A past conviction can follow you long after you’ve paid your dues. Background checks keep resurfacing old mistakes. Job applications turn into awkward explanations. Housing decisions slow down. Even professional licensing can feel like a closed door.
Fortunately, Michigan’s “Clean Slate” reforms created more ways for people to clear eligible convictions from public view. In Michigan, the process is commonly called “setting aside” a conviction, and it can happen automatically in some cases or by filing an application in others.
If you’re searching for a Southfield expungement lawyer, Michigan record sealing attorney, or help with set aside convictions in Oakland County, the most important move is getting your eligibility and timing right before you waste months on the wrong path.
Gregory R. Sheena is listed in attorney directories for criminal defense and related practice areas, including expungement/record-clearing work.
What “Expungement” Means in Michigan
Michigan uses the term “set aside” for most adult conviction expungements. When a conviction is set aside, it generally becomes inaccessible to the public (with limited exceptions), which can make everyday life smoother—especially for employment and housing screenings. Michigan Legal Help describes that a set-aside conviction cannot be seen by the public and provides step-by-step resources for the process.
Even so, expungement is not automatic just because you want it. In Michigan, setting aside a conviction is widely described as a privilege, not a right, meaning courts still evaluate the facts and your rehabilitation for application-based requests.
That’s exactly why the details matter. Timing, offense type, and your full record can change what is possible.
Two Paths: Automatic Expungement vs Applying in Court
Michigan now has two separate adult expungement systems:
- Automatic expungement (Clean Slate) for certain eligible convictions
- Application-based expungement where you ask the court to set aside convictions
Some convictions may qualify under both paths. Other convictions only qualify through one path. A careful review helps you avoid filing when you don’t need to, or waiting for automatic relief when the conviction actually requires an application.
Michigan Clean Slate Automatic Expungement Basics
Automatic expungement began rolling out after April 2023, and Michigan Legal Help notes that the first eligible convictions were expected to start being automatically set aside from the Michigan State Police database on April 11, 2023.
Waiting periods and limits (key overview)
Michigan’s Attorney General has published a clear table of automatic set-aside criteria, updated December 9, 2025. The chart explains that many eligible misdemeanors have a 7-year waiting period, while eligible felonies have a 10-year waiting period, measured from sentencing or later events described in the guidance.
The Michigan State Police Clean Slate public information page also explains that, for automatic expungement, there are limits such as not more than 2 felony convictions and not more than 4 qualifying misdemeanors (93 days or more) that may be automatically set aside, with separate treatment for very low-level misdemeanors.
Why “automatic” still feels slow
Automatic set asides may take time to propagate through different systems. Michigan Legal Help notes delays can occur between MSP updates and court or agency record updates.
Because of that lag, people sometimes believe nothing happened—when the record is actually in the middle of being updated.
When Applying for Expungement Makes More Sense
Waiting for automatic expungement can be the right approach for many people. Still, an application can be the better move when:
- Your conviction type is not eligible for automatic set aside
- Your timeline doesn’t match the automatic waiting period
- You want to address multiple convictions with a targeted plan
- You need certainty for a job, housing, or licensing decision soon
Michigan Legal Help explains that applying to set aside an adult conviction can take six months or more, since it involves collecting records, filing, and getting a hearing (where required).
The Michigan Attorney General’s expungement assistance page also notes the overall expungement process can take up to eight months, depending on processing and documentation.
Those timelines are exactly why it’s smart to start early—especially if you have a deadline.
The Application Process: What People Get Wrong
Applying for a set aside is not just filling in blanks. The process usually includes identifying convictions correctly, collecting details, and ensuring each step is completed in the right order.
Step 1: Know what is actually on your record
Michigan Legal Help recommends using Michigan’s Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) to review your record, and it notes a fee (commonly referenced as $10) for the report download.
That record is the foundation. Incorrect case numbers or missing disposition details can derail an application.
Step 2: Use the correct forms and route them properly
The Attorney General’s expungement assistance page references MC 227 (Application to Set Aside Conviction(s)) and outlines the broader process with MSP involvement.
Step 3: Be ready to show rehabilitation and stability
Courts may weigh multiple factors depending on the statute and the case posture. The Michigan Bar has discussed how Clean Slate changes increased interest in set-aside applications, while emphasizing that understanding requirements improves success.
Put simply, the story you present matters—but it has to be supported by facts.
What Convictions Cannot Be Set Aside
Not every offense qualifies for automatic expungement. Not every offense qualifies through application. Michigan’s Clean Slate pages and statutory sections outline exclusions and special rules.
Rather than guessing, a practical approach is to review:
- Offense type and maximum penalty category
- Whether the offense is excluded by statute
- Whether multiple convictions create special limitations
- Whether an offense is only eligible through application (not automatic)
When you get those pieces right, you avoid wasted time and false hope.
How an Expungement Attorney Helps Beyond Paperwork
Plenty of people can print forms. What’s harder is building a clean, court-ready strategy that avoids common traps.
A focused expungement lawyer can help by:
Interpreting eligibility the right way
Eligibility is not just “how old is the conviction.” It includes counting rules, exclusion rules, and timing rules.
Framing your narrative without overexplaining
Over-sharing can harm a case. Under-explaining can make you look unprepared. The goal is a balanced presentation supported by documentation.
Preparing for a hearing (when required)
If a hearing is scheduled, your presentation should be organized, clear, and respectful of the court’s concerns. That includes planning what to say, what not to say, and what documents to highlight.
Coordinating the moving parts
Even a simple expungement request can involve multiple agencies and processing steps. The Attorney General’s office describes MSP processing time and documentation handling as part of the broader process.
That coordination is where many DIY applications stall.
Why Southfield Clients Look for Local Record-Sealing Help
Expungement is statewide law, but the process still touches local courts and local paperwork. People in Metro Detroit also need to think about how record issues intersect with real life—work, commuting, family schedules, and the deadlines employers impose.
Gregory R. Sheena is listed in attorney directories as a Southfield-area lawyer focused on criminal defense and related matters, with practice across Metro Detroit-area courts.
That background matters because record-clearing work often connects to earlier criminal cases, probation history, or older traffic-related matters that still show up on screening.
To start a conversation about a clean-slate plan, visit gsheenalaw.com.
A Simple Checklist Before You Begin
Want a practical starting point before you talk to a lawyer? Use this checklist:
- Gather your ICHAT record and confirm case numbers
- List every conviction you want to set aside (not just the “main one”)
- Note sentencing dates and any incarceration/probation end dates
- Identify urgent deadlines (job offer, housing move, licensing renewal)
- Avoid filing until eligibility is confirmed under Clean Slate or application rules
That preparation helps your attorney move faster and reduces back-and-forth.
Your Fresh Start Should Be Built on Correct Timing
Expungement is about momentum. When timing is off by even a few months, an application can be denied or delayed. When the offense category is misunderstood, you can lose a year waiting on the wrong path.
Michigan’s Clean Slate guidance lays out specific waiting periods and limits for automatic set asides, and Michigan Legal Help explains the dual-system approach (automatic vs application).
Use that reality as your advantage: plan early, file correctly, and present a clean case.
For help building an expungement strategy that fits your goals, connect with Greg Sheena Law.
Citation (Phone): (248)939-1497
Citation (Address): 29500 Telegraph Road Suite 2500 Southfield Michigan 48034