Expungement Attorney

A past conviction can follow you into job applications, housing, and licensing long after the sentence is served. Michigan's Clean Slate law opened the door wider than most people realize — find out if your record qualifies.

What We Handle

Setting aside (expunging) eligible felony convictions
Setting aside eligible misdemeanor convictions
Multiple-conviction expungement under Michigan's expanded Clean Slate rules
Eligibility review for older convictions
Guidance on waiting-period requirements

Michigan's Clean Slate Law, in Plain Terms

Michigan significantly expanded expungement eligibility under its "Clean Slate" reforms — allowing more convictions, and in some cases multiple convictions, to be set aside than under the old rules. Not every conviction qualifies (certain offenses, including many assaultive, sexual, and traffic-related crimes, are excluded by statute), and eligibility depends on the number and type of convictions on your record along with how much time has passed since sentencing. The rules are more generous than most people assume — it's worth an actual eligibility review rather than assuming your record doesn't qualify.

Why It's Worth Pursuing

A successful expungement means the conviction is set aside for most purposes — it generally won't show up on standard background checks run by employers, landlords, or licensing boards. For clients whose record has been quietly limiting job offers, apartment applications, or professional licensing for years, that can be a meaningful change with a single court filing.

Why a Former Prosecutor Matters

Attorney Christopher Fleming spent more than five years as an Assistant Prosecutor for Lenawee County. That means direct familiarity with how the same courts that convicted you evaluate a set-aside petition — what a judge wants to see in a filing, and how to present your case for why the conviction no longer reflects who you are today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Michigan's expanded rules allow more convictions to be set aside than in the past, including in some cases multiple felonies and an unlimited number of misdemeanors, depending on the specific offenses and how much time has passed. The exact number that applies to your record depends on the details — worth reviewing directly rather than assuming a limit that may no longer apply.

Waiting periods in Michigan run from the date of sentencing (or release, depending on the offense) and vary by offense type and severity — generally longer for felonies than misdemeanors. A case review can tell you exactly when you become eligible.

A single OWI conviction became eligible for expungement under recent Michigan reforms, though it remains permanently on your driving record with the Secretary of State even after a criminal-record expungement. Whether your specific OWI qualifies depends on the details of the conviction.

An expunged conviction is set aside for most public and employment-related purposes, but it isn't physically destroyed — certain government agencies (courts, law enforcement) retain access for specific limited purposes, such as future sentencing if you're convicted again. For virtually all everyday purposes — job applications, housing, licensing — it no longer needs to be disclosed.

In general, it involves filing a petition with the court that handled your conviction, notifying the prosecutor's office, and — in many cases — a court hearing where a judge decides whether to grant the set-aside. Specifics vary by county and case type, which is exactly what a consultation walks through for your situation.

Serving These Areas

Dundee