Has Your Criminal Past Continued to Destroy Your Future?
Detroit Michigan Criminal Expungement Attorney
Under Michigan’s Clean Slate law (MCL 780.621 and following), many convictions can be set aside after a waiting period: the Michigan Attorney General’s expungement guidance lists 3 years for most misdemeanors, 5 years for a single felony or certain serious misdemeanors, and 7 years for multiple felonies. Lifetime limits apply, and eligibility depends on the offense and your full record, so a review of your record comes first. Attorney Kevin Bessant files set-aside applications for clients in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties and for people who now live out of state.
Reviewed by Attorney Kevin Bessant, Law Office of Kevin Bessant & Associates. Last reviewed October 2026.
Michigan expungement at a glance
| Statute | MCL 780.621 to 780.624, as amended by the Clean Slate laws (2020 PA 188 to 193). |
|---|---|
| Waiting periods | Per the Attorney General: 3 years for most misdemeanors, 5 years for a single felony or certain serious misdemeanors, 7 years for multiple felonies. A new conviction during the wait makes you ineligible until the new waiting period ends. |
| Lifetime limits | Up to 3 felonies and an unlimited number of misdemeanors. No more than 2 assaultive crimes, and only one felony punishable by 10 or more years. |
| Traffic convictions | Some can be set aside, but they stay on your driving record. |
| Minor marijuana convictions | The Attorney General reports no waiting period for these under the newer law. |
| Federal convictions | Not covered by Michigan’s set-aside statute. |
Source: the Michigan Attorney General’s expungement FAQ. Some offenses cannot be set aside at all, so check your specific record.
Has a Criminal Background Check Denied You A Job or Opportunity? Kevin Bessant understands the challenges and hurdles a person faces if they have been convicted of a crime in the past, and that criminal past continues to haunt even in the present. The Law Office of Kevin Bessant & Associates will help you expunge your criminal past and start anew with a clean criminal record!
If your criminal record is holding you back, and preventing you from finding adequate employment, housing assistance, student loans, professional licensing, passing a background check, obtaining an immigration visa, and a host of other roadblocks to your personal growth and success, contact Kevin Bessant to help you pave a better path with a clean record and a clean slate. The Law Office of Kevin Bessant & Associates has helped hundreds of clients get back on their feet by successfully expunging their criminal records.
Video: Detroit Michigan Criminal Attorney Kevin Bessant explains the benefit of expunging and clearing your criminal record. (0:46)
Setting Aside a Conviction or “Expungement” refers to the legal process of removing a prior criminal conviction from public record with the Michigan State Police criminal database. If you plead “guilty,” “no contest,” or were found guilty in court of a misdemeanor or felony offense, drug crime, weapons offense, criminal assault, domestic violence, or any other qualifying conviction, you may be eligible to have your criminal conviction expunged from public record. An expungement allows one-time criminal offenders who satisfy the requirements of Michigan Law, to set aside that one criminal conviction.
It allows you to truthfully state that you were never convicted of the crime on your record. Although your criminal record may remain with the courts, afterwards, it cannot be made available to the public. Kevin Bessant will carefully prepare your motion to Set Aside your Conviction, and aggressively argue for the Judge to consider your motion and grant the expungement of your record.
If you live in Wayne County, Oakland County, Macomb County, Monroe County, Livingston County, or Washtenaw County, or even if you no longer reside in the State of Michigan, Attorney Kevin Bessant is able to expunge your criminal record without you ever leaving home! Call the Law Office of Kevin Bessant & Associates TODAY for a free consultation or online consultation and evaluation.
Michigan expungement waiting periods and limits
| Conviction type | Waiting period before applying | Lifetime limit |
|---|---|---|
| Most misdemeanors | 3 years | Unlimited misdemeanors |
| Single felony, or certain serious misdemeanors | 5 years | Up to 3 felonies total |
| Multiple felonies | 7 years | Up to 3 felonies total |
| Assaultive crimes | Same period as the offense level | No more than 2 |
| Felony punishable by 10 or more years | Same period as the offense level | Only 1 |
| Minor marijuana convictions | No waiting period reported by the Attorney General | Not applicable |
| Federal convictions | Not available under this statute | Not applicable |
Based on MCL 780.621 to 780.624 as amended by 2020 PA 188 to 193. A new conviction during the wait restarts eligibility. Traffic convictions can be set aside but stay on your driving record.
Convictions people often ask about
- Retail fraud (shoplifting)
- Larceny (theft)
- Minor in possession of alcohol
- Malicious destruction of property
- Resisting and obstructing a police officer
- Cocaine and heroin possession
Related practice areas: drug charges, gun charges, assault or battery and domestic violence.
Where we file expungement applications
A set-aside application goes to the court that sentenced you, and you do not need to live in Michigan to apply. Attorney Kevin Bessant has offices in Detroit (Wayne County), Eastpointe (Macomb County) and Southfield (Oakland County).
Service area pages: Warren, Sterling Heights, Dearborn, Livonia, Troy, Royal Oak, Pontiac, Novi, Ann Arbor, and Clinton Township, plus Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Monroe and Livingston counties.
Legal Authority: The Set-Aside Statute
Legal citations on this page last reviewed: October 2026
Michigan’s expungement (set-aside) process is codified at MCL 780.621 through MCL 780.624, part of the Clean Slate framework enacted by 2020 PA 188 through 193, which set the waiting periods, felony caps, and the “one bad night” concurrent-offense rule.
The waiting periods and lifetime limits summarized above are those described in the Michigan Attorney General’s expungement FAQ. The statute controls, and it has been amended since 2021, so confirm the current text before relying on any number.
For the current statutory text, see the Michigan Legislature’s MCL database and the Michigan State Police’s Clean Slate resources.
About Attorney Kevin Bessant
- Licensed Michigan Attorney with the State Bar of Michigan and over 20 years of criminal defense trial experience.
- Michigan Super Lawyer, recognized annually from 2015 through 2026.
- Detroit Business Magazine (DBusiness) Top Lawyer, 2017.
- Listed among Expertise.com’s Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Detroit.
- Interviewed by Fox 2 News Detroit (2016) regarding Michigan State Police breathalyzer calibration errors affecting nearly 2,000 DUI cases statewide between December 2015 and April 2016.
- Offices in Detroit, Eastpointe, and Southfield, Michigan, serving Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Livingston, and Washtenaw counties.
- Free case evaluation: 313-658-8159
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a criminal expungement in Michigan?
An expungement, or “setting aside a conviction,” is the legal process of removing a prior criminal conviction from public record with the Michigan State Police criminal database.
What convictions may be eligible for expungement in Michigan?
Many misdemeanor and felony convictions, including certain drug, weapons, assault, and domestic violence convictions, may qualify depending on Michigan’s expungement eligibility requirements.
Does expungement mean the conviction is completely erased?
Not entirely — the record may still exist with the courts, but after expungement it is no longer available to the public, allowing you to truthfully state you were not convicted of that crime.
Do I have to live in Michigan to get a Michigan conviction expunged?
No. You can pursue expungement of a Michigan conviction even if you no longer live in the state.
How long do I have to wait before I can apply?
The Michigan Attorney General lists 3 years for most misdemeanors, 5 years for a single felony or certain serious misdemeanors, and 7 years for multiple felonies. The wait generally runs from the end of your sentence, including probation or parole.
How many convictions can be set aside?
Per the Attorney General, up to 3 felonies and an unlimited number of misdemeanors, with no more than 2 assaultive crimes and only one felony punishable by 10 or more years.
What happens if I get a new conviction while I wait?
You are not eligible until the new waiting period ends, according to the Michigan Attorney General, so avoid new charges and ask for a record review before you file.