Attorney Joe is truly an excellent lawyer. My case was unique and complex, but he showed unwavering confidence. He ultimately resolved it quickly and accurately, despite not being in the U.S. due to circumstances. We com...
김재호
05/15/2024
While I have not used his services directly, I have referred several clients. All have been very pleased with his services. He is talented, well-connected and caring. He gets great results.
Highly recommend! He does exceptional work.
Hands down the best attorney in town, recommend 100%
A criminal conviction can follow you long after you’ve paid your debt to society. Even after serving your sentence or completing probation, a criminal record can impact your employment prospects, housing opportunities, professional licensing, educational advancement, and overall quality of life. At Law Offices of Joseph A. Simon, PLLC, we understand the burden a criminal record places on your future, which is why we offer comprehensive expungement services to help you move forward with a clean slate.
An expungement is a legal process that removes or seals a criminal conviction from your public record. In Michigan, this is formally known as “setting aside a conviction.” When a conviction is successfully expunged, it is as though the arrest and conviction never happened. You can legally answer “no” when asked if you have been convicted of a crime, and employers, landlords, and the general public will have no access to records of the offense through standard background checks.
Michigan law allows for the expungement of certain criminal convictions under specific circumstances. However, not all crimes are eligible for expungement, and the process involves complex legal standards and procedural requirements. This is where experienced legal guidance becomes invaluable.
Clearing your criminal record through expungement provides tangible, life-changing benefits:
Employment Opportunities: Many employers conduct background checks and automatically reject applicants with criminal convictions. An expungement removes this barrier, allowing you to compete fairly for jobs and advance your career without the stigma of a past conviction.
Housing and Rental Applications: Landlords and property managers frequently screen for criminal history. With an expungement, you can apply for housing without disclosure of past convictions, improving your chances of approval.
Professional Licensing: Certain professions require clean records for licensure. An expungement may enable you to pursue careers in healthcare, education, law, and other regulated fields that would otherwise be closed to you.
Educational Advancement: Schools and universities may consider criminal history in admissions decisions. An expungement strengthens your applications and opens doors to educational opportunities.
Peace of Mind: Perhaps most importantly, expungement allows you to move forward without the constant weight of your past. You can rebuild your life and reputation with confidence.
Michigan law permits expungement of convictions under specific criteria. Generally, you may be eligible to have a conviction set aside if:
You have completed your sentence, including probation and payment of fines, or a significant period of time has passed since your conviction. Certain crimes—particularly violent felonies and sex offenses—have stricter eligibility requirements or may not be expungeable. Some misdemeanors are more readily expungeable than felonies.
Determining your eligibility requires careful analysis of Michigan’s expungement statutes and recent case law. Joseph A. Simon and his team have decades of experience navigating these complex rules and identifying expungement opportunities that clients may not realize are available to them.
We handle every aspect of your expungement petition with meticulous attention to detail:
Case Assessment: We thoroughly review your criminal history and conviction details to determine eligibility and the best legal strategy.
Petition Preparation: We prepare comprehensive expungement petitions that clearly present your case and demonstrate why your conviction should be set aside.
Court Representation: We advocate on your behalf before the court, presenting persuasive arguments supported by law and evidence.
Record Management: Once expungement is granted, we guide you through the process of updating your records across all relevant agencies and databases.
Don’t let a past conviction define your future. Contact the Law Offices of Joseph A. Simon, PLLC today for a confidential consultation about your expungement eligibility. With over 35 years of criminal law experience and a proven track record of success, we’re committed to helping you reclaim your life.
Contact Law Offices of Joseph A. Simon, PLLC today for a confidential consultation about your expungement options. Call (734) 887-6200 to get started.
Expungement removes your conviction from public records entirely, while sealing restricts access but keeps the record on file. Both provide privacy protection, but expungement offers complete removal. The availability of each depends on your conviction type and jurisdiction.
Michigan allows expungement of certain convictions after a waiting period (typically 5 years for felonies, 3 years for misdemeanors). Some offenses, particularly violent crimes and sex offenses, have restrictions. We evaluate your case to determine eligibility and the best path forward.
The timeline varies but typically ranges from 2-6 months. This includes petition preparation, filing, prosecutor review, and the judge’s decision. Our firm handles all steps to ensure your case moves efficiently through the court system.
