Grand Rapids Expungement Lawyer

Defining Expungement in Grand Rapids

An expungement involves setting aside past criminal offenses at the state level so that members of the public, such as employers or landlords, cannot see those convictions on your permanent criminal record. It can be difficult to determine your eligibility for expungement on your own. This is where an attorney can step in to explain the intricacies of the Michigan criminal justice system and how it applies to your case.

Since 2021, Michigan’s “Clean Slate Act” has worked to expand the types and number of state criminal offenses that are eligible for expungement. In 2023 alone, the state received 9,268 petitions for expungement. In Michigan, to be eligible for expungement, you must meet stringent requirements including a waiting period of several years—depending on the type of offense—as well as completion of your sentence, maintaining a clean record, and not having more than the maximum number of allowable crimes. There are certain crimes and convictions that you will not be able to have expunged, including many crimes categorized as violent or sexual, as well as other offenses that are not eligible for expungement. Michigan’s expungement laws are complicated, and our team of attorneys at SBBL Law can help conduct an initial screening to tell you if and when you are eligible to begin the process.

Why Hire an Expungement Lawyer from SBBL Law?

While it is not legally required that you hire an expungement lawyer to begin the expungement process in Michigan, a knowledgeable attorney can prove vital to the success of your case. With so much at stake in an expungement case, having an attorney on your side to walk you through the complicated process can help ensure the most favorable outcome the first time around. At SBBL Law, our attorneys can determine your eligibility, help gather evidence, assist in filling out and filing the necessary documents, and ultimately defend your right to expunge your record.