ATLAW
Parklane Towers West, 3 Parklane Blvd Suite 400
Phone: (313) 406-7606
Law Office of Julian J. Poota, PLLC
26555 Evergreen Rd #1220
Phone: (248) 356-8900
Kimberly Kramer Attorney
916 Washington Ave #301
Phone: (989) 671-4333
Manley & Manley
503 Saginaw St #800
Phone: (810) 374-0240
Ticket Fix Pro
29500 Telegraph Rd Suite 250
Phone: (833) 842-5776
George Law
444 S Washington Ave
Phone: (248) 450-0458
Davis Law Group PLLC
615 Griswold St Ste 719
Phone: (313) 284-5963
Detroit Legal Group PLLC
407 E Fort St Ste 103
Phone: (313) 962-4954
Freedman Law Group
420 W University Dr
Phone: (248) 220-3883
Elimitix, PLLC
24100 Southfield Rd #203
Phone: (844) 937-6849
Attorney Matthew L. Norwood
503 Saginaw St #526
Phone: (810) 235-4639
Sommers Schwartz, P.C.
1 Towne Square #1700
Phone: (248) 355-0300
Jonathan Jones, Attorney at Law, PLLC
32398 Woodward Ave
Phone: (248) 310-3399
The Boss Attorney
8424 12 Mile Rd Suite 200
Phone: (888) 778-2224
Grabel & Associates
124 W Allegan St #636
Phone: (517) 290-1167
Law Offices of Raymond A. Cassar, PLC
30445 Northwestern Hwy Ste 220
Phone: (248) 855-0911
Jack J. Kramer, P.C. – Attorney at Law
1900 W Big Beaver Rd Suite 203
Phone: (248) 797-3482
Friedman Law Firm
302 S Main St
Phone: (248) 932-0900
SSR LAW
45952 Schoenherr Rd
Phone: (586) 239-0871
Somberg Law, PLLC
31700 Telegraph Rd Ste 210
Phone: (248) 270-5979
GEHERIN LAW GROUP, PLLC
760 W Eisenhower Pkwy Suite #305
Phone: (734) 259-7670
The TGQ Law Firm
2144 S State St Suite F
Phone: (734) 707-3232
Babut Law Offices, PLLC
700 Towner St
Phone: (734) 725-0316
Law Office of Julie A. Paquette, PLC.
7 W Square Lake Rd
Phone: (248) 648-1148
The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan
2675 44th St SW Suite 208
Phone: (616) 438-6719
Lewis & Dickstein, P.L.L.C.
3000 Town Center #1330
Phone: (248) 263-6800
Law Offices of Joseph A. Simon, PLLC
1310 S Main St #11
Phone: (734) 887-6200
Boria Law – Criminal Defense Attorney
472 Starkweather St
Phone: (734) 453-7806
ArborYpsi Law
2750 Carpenter Rd #2
Phone: (734) 883-9584
Coontz Law
530 W Ionia St Suite B
Phone: (517) 940-8004
Jarboe & Pfeil
160 E State St Suite 100, MI
Phone: (231) 922-3452
Neighborhood Legal Services Michigan
7310 Woodward Ave #27/301, Detroit, MI
Phone: (313) 964-1975
Kelly & Kelly, P.C.
422 E Main St, Northville, MI
Phone: (248) 348-0496
The Covert Law Firm, PLLC
318 W Ottawa St, Lansing, MI
Phone: (517) 512-8364
Cherf & Greenup PC
25400 Little Mack Ave, St Clair Shores, MI
Phone: (586) 774-2222
Nafsu Law, PLLC
1900 W Big Beaver Rd, Suite 203, Troy, MI
Phone: (248) 890-6400
Longstreet Elder Law & Estate Planning, PC
607 N Broadway, Hastings, MI
Phone: (269) 945-3495
Apple Street Law Office P.L.C.
121 W Apple St, STE 101, Hastings, MI
Phone: (269) 945-3512
Villar Law Offices
139 Riverfront Plaza, Allegan, MI
Phone: (269) 673-3292
Krupp Law Offices PC
161 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI
Phone: (616) 459-6636
Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C.
32398 Five Mile Rd, Livonia, MI
Phone: (734) 304-8448
Civil Litigation & Lawsuit Defense Lawyers of Michigan
24300 Southfield Rd, Ste 210, Southfield, MI
Phone: (248) 996-8371
Clos, Russell & Wirth, P.C.
35330 Nankin Blvd #702, Westland, MI
Phone: (734) 326-2101
Law Office of Benjamin S. Werbling, PLLC
23440 Norwood St, Oak Park, MI
Phone: (248) 506-0291
Michigan’s Clean Slate laws give many people a real path to clear old mistakes. The state lets eligible convictions be set aside (expunged) either by petition or automatically after set waiting periods for some misdemeanors and select felonies. Serious and violent offenses and certain traffic crimes remain off-limits, but many non-violent cases—and even some first-time OWI cases—may qualify under recent reforms. An experienced Michigan expungement lawyer will review your full record, confirm eligibility, prepare the petition and supporting affidavits, notify required agencies, and guide you through any hearing so background checks update correctly. For most clients, the payoff is big: better job and housing options, professional licensing opportunities, and peace of mind.
How much does it cost to get your record expunged in Michigan?
Petition cases usually require a $50 Michigan State Police criminal-history fee plus any local copy and certification costs. Attorney fees are separate and vary by case. Automatic Clean Slate set-asides have no application fee.
What is the new law for expungement in Michigan?
Clean Slate expanded eligibility and created automatic set-asides for many convictions. If you meet the statute’s waiting periods and offense limits, certain misdemeanors (after 7 years) and some felonies (after 10 years) can clear without filing a petition. Ineligible cases can still be petitioned to a judge.
What is the 7-year rule in Michigan?
For automatic set-aside, many misdemeanors clear 7 years after sentencing if you have no new disqualifying convictions and you are under the numeric limits. Felonies generally require 10 years (or 10 years after release from incarceration, whichever is later).
How long does it take to get an expungement in Michigan?
Petition cases often take a few months—fingerprints, the MSP report, notice to prosecutors and victims, and a court hearing are common steps. Automatic set-asides run on the state’s cadence once you satisfy the time and eligibility rules.
What cannot be expunged in Michigan?
Certain offenses are excluded, including many serious or assaultive crimes, offenses punishable by life, and most traffic offenses involving injury or intoxication. Automatic clearing also excludes crimes of dishonesty and other listed categories. The exact lists are in the statute.
Will my expunged record show up on a background check in Michigan?
After a conviction is set aside, the public record becomes nonpublic. Standard private background checks should not report it. Courts, police, prosecutors, and certain licensing agencies can still view nonpublic records for limited purposes.
Do felonies go away after 7–10 years without expungement?
No. Time alone doesn’t erase a conviction. Removal from the public record happens only by automatic set-aside (if eligible) or by a judge’s order after a successful petition.
What is the “one bad night” rule in Michigan?
For counting purposes, multiple offenses arising from the same 24-hour transaction can be treated as a single conviction when measuring eligibility. There are exceptions—many assaultive offenses don’t merge.
What qualifies for automatic expungement in Michigan?
Up to four misdemeanors and up to two felonies may clear automatically if they meet offense-type limits and you satisfy the 7-/10-year waits with no new disqualifying convictions. Anything excluded from automatic clearing may still be eligible by petition.
How do I check if my record is clear?
Order your Michigan State Police criminal history (ICHAT/Record Review) and verify your court docket. If an automatic set-aside occurs, courts receive notice and update their files—keeping your own proof is still wise.
Can I answer “no” to conviction questions after expungement?
In most private employment and housing situations, yes—you can answer “no” because the conviction is nonpublic. You must still disclose when a law specifically requires it (certain licenses, law-enforcement jobs, etc.) or when asked by criminal-justice agencies.
Who can see expunged records?
Nonpublic records remain accessible to courts, police, prosecutors, and some licensing or government agencies as permitted by law. The general public and most private screeners cannot see them.
How long do I have to wait to petition for expungement?
Typical waits are 3 years for many misdemeanors, 5 years for one felony, and 7 years for multiple felonies—measured after completion of sentence and payment of fines/restitution. Your totals and offense types can change the wait.
What forms do I need for a Michigan petition?
Use the current SCAO “Application to Set Aside Conviction” packet, get fingerprinted, obtain the MSP criminal-history report, and gather certified judgments/sentences and proof of paid restitution. Serve all required parties and attend the hearing.
Can the FBI or airlines see expunged records?
Law-enforcement databases can retain nonpublic expunged information, so the FBI can access it for criminal-justice purposes. Airlines and most private employers use commercial screeners and should not see set-aside convictions unless a specific law authorizes deeper checks.
Can I own a gun after expungement in Michigan?
Expungement does not automatically restore firearm rights lost due to a felony. Restoration is handled under separate statutes and timelines; you may need a separate application even after a set-aside.
Does a misdemeanor still show after 7 years in Michigan?
A misdemeanor can still appear unless it is automatically set aside or a judge grants a petition. Seven years is a Clean Slate waiting period—it isn’t an automatic eraser for every case.
What is the Clean Slate help offered by Michigan Works?
Michigan Works! sites provide Clean Slate navigation—screening eligibility, helping assemble documents, and connecting you to job training and employers once your record is cleared.