expungement lawyer ensures that your petition is filed correctly, your rights are protected, and gives you the best chance of getting your record cleared

Why Expunge a Summary Offense in PA?

A 2025 Census Bureau study says having a criminal record can hurt your chances of getting a job and earning more money.  The study can be found at: Understanding Criminal Record Penalties in the Labor Market

A single summary offense, like underage drinking, disorderly conduct, or shoplifting, can stay on your record for life, showing up anytime someone runs a background check.  Expunging your Pennsylvania summary offense removes that obstacle.  Here’s how it pays off:

• It Will Help You Get a Job
• It Can Help You Get Approved for Housing and Loans
• It Can Protect Your Professional License or Certification
• It May Lower Auto and Life Insurance Premiums
• It Will Restore Your Personal and Professional Reputation

Bucks County Summary Offense Expungement Lawyer

Ready to erase the past and give yourself a fresh start?  Call me today at (215) 752-5282 for a free review of your case.

A Summary Offense Criminal Record Can be Used Against You in Custody Hearings

A minor criminal record can hurt a parent in child custody cases.  A family court judge may question a parent’s ability to safely care for their children if that parent was charged with or convicted of a summary offense involving domestic violence (disorderly conduct, harassment) or alcohol or drug abuse (public intoxication).

Under the recently enacted Kayden’s Law, the child custody judge must consider child’s safety above all other factors when making a custody ruling.

A Summary Offense on Your Record May Make It Harder to Get a Job

Today’s job market is very competitive.  As a result, most hiring managers check everyone’s past to protect the company from hiring employees with questionable backgrounds.

Most employers will conduct a PA employment background check before making a job offer.  Do you have a summary offense criminal history?  If so, you may not get past the initial job application stage.  Don’t let this happen to you.

What is a Summary Offense?

A Pennsylvania summary offense is a minor criminal charge that does rise to the level of a misdemeanor or felony crime.  The police send you a citation if they charge you with a summary crime.

What Types of Summary Offenses Can be Expunged?

Why Choose My Law Firm for Your Expungement?

I have spent over 15 years helping people in Bucks County and the surrounding counties clear their summary records.  During that time, I have filed over 500 Summary Offense Expungement Petitions in the local county courts.

I offer affordable, transparent flat fees and I make it a priority to keep you informed of every step in the process.  Are you ready to move forward to clear your summary record?  If so, call me today at (215) 752-5282.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need to Request a Background Check Before Filing for Summary Expungement?

Yes.  You will need to request a copy of your Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History.  You can order a copy of your criminal history on the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) website page at Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History – Home

You will need to select “submit a new record check” and make a $22.00 online payment for the criminal history.  The Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History must be attached to the expungement petition when your lawyer files it with the clerk of courts.

Is a Pennsylvania Summary Offense Automatically Expunged?

Yes, only if you are found not guilty by a judge either in a magisterial district court after a summary trial or in the court of common pleas after a summary appeal hearing.

Are Summary Offense Convictions Automatically Sealed After 5 Years?

Yes.  Under the Pennsylvania Clean Slate 3.0 law, summary offenses are automatically sealed after 5 years if you have not been arrested or convicted of a crime in the 5 years since the summary offense conviction.

What is the Difference Between a Summary Offense Expungement and a Summary Offense Criminal Record Seal?

An expungement erases your criminal record from public view and government databases, as if it never happened.  In contrast, a summary offense criminal record seal hides your record from the general public but does not erase it.

Some employers can still see a sealed criminal record, and it may appear on some background checks.  Also, government agencies, licensing boards, certain employers, and law enforcement agencies can still access a sealed summary offense.

If you’re job hunting, expungement offers the strongest protection.

What Summary Offenses are Eligible for Immediate Expungement?

You can petition the court for immediate expungement if your summary offense was withdrawn, dismissed, or “nolle prossed” by a prosecutor or a judge.  For underage drinking, see the section below.

If a judge found that you were not guilty of the summary offense, the court will automatically expunge your record without requiring a petition.

Can You Be Fired for a Summary Offense?

Yes.  Your employer can fire or demote you if they discover that you have been charged or convicted of certain summary offenses.  The most serious summary offenses include harassment, public drunkenness, and retail theft.

You are more likely to be fired for a summary offense if you work in any of the following fields:

• Healthcare
• Child daycare
• Eldercare
• Nursing
• Education
• Financial services
• Retail Services

Am I Eligible to Expunge a Pennsylvania Underage Drinking Citation?

Yes.  If you got an underage drinking citation, here’s the quick breakdown for expungement:

• If You Were Under 18 at the Time:  You can file for expungement once you turn 18, have stayed arrest-free for 6 months, satisfied the conditions of sentence, and paid all court costs and fines
• If the judge found you not guilty, the court will automatically expunge the citation within 3 months
• If You Were Over 18 at the Time:  You can file for expungement once you turn 21, have stayed arrest-free since the conviction, satisfied all conditions, and paid all court costs and fines
• If the judge issued a not guilty ruling, the court would automatically expunge your case within 3 months

Does a Summary Shoplifting Citation go on Your Record?

Yes.  A criminal record is created once the police file the citation with the local magisterial district judge.  That record will still show up unless your summary record is expunged.

How Long Does a Summary Offense Stay on My Record?

A summary offense will stay on your record for life if it is not expunged.  If you are eligible, it is important to file a petition for summary expungement as soon as possible.

How Long do I Have to Wait Before Filing for a Summary Expungement?

Five years unless your summary offense was for underage drinking (see above).  The five-year waiting period only applies if you were convicted of a summary offense.  A conviction occurs if:

• You plead guilty to the summary offense
• A judge found you guilty of the summary offense

Can I Expunge Multiple Summary Offenses?

Yes, if you were not charged or convicted of a summary, misdemeanor, or felony offense within 5 years of your most recent summary conviction.

Do I need a Lawyer for Expungement?

Yes, in almost all cases.  Unfortunately, it is difficult for a non-lawyer to understand the requirements of the summary expungement law.  It can be challenging for a non-attorney to figure out the expungement requirements, including court filings, notice requirements, court deadlines, and, in some cases, the expungement court hearing.

How do I Find the Best Lawyer for Summary Offense Expungement in Bucks County?

Before hiring a lawyer, consider these things:

• How many years has the lawyer helped people clear their summary offense records?
• Are all the lawyer’s reviews on Google 5-star?
• Has the attorney filed a large number of Summary Offense Expungement Petitions?
• Does the lawyer work on summary expungement cases in many Pennsylvania Counties?

How Long Does It Take to Get a Summary Offense Expunged?

Approximately 3 to 5 months.  In the overwhelming majority of the cases, the District Attorney consents to the summary expungement.

Assuming that the district attorney does not object to the expungement, the judge will sign the expungement order within 6 weeks after your attorney files the expungement request.

Next, the clerk of courts will send a certified copy of the expungement order to all agencies that possess the records of your summary citation.  Finally, all agencies should verify the destruction of the summary offense records within 90 days after receiving the expungement order.

Over 95% of the summary expungements I file are completed within 4 months or sooner.

Pennsylvania Summary Offense Expungement Lawyer

If you were charged with a summary offense in Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, Philadelphia, or Northampton County, Pennsylvania, I can help you clear your record.

I am a Pennsylvania summary offense expungement lawyer with over 15 years of experience and over 500 expungement cases.  I offer personalized legal advice and fast, effective results.

Call (215) 752-5282 for your free consultation today.  Your second chance starts with one phone call.