Kalamazoo Expungement Lawyers

If you were convicted of a crime or accepted a plea agreement, the Kalamazoo attorneys of Willis Law may be able to secure the expungement of the charge from your criminal record. Expungement can make a world of difference to you in the future. A criminal record can prevent you from getting a job, a promotion or a place to live. Expungement can clear your record — but only once and only in certain circumstances.

Expungement is the legal process of setting aside a conviction. After an expungement, you can legally answer "No" to the question: "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?" Expungement is an important means of protecting your future, especially when it comes to seeking employment or educational opportunities, including scholarships.

Please contact the offices of Willis Law in Kalamazoo, Paw Paw or Grand Rapids and tell us about your situation.

A One-Time Opportunity

Effective in 2015, Michigan law allows certain misdemeanor and felony convictions to be expunged five years after the date of the completion of the sentence. Most crimes can be expunged, but there are exceptions. For instance, any motor vehicle code violations, such as drunk driving, cannot be removed. Contact our office to determine whether your conviction(s) are eligible for expungement.

Under our current law, you can expunge one eligible felony, so long as you have no other felonies on your record and no more than two misdemeanors, as defined by MCL 780.621. Alternatively, if you have two and only two eligible misdemeanors, you can now have both convictions removed!

Motion to Set Aside a Conviction in Michigan

Effective in 2021, Michigan’s “Clean Slate” legislation allows multiple misdemeanor and felony convictions to be expunged three, five or seven years after the date of the completion of the sentence, depending on the charge(s). Most crimes can now be expunged, including a person’s first Operating While Intoxicated offense, but there are exceptions. For instance, life offenses, most criminal sexual conduct offenses, and traffic offenses involving a commercial vehicle or that resulted in serious injury or death, cannot be removed. Contact our office to determine whether your conviction(s) is/are eligible for expungement.

Under our current law, you can expunge two or three eligible felonies, so long as you have no other felonies on your record and possibly as many as six misdemeanors, as defined by MCL 780.621.

*SETTING ASIDE CONVICTIONS (EXCERPT) 
Act 213 of 1965

780.621 Application for order setting aside conviction; felony or misdemeanor conviction; setting aside of certain convictions prohibited; victim of human trafficking violation; definitions.

Sec. 1.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this act, a person who is convicted of 1 or more criminal offenses may file an application with the convicting court for the entry of an order setting aside 1 or more convictions as follows:

(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), a person convicted of 1 or more criminal offenses, but not more than a total of 3 felony offenses, in this state, may apply to have all of his or her convictions from this state set aside.

(b) An applicant may not have more than a total of 2 convictions for an assaultive crime set aside under this act during his or her lifetime.

(c) An applicant may not have more than 1 felony conviction for the same offense set aside under this section if the offense is punishable by more than 10 years imprisonment.

(d) A person who is convicted of a violation or an attempted violation of section 520e of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520e, before January 12, 2015 may petition the convicting court to set aside the conviction if the individual has not been convicted of another offense other than not more than 2 minor offenses. As used in this subdivision, "minor offense" means a misdemeanor or ordinance violation to which all of the following apply:

(i) The maximum permissible term of imprisonment does not exceed 90 days.

(ii) The maximum permissible fine is not more than $1,000.00.

(iii) The person who committed the offense is not more than 21 years old.

(2) A conviction that was deferred and dismissed under any of the following, whether a misdemeanor or a felony, is considered a misdemeanor conviction under subsection (1) for purposes of determining whether a person is eligible to have any conviction set aside under this act:

(a) Section 703 of the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1703.

(b) Section 1070(1)(b)(i) or 1209 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.1070 and 600.1209.

(c) Section 13 of chapter II or section 4a of chapter IX of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 762.13 and 769.4a.

(d) Section 7411 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7411.

(e) Section 350a or 430 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.350a and 750.430.

(f) Any other law or laws of this state or of a political subdivision of this state similar in nature and applicability to those listed in this subsection that provide for the deferral and dismissal of a felony or misdemeanor charge.

(3) A person who is convicted of a violation of section 448, 449, or 450 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.448, 750.449, and 750.450, or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to section 448, 449, or 450 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.448, 750.449, and 750.450, may apply to have that conviction set aside if he or she committed the offense as a direct result of his or her being a victim of a human trafficking violation.

(4) As used in this act:

(a) "Assaultive crime" includes any of the following:

(i) A violation described in section 9a of chapter X of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 770.9a.

(ii) A violation of chapter XI of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.81 to 750.90h, not otherwise included in subparagraph (i).

(iii) A violation of section 110a, 136b, 234a, 234b, 234c, 349b, or 411h(2)(a) of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.110a, 750.136b, 750.234a, 750.234b, 750.234c, 750.349b, or 750.411h, or any other violent felony.

(iv) A violation of a law of another state or of a political subdivision of this state or of another state that substantially corresponds to a violation described in subparagraph (i), (ii), or (iii).

(b) "Domestic violence" means that term as defined in section 1 of 1978 PA 389, MCL 400.1501.

(c) "Felony" means either of the following, as applicable:

(i) For purposes of the offense to be set aside, felony means a violation of a penal law of this state that is punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 year or that is designated by law to be a felony.

(ii) For purposes of identifying a prior offense, felony means a violation of a penal law of this state, of another state, or of the United States that is punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 year or is designated by law to be a felony.

(d) "Human trafficking violation" means a violation of chapter LXVIIA of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.462a to 750.462h, or of former section 462i or 462j of that act.

(e) "Indian tribe" means an Indian tribe, Indian band, or Alaskan native village that is recognized by federal law or formally acknowledged by a state.

(f) "Misdemeanor" means a violation of any of the following:

(i) A penal law of this state, another state, an Indian tribe, or the United States that is not a felony.

(ii) An order, rule, or regulation of a state agency that is punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine that is not a civil fine, or both.

(iii) A local ordinance of a political subdivision of this state substantially corresponding to a crime listed in subparagraph (i) or (ii) that is not a felony.

(iv) A violation of the law of another state or political subdivision of another state substantially corresponding to a crime listed under subparagraph (i) or (ii) that is not a felony.

(v) A violation of the law of the United States substantially corresponding to a crime listed under subparagraph (i) or (ii) that is not a felony.

(g) "Operating while intoxicated" means a violation of any of the following:

(i) Section 625 or 625m of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625 and 257.625m.

(ii) A local ordinance substantially corresponding to a violation listed in subparagraph (i).

(iii) A law of an Indian tribe substantially corresponding to a violation listed in subparagraph (i).

(iv) A law of another state substantially corresponding to a violation listed in subparagraph (i).

(v) A law of the United States substantially corresponding to a violation listed in subparagraph (i).

(h) "Serious misdemeanor" means that term as defined in section 61 of the William Van Regenmorter crime victim's rights act, 1985 PA 87, MCL 780.811.

(i) "Victim" means that term as defined in sections 2, 31, and 61 of the William Van Regenmorter crime victim's rights act, 1985 PA 87, MCL 780.752, 780.781, and 780.811.

(j) "Violent felony" means that term as defined in section 36 of the corrections code of 1953, 1953 PA 232, MCL 791.236.

*Source: courtesy of www.legislature.mi.gov - Michigan Legislature - Section 780.621

Contact a Kalamazoo Expungement Attorney

This change in the law might help you. To discuss your specific circumstances, please contact our office by email or call toll free at (888) 461-7744. From offices in Kalamazoo, Paw Paw and Grand Rapids, we represent clients throughout western Michigan.

Some of Our Many Positive Case Results

• Clive M., Misdemeanor Expungement: Client had a conviction on his criminal history for a misdemeanor negligent homicide due to a car accident that caused a death. We were successful in petitioning the court to expunge the client's record. As a result, our client has no criminal record.
• Scott R., Assault and Resisting Arrest (a college student): We negotiated a dismissal of both charges; the client performed 20 hours of community service and agreed to attend anger management classes. No jail, no probation, no criminal record. 

Learn more on our Client Testimonials page.