Michigan setting aside a conviction: the paperwork, filled in for your court

Michigan calls it a set aside, and the rules turn on how many convictions you have, what kind, and how long ago — the counting is where applications get denied.

149 · one case, one court

Flat. No hourly billing, no consultation to book.

What the process actually is

Check first whether the conviction already cleared itself under Clean Slate. If it did, there is nothing to file.
Pull your own record so the application matches it exactly.
Apply to the court that convicted you, serve the required agencies, and attend the hearing.

What you get for the fee

An eligibility read for your offence and your dates, against the current rules — including when the clock starts.
The application and order for your court, filled in with your case number, charge, disposition and dates.
A filing checklist: which office, what it costs there, how many copies, who has to be served, what any hearing is for.

What this is not

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. You decide to file, you sign, you appear.
No promised outcome. A judge can deny a correctly filed application, and anyone quoting you a success rate is selling a number they cannot produce.
If your record is not eligible I will say so and you pay nothing. There is no point selling paperwork a court will reject.

It may already be free

Michigan clears some records automatically: up to four misdemeanours seven years after sentencing, and up to two non-violent felonies ten years after sentencing or release, if nothing disqualifying is on the record. Check that before paying anyone, including me.

What it costs whoever does it

Record checks you have to buy yourself — ICHAT 10, a state police personal record check 30 plus fingerprinting.

Those are the state's costs, not mine, and you pay them either way.

The free route, named

Michigan Legal Help — Free guides, and many counties run free expungement fairs where a lawyer sits with you. If a fair is within reach of your date, it is the better option and this page will not pretend otherwise.

See if my case qualifies

The next page asks what court and what charge. Nothing is charged before you have the eligibility answer.

Not a law firm and not legal advice. Document preparation only. Swanum · Terms