Criminal Record Expungement in Michigan

Forms and Information - How To Expunge Your Record

Expunging your criminal record in Michigan means that your prior conviction is set aside. If you have a conviction expunged, you are considered not to have been convicted for most purposes. For example, you can honestly tell potential employers that you have a clean criminal record. Your conviction can only be used for very limited purposes, such as increasing your sentence if you are convicted of a new offense. An expunged conviction is not supposed to appear on your rap sheet. (If it does, contact an attorney.)

Getting your criminal record expunged can make it much easier for you to get a job, housing, or credit. Many employers won’t hire you if you have a criminal record. Many landlords won’t rent to you. And a criminal record may prevent you from getting subsidized housing or public benefits. If you have a criminal record, you probably already know how much harder it makes many things in life. If you can get your record expunged, the law treats you – in
most cases – as if you had never been convicted.

How To Get An Expungement In MIchigan

In order to apply for an expungement, you must file a motion with the court in which you were convicted, or in which you were adjudicated as a juvenile. This may mean that you go back in front of the judge who sentenced you. Sometimes, however, cases are transferred to a different judge. You can find out what judge is assigned to your case by calling the clerk of the court in which you were convicted or adjudicated.

To file your expungement, you can either use an attorney, or you can file on your own.

A. Finding an Attorney
If you have questions about filing an expungement, or if you want help in the process, you should contact an attorney. If you can afford an attorney, hire one who has experience handling expungement cases.

If you cannot afford an attorney, call the Legal Aid office in the county where you were convicted to see if you are eligible for free legal help. Some, but not all, legal aid offices provide help with expungements.

Lakeshore Legal Aid
Huron, Macomb, Sanilac, St. Clair & Tuscola 1-888-783-8190
Legal Aid & Defender Association
Wayne, Oakland, & Macomb 1-313-965-9419
Legal Services of Eastern Michigan
Arenac, Clare, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Lapeer
Midland & Saginaw 1-800-339-9513
Legal Services of Northern Michigan
Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency & Presque Isle 1-888-356-9009
Delta, Menominee & Schoolcraft 1-888-786-2303
Crawford, Kalkaska, Otsego & Roscommon 1-888-645-9993
Houghton, Keweenaw & Baraga 1-888-482-2343
Alger, Marquette, Dickinson & Iron 1-888-228-5590
Charlevoix, Cheboygan & Emmet 1-888-347-5520
Chippewa, Luce & Mackinac 1-888-632-9313
Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Manistee

Missaukee & Wexford 1-888-632-9313
Legal Services of South Central Michigan
Branch, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Monroe
Washtenaw 1-734-665-6181
Barry, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, & Shiawassee 1-517-394-3121
Western Michigan Legal Services
Kent, Ionia & Montcalm 1-800-442-2777
Lake, Mecosta, Newaygo & Osceola 1-800-968-4878
Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, & Van Buren 1-269-344-8113
Mason, Muskegon, & Oceana 1-800-968-4887
Allegan & Ottawa 1-800-681-8016
Berrien 1-888-418-1311
Wayne County Neighborhood Legal Services
Wayne 1-313-831-3000

If You Want To Expunge Your Own Criminal Record

If you cannot find an attorney or if you prefer to file an expungement on your own, follow the steps below. Filing for an expungement is not particularly difficult, and is mostly a matter of getting the proper forms together and sending them to the right people. However, you must make sure that you have done everything correctly. Otherwise, your motion will be denied.