Free Expungement Help in Pennsylvania
Last reviewed: May 27, 2026 · Resource links checked: May 28, 2026
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Act is the most expansive automatic sealing program in the country — it's already sealed tens of millions of records without anyone having to ask. If you're Pennsylvania-based and your conviction is older than 10 years and was a misdemeanor or summary offense with no new convictions since, there's a very good chance your record has already been sealed automatically. Start by checking. Community Legal Services in Philadelphia runs My Clean Slate PA specifically to help people understand their status and handle anything the automatic program missed.
Quick answer: free expungement help in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, free expungement help may be available through nonprofit legal aid, local clinics, court fee waivers, and Clean Slate automatic sealing programs. Start with the verified organizations below, then confirm whether your court costs or filing fees can be waived.
✅ Clean Slate / Automatic Sealing
Yes — Pennsylvania Clean Slate Act (Act 5 of 2018) automatically seals eligible misdemeanors and summary offenses after 10 years. Has already sealed 35+ million records statewide. Completely free.
How to get a fee waiver in Pennsylvania
File an In Forma Pauperis petition to waive the ~$132 filing fee for petition-based sealing. Clean Slate automatic sealing has no fee at all.
Fee waivers (also called Affidavit of Indigency or In Forma Pauperis petition) are typically available if your household income is at or below 125–200% of the federal poverty level, or if you currently receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, or veterans benefits based on need.
Who should start with free legal aid?
Start here if money is the barrier
Legal aid is usually the best first step if filing fees, attorney fees, or document costs would stop you from pursuing expungement or sealing. Most programs screen by income, household size, case type, and county.
Use clinics for screening
Expungement clinics are especially useful when you are not sure whether the record qualifies. Bring your case number and disposition so a clinic can tell you whether to file, wait, or use another remedy.
Use fee waivers for court costs
A fee waiver does not guarantee expungement, but it can remove the court filing cost. Ask the clerk or legal aid intake whether your state uses an indigency affidavit, in forma pauperis form, or fee waiver.
Use an attorney for complex records
If you have multiple counties, felonies, pending charges, immigration concerns, licensing issues, or a denied petition, ask legal aid whether you need full representation instead of brief advice.
Documents to gather before calling legal aid
- Government ID and current contact information.
- Case number, arrest date, charge, county, and court name.
- Certified disposition or docket sheet showing how the case ended.
- Proof that probation, parole, fines, fees, or restitution are complete, if applicable.
- Recent proof of income or public benefits if the organization screens by income.
- A short explanation of why you need the record cleared: work, housing, licensing, school, immigration, or family stability.
Verified free legal aid organizations in Pennsylvania
Every organization below is a nonprofit, government-affiliated, law-school, court, or bar-backed resource. Resource links were browser-checked on May 28, 2026, but clinic schedules and eligibility rules change. Always confirm details directly with the organization before relying on a date, income limit, or service area.
- My Clean Slate PA (Community Legal Services Philadelphia)
Official resource. Check intake rules, county coverage, and current clinic availability before applying.
- Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Official resource. Check intake rules, county coverage, and current clinic availability before applying.
- Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP)
Official resource. Check intake rules, county coverage, and current clinic availability before applying.
- Neighborhood Legal Services (Pittsburgh)
Official resource. Check intake rules, county coverage, and current clinic availability before applying.
- MidPenn Legal Services (Harrisburg / Central PA)
Official resource. Check intake rules, county coverage, and current clinic availability before applying.
Free expungement help by city in Pennsylvania
Free expungement resources vary significantly by metro area. Here's what's available in the largest cities, including local legal aid offices, clinics, bar-backed programs, and reentry resources.
Philadelphia / Philadelphia County
- My Clean Slate PA (Community Legal Services)
- Philadelphia VIP (Volunteers for the Indigent Program)
- Defender Association of Philadelphia Reentry Project
My Clean Slate PA is the gold standard for Philadelphia record clearing — they have specific expertise in Act 5 of 2018 and know exactly which records need a petition vs. which are already auto-sealed. Philadelphia VIP matches volunteers with low-income clients across all civil legal matters including expungement. The Defender Association's Reentry Project specifically handles people coming out of incarceration.
Verify clinic dates and eligibility directly with the listed organization. ExpungeReady does not operate these programs.
Pittsburgh / Allegheny County
- Neighborhood Legal Services Association
- Allegheny County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
- Duquesne University School of Law Clinic
Neighborhood Legal Services covers all of Allegheny County and several surrounding counties. Duquesne Law School's clinic handles both criminal record sealing and expungement under attorney supervision at no cost. Call NLSA first — they do intake screening and route cases to the right program.
Verify clinic dates and eligibility directly with the listed organization. ExpungeReady does not operate these programs.
Harrisburg / Lehigh Valley / Central PA
MidPenn Legal Services covers 18 counties in Central Pennsylvania including Dauphin (Harrisburg), Berks (Reading), Centre, Lebanon, and York. LASP covers Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties plus Bucks County — the southeastern collar counties outside Philadelphia. Both organizations offer expungement and sealing as priority services.
Verify clinic dates and eligibility directly with the listed organization. ExpungeReady does not operate these programs.
Pennsylvania free expungement — frequently asked questions
How do I know if Pennsylvania already sealed my record automatically?
Request your own criminal history from the Pennsylvania State Police (PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov). A standard name search costs $22. If a conviction that should be auto-sealed still shows, contact the Pennsylvania State Police Record Check unit — sealed records are updated in quarterly batches.
What does Pennsylvania Clean Slate NOT cover?
Second-degree and first-degree misdemeanors, most felonies, DUIs, sex offenses, and any offense with a sentence of more than 2 years. These still require a petition under Act 36 (for felonies) or Act 5 petition-based sealing. A legal aid attorney can tell you which track applies.
Can a felony be sealed in Pennsylvania?
Yes, certain felonies can be sealed under Act 36 of 2020 — non-violent F2 and F3 felonies where the sentence was under 7 years, after a 10-year clean period. F1 felonies, violent offenses, and sex offenses are excluded. A petition must be filed in the Court of Common Pleas. This does not happen automatically.
What if you do not qualify for free help?
If legal aid cannot take your case, you may still have options: file on your own, request a fee waiver, wait for automatic Clean Slate sealing, or consult a licensed attorney for a paid eligibility review. ExpungeReady currently has Pennsylvania attorney listings you can compare.