This page was designed to help our clients better understand our Pennsylvania probation termination service and probation termination in general. You will find answers to the questions we are most frequently asked. The easiest way to determine if you are eligible to terminate your probation is to take our free online eligibility test.
Simply click on a question to see its answer:
While we cannot definitively predict the outcome, we have been successful in more than 85% of our probation termination cases. The more supporting evidence that you have of your reform and law abiding behavior the better your chances of success become. If you have complied with every requirement of your probation thus far, then your chances of success are very good, but of course that is not a guarantee that your probation will be terminated. If you would like us to evaluate your case we can do so for a fee and it will be applied to the total probation termination fee if you sign up for the service.
The court considers criminal history, amount of time spent on probation, your age, seriousness of the offense, compliance with other terms of the sentence, your behavior while on probation thus far, the need for relief, the potential benefit to society, and any other relevant factors.
We will be glad to work with you to get a copy of your record and to review what can be done. We charge a researching fee to do it and we apply that to the cost of any service you hire us to perform.
No, your disposition does not matter.
No.
One of the requirements for expungement is that your probation is completed. If your probation is terminated early then this requirement is met. However, not all crimes are eligible for expungement in Pennsylvania. Please take our free eligibility test to determine if you are eligible to expunge your conviction so you are no longer convicted.
Yes. We can file for them at the same time and can offer you a discount on the expungement if you sign up for the two services together.
Yes. In order to file for expungement of any cases you can’t be on probation for any offenses in any case.
We are unable to offer a money back guarantee and also offer our services at such a low price at the same time, because the process involves a substantial amount of preparation and sometimes several appearances in court by our attorneys.
Cases are denied for the following reasons: (1) an inaccuracy in the court file, (2) an inaccuracy in the application, (3) the court does not believe that terminating your probation at this time will be in the interest of society, (4) violating probation, or (5) not paying fines.
If the case is denied, we evaluate the reason for the denial and determine the best way to proceed. Wait until probation is naturally terminated or waiting longer to refile my be best.
No, we go for you. If the court requests your presence and you are unable to attend, then we will request for your presence to be excused.
You will receive a court order terminating your probation and closing your case. After that, you may be eligible for expungement depending on your offense.
The court will send the granted order to the Pennsylvania State Police, who will then update their records and the criminal record databases will be updated to reflect that your probation was terminated and case closed.
The court is the first to update its records. The Pennsylvania State Police should update its records promptly upon receiving notice from the court that your probation has been terminated. This typically takes a few weeks to a month.
Your probation will show as terminated and you are not serving a sentence. However, your case will still show as a conviction unless you have your case expunged.
Having your probation terminated early will increase your chances of being hired, because you can truthfully state you are not serving a sentence or are not on probation. However, to increase your chances you should also have your conviction expunged so you can truthfully state you are not convicted.
Probation termination will not terminate the requirement to register.
There is a separate process under Pennsylvania state law in which you can petition a court to restore your gun rights if they have been taken away. Getting off probation or even an expungement does not automatically restore your gun rights.
Furthermore, under federal law there is a lifetime ban on gun ownership for all those convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor domestic violence offense (as defined by the federal law). The federal definition may be narrower than Pennsylvania’s definition, so your domestic violence conviction in Pennsylvania might not trigger the federal law. Again, getting off probation, an expungement, or firearm restoration through the Pennsylvania courts will not automatically lift the federal ban if the ban applies to you.