Expungement Lawyers in Lansing Michigan

Michigan law allows you to expunge up to three felony convictions in a lifetime, with certain restrictions. Serious violent offenses, criminal sexual conduct charges, and some traffic offenses cannot be expunged. Felony expungements carry the most significant benefits because felony convictions create the highest barriers to employment and housing. We handle expungement petitions for drug offenses, property crimes, fraud charges, assault convictions, and many other felony-level offenses throughout Lansing and Ingham County.

Under Michigan’s Clean Slate reforms, there is no limit on the number of eligible non-serious misdemeanors that can be set aside. Common misdemeanor expungements include retail fraud, domestic violence (if no subsequent convictions), disorderly conduct, minor drug possession, and assault and battery. Even though misdemeanors carry lighter sentences, they still create substantial obstacles in background checks. Our attorneys regularly file misdemeanor expungement petitions in 54A District Court and 54B District Court for clients throughout East Lansing and the surrounding areas.

Michigan law now permits expungement of certain drunk driving convictions. If you have one OWI or DUI conviction on your record (a first violation), you may qualify for expungement. There are strict eligibility requirements, including waiting periods and restrictions on subsequent offenses. DUI expungement remains one of the most complex areas of Michigan expungement law, and prosecutors often object to these petitions more vigorously than other expungement requests.

With marijuana now legal for recreational use in Michigan, many people want to clear old marijuana convictions from their records. You can expunge marijuana possession convictions, and some marijuana sales offenses may qualify depending on the amount and circumstances. Michigan also created a special process for automatically setting aside certain marijuana offenses that would now be legal under current law.

Michigan’s Clean Slate law allows expungement of multiple convictions arising from the same incident or same 24-hour period. If you were convicted of several charges stemming from a single arrest or event, those may count as only one conviction for expungement eligibility purposes. We regularly help clients navigate the complex rules around multiple conviction expungements to maximize the number of offenses we can clear from their records.

Juvenile adjudications follow different expungement rules than adult convictions. Young people who were adjudicated in juvenile court for offenses committed before age 18 have broader expungement opportunities and shorter waiting periods. We assist young adults throughout Lansing in clearing juvenile records so they can pursue education and employment without the burden of mistakes made as minors.

We start with a comprehensive review of your criminal history. We obtain your Michigan State Police criminal record, analyze each conviction, calculate waiting periods, and identify any disqualifying factors. Many people believe they’re ineligible when they actually qualify, or they don’t realize they can expunge multiple offenses.

Expungement petitions require specific documentation: conviction records, sentencing orders, proof of completed sentences, fingerprint cards, and case disposition information. We work directly with the arresting agency, the court where you were convicted, and Michigan State Police to compile your complete file.

We prepare the formal expungement application, including detailed legal arguments about why the court should grant your petition. This includes drafting the application, completing all required forms, obtaining fingerprints, serving notice on the prosecuting attorney, and filing everything with the expungement court in Lansing that handled your original case.

After filing, the prosecutor has time to review your petition and file objections if they choose. We communicate with the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office to address concerns, provide additional information when needed, and negotiate resolution of any objections before your hearing.

We prepare you thoroughly for your expungement hearing. You’ll know what questions to expect, how to present yourself to the judge, and what factors the court considers. We gather character references, employment records, community involvement documentation, and any other evidence supporting your petition.

We present your case to the judge at the expungement court hearing. We make legal arguments, present evidence of your rehabilitation, address any prosecutor objections, and answer the court’s questions. The judge considers factors including your conduct since the conviction, your age at the time of the offense, your employment history, and community ties.

If the court grants your expungement, we ensure the order gets properly distributed to all relevant agencies. Michigan State Police updates your criminal history, and we verify that your record shows the expungement. We provide you with certified copies of the expungement order for your records.

Courts often can’t locate complete sentencing records, especially for older convictions. We track down disposition paperwork, obtain certified copies from court archives, and reconstruct sentencing information from available records.

You must pay all fines, costs, and restitution before qualifying for expungement. If you have outstanding balances, we help you establish payment plans, negotiate reductions when appropriate, and ensure all financial obligations are resolved.

Some prosecutors routinely object to expungement petitions, particularly for certain offense types. We anticipate likely objections, prepare compelling responses, and negotiate with prosecutors to resolve their concerns before the hearing.

If you have convictions in multiple Michigan counties, you must file separate petitions in each jurisdiction. We coordinate simultaneous filings, manage multiple court processes, and ensure consistent presentation across all cases.

Michigan expungement law only covers Michigan convictions. If you have out-of-state convictions affecting your Michigan record, we can advise on how those convictions impact your eligibility and help you navigate expungement processes in other states if necessary.

You have the right to petition for expungement if you meet Michigan’s eligibility requirements. The court cannot deny your petition simply because of the type of offense if it’s an expungeable conviction under the law. You have the right to an attorney throughout the process, though you’re not required to have one.

You have the right to see all documents filed in your case, including any prosecutor objections. You have the right to present evidence at your hearing, call witnesses, and respond to any claims made against your petition. You have the right to appeal if the court denies your expungement petition.

Throughout the process, you have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. The expungement process exists because Michigan recognizes that people can change and deserve a second chance. You have the right to pursue that opportunity without stigma or judgment.

You can file an expungement petition without an attorney, but legal representation significantly improves your chances of success.

The application process involves complex legal requirements, strict deadlines, and technical filing procedures. Mistakes can result in denial of your petition or lengthy delays. An expungement lawyer knows how to present your case persuasively, anticipate prosecutor objections, and address judges’ concerns effectively.

We regularly see cases where people filed on their own, were denied, and then hired us to fix the problems and refile successfully. Starting with experienced legal counsel saves time, money, and frustration.

Court filing fees for expungement in Michigan are around $50, plus additional costs for fingerprinting and obtaining certified records.

Attorney fees vary depending on case complexity, but the investment is worth it for the lifetime benefits of a cleared record.

At Monument Legal, we offer free consultations to discuss your case and provide transparent fee information upfront. Many clients find that the increased employment opportunities and higher earning potential after expungement quickly offset the legal costs.

For cases ending in a non-conviction (acquittal or dismissal), the return of fingerprints and the sealing of the arrest record is often automatic under MCL 28.243 and MCL 764.26a. An attorney can verify the record was actually cleared.

If you were convicted and that conviction is expunged, the arrest that led to the conviction is effectively sealed along with it for most purposes. However, law enforcement and courts can still access arrest information. For employment and housing background checks, most employers won’t see arrests that resulted in expunged convictions.

Yes, Michigan law allows you to expunge multiple convictions in a single petition if you meet the eligibility requirements.

You can clear up to three felonies in a lifetime, and there is no limit on the number of eligible non-serious misdemeanors. Multiple convictions arising from the same incident or within a 24-hour period count as one conviction for eligibility purposes.

We analyze your complete criminal history to determine the optimal strategy for clearing as many offenses as possible in one proceeding.

For most felonies, you must wait five years after completing all terms of your sentence, including probation, before applying for expungement.

For most misdemeanors, the waiting period is three years after completing your sentence. The waiting period begins when you finish everything, including prison, jail, probation, parole, fines, costs, and restitution. If you violate probation and it’s extended, the waiting period restarts from the new completion date. There are some exceptions and special rules for certain offenses, which we can explain during your consultation.

You must file a separate expungement petition in each county where you were convicted.

For example, if you have a conviction in Ingham County and another in Eaton County, you’ll file one petition in each location. We can coordinate simultaneous filings in multiple jurisdictions and manage the separate court processes for you. This ensures consistent presentation of your case and avoids timing issues that could affect your eligibility.

Michigan expungement removes convictions from state criminal databases, but the FBI maintains separate records. Michigan law requires the FBI to update their records when a conviction is set aside, but there’s often a delay.

Some federal employers and positions requiring federal security clearances may still see expunged state convictions. For most private employers and standard background checks, expunged convictions will not appear. If you’re concerned about federal employment or security clearances, we can discuss how expungement affects your specific situation.

Domestic violence convictions can be expunged if you meet all eligibility requirements and have no subsequent domestic violence convictions.

However, courts and prosecutors often scrutinize domestic violence expungement petitions more carefully than other offense types. The judge will consider factors including completion of any required counseling or treatment programs, time elapsed since the conviction, and your behavior since the offense.

If you have a protection order or no-contact order in place, that may complicate the expungement process. We have successfully helped many clients expunge domestic violence misdemeanors throughout Lansing and mid-Michigan.

Michigan law uses the term “setting aside a conviction” rather than “expungement,” but they mean the same thing in practice. When a conviction is set aside, the court order removes it from public view and seals it from most background checks. You can legally state you weren’t convicted of the offense for most purposes. Some people call this process “expungement,” “sealing,” or “expunction”- all these terms describe the same Michigan court process of setting aside a qualifying criminal conviction.

Yes, Michigan created special provisions for expunging marijuana offenses that are now legal. You can expunge marijuana possession convictions and certain marijuana-related offenses under the standard expungement process.

Additionally, Michigan implemented automatic expungement for some marijuana offenses that would be legal under current law. If you have an old marijuana conviction on your record, there’s an excellent chance you qualify for expungement. We can review your specific marijuana charges and determine the best path to clearing them from your record.