If your criminal record is expunged in Pennsylvania, in most instances, you would not have to admit that you've had a criminal record. The expungement process, per Pennsylvania law, would destroy all records. That's an important consideration. As importantly, per Pennsylvania law, you're not required to disclose that you had a prior record unless you have an affirmative duty to do so. That affirmative duty can arise in situations, for example, when you're seeking professional licensure. For example, if you're trying to become a doctor, a nurse, an attorney, an accountant, any professional license, they often would have questions that would specifically require a person to disclose any prior records even if they were expunged.
There's going to be certain other instances, for example, the military, where a person would have an affirmative duty to disclose. You don't want to not correctly answer those questions. If you're ever faced with that kind of question and you've sought an expungement, it's important to answer it properly so that you do not have further issues. Issues can also arise, for example, if you're trying to buy a firearm in Pennsylvania when you're completing a firearm application. There are certain instances where you do have a duty to disclose. An experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney can help you best understand what your duty would be and when you do not actually have to disclose.
