Michigan Expungement
Michigan Expungement Attorney — Flat-Fee Record Clearing
Michigan uses the phrase "setting aside a conviction" rather than "expungement," but the legal effect is the same: the conviction is treated as though it never occurred for most purposes, and the record is closed to the public. The Clean Slate legislation signed in 2020 and effective April 2021 transformed Michigan's expungement landscape by dramatically expanding eligibility. Before the law changed, Michigan allowed a person to set aside only one conviction in a lifetime. The Clean Slate Act raises that ceiling to three felonies and an unlimited number of misdemeanors, adds automatic expungement for certain offenses after defined waiting periods, and creates a clear process for people whose records were previously too complex to qualify. If you applied for expungement before 2021 and were denied, the law may now allow relief that was not available under the old rules.
Quick Answer
Michigan allows expungement of eligible criminal records under MCL 780.621 et seq. (Set Aside of Conviction; Clean Slate Act). The typical timeframe is 3–6 months from filing to court order. Eligibility depends on conviction type, completion of sentence, and waiting period requirements. Fresh Start Expungement coordinates the filing process at a flat fee of $10,000 per record.
Who Qualifies in Michigan
Eligibility Requirements
Each case is evaluated individually. The criteria below reflect the general statutory requirements. Your case will be reviewed in detail before any filing.
Under MCL 780.621, as amended by the Clean Slate Act, you may petition to set aside up to three felony convictions and an unlimited number of misdemeanor convictions over your lifetime, subject to the restrictions described below.
You may not have more than two assaultive crimes set aside in total, and you may not have more than one felony conviction set aside for a single offense if that offense carries a maximum sentence of more than 10 years imprisonment.
Waiting periods depend on the nature and number of convictions being set aside: five or more years must have elapsed since imposition of sentence, completion of imprisonment, completion of probation, or discharge from parole (whichever is latest) for one felony or one or more serious misdemeanors; seven or more years for more than one felony; and three or more years for one or more non-serious misdemeanor convictions.
Automatic expungement, which requires no petition from you, applies to certain felony convictions after 10 years and most misdemeanor convictions after 7 years, with a cap of two felonies and four misdemeanors automatically set aside per person over a lifetime.
You must not have any pending criminal charges at the time of filing your petition, and the offense for which you seek relief must not be excluded under the statute.
Offenses that are categorically ineligible for setting aside include felonies punishable by life imprisonment, traffic offenses (including operating while intoxicated), child abuse convictions, and criminal sexual conduct offenses.
Important exceptions: The Clean Slate Act, despite its sweeping expansion of eligibility, maintains firm exclusions for the most serious offenses. Any felony carrying a life sentence — including first and second-degree murder, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and first-degree home invasion — cannot be set aside. Criminal sexual conduct offenses broadly, regardless of whether they carry a life sentence, are excluded. Traffic offenses, including operating while intoxicated (OWI), remain entirely ineligible and cannot be set aside under any provision of the Clean Slate legislation. Child abuse convictions are also categorically excluded. For convictions involving assaultive crimes specifically, the two-conviction lifetime cap applies even if those convictions would otherwise be eligible under the felony count limits.
How It Works
The Michigan Process
We obtain your Michigan criminal history from the Michigan State Police and review every conviction for eligibility under the amended MCL 780.621, identifying which convictions have already been automatically set aside and which require a formal petition, then build a strategy that maximizes the relief available to you under the Clean Slate Act.
For petition-based relief, we prepare and file the application to set aside conviction with the sentencing court, which is served on the prosecuting attorney and the Michigan State Police; the court schedules a hearing typically within 60 days, at which the judge considers your rehabilitation, employment history, and other relevant factors before granting or denying the petition.
After the court enters the order, we transmit the certified order to the Michigan State Police, which updates the criminal history repository and notifies relevant agencies; we also advise you on how Michigan law treats set-aside convictions in employment, licensing, and housing applications so you understand the scope and limits of your relief.
Typical Timeframe
3–6 Months
Legal Reference
Governing Statute
The primary legal authority governing expungement in Michigan is MCL 780.621 et seq. (Set Aside of Conviction; Clean Slate Act). This page was last reviewed on January 15, 2025.
State laws change. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in Michigan for guidance specific to your case. Fresh Start Expungement provides document preparation services, not legal representation.
Related Reading
More on Michigan Expungement
Expungement in Other States
California
Looking for a California expungement attorney? Fresh Start offers flat-fee expungement filing at $10,000 per record. Free eligibility check, no hourly billing.
Texas
Looking for a Texas expungement attorney? Fresh Start offers flat-fee expunction and nondisclosure filing at $10,000 per record. Free eligibility check.
Florida
Looking for a Florida expungement attorney? Fresh Start offers flat-fee record sealing and expungement filing at $10,000 per record. Free eligibility check.
New York
New York offers sealing of up to 2 convictions under CPL § 160.59 after a 10-year clean period. Learn eligibility and timelines (6–18 months).
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About this service
Fresh Start Expungement is a record-clearing services provider, not a law firm. We coordinate document preparation and filing for individuals seeking expungement. We do not provide legal advice or attorney representation. Complex or contested matters may require independent legal counsel.
Results disclosure
Results are not guaranteed. Eligibility and outcomes depend on state law, conviction type, court approval, and individual case circumstances. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
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