Are you searching for a Flint expungement lawyer? Attorney Matthew L. Norwood has helped clients clear eligible convictions from their records since 2002. The good news is that Michigan’s Clean Slate legislation has opened the door for far more people to set aside past convictions than the old law ever allowed, and understanding whether you qualify is the first step toward moving forward.
Before Michigan’s Clean Slate reforms, an individual was only entitled to dismiss one eligible felony or two eligible misdemeanors. This restriction left many individuals stuck with a conviction that continued to impact their lives (career and credibility) long after they moved on with their lives.
But today, under the traditional expungement process, an individual may set aside an unlimited number of eligible misdemeanors and up to three eligible felony convictions.
A conviction set aside, also known as an expungement, generally removes an eligible conviction from public view, although it may still be accessible to certain government agencies as permitted by law.
When a conviction is set aside through expungement, it is generally removed from public view. However, it may still be available to certain courts and government agencies as permitted by Michigan law.
As a Michigan expungement lawyer, Attorney Norwood has watched this shift open real opportunities for clients who previously had no path forward.
CEO of Attorney Matthew L. Norwood
Years ago, police arrested an 18-year-old client for carrying a concealed weapon after they found a gun in his car. Due to this conviction, he was never offered youthful trainee status. As a result, he was later pulled over multiple times for driving without a license, resulting in traffic misdemeanours.
According to the old law, having more than two of those traffic convictions on his record made him ineligible for his felony to be set aside. That felony kept costing him valuable job opportunities, and it even prevented him from volunteering at his own son’s school.
The worst part? These stories were the norm, which is why the reforms in Clean Slate became important.
As expungement lawyers in Michigan, we’re often asked how long someone has to wait before applying. The waiting period depends on the type of conviction, and the clock starts from whichever date is latest: the sentence date, completion of jail or prison time, completion of probation, or completion of parole (conditional release of a prisoner before their full punishment is finished, allowing them to serve the remaining time in the community under supervision).
Below are more specific details for better understanding:
Multiple Felonies
7 years to apply if dismissal is related to more than one felony conviction
Single Felony / Serious Misdemeanor
5 years for a single felony or a “serious” misdemeanor
Non-Serious Misdemeanor
3 years for a non-serious misdemeanor, as defined under MCL 780.811 (generally excludes assaultive offenses such as domestic violence, breaking, 4th-degree child abuse, and certain firearm violations)
Michigan’s Clean Slate law also fixed a longstanding problem for people convicted of multiple offenses from a single bad day. Under MCL 780.621b, certain felonies or misdemeanors that arise from the same transaction within a 24-hour period may be grouped together. For eligibility purposes, they can be counted as a single conviction.
For example, someone who breaks into a building to steal a laptop might be convicted of both breaking and larceny. Under the old law, those two felony convictions from one incident made a person ineligible for expungement. Under the bundling provision, they may now count as one.
There are some limits worth knowing:
First-time drunk driving convictions, including OWI, DWI, OUIL, OUID, and impaired driving, are now eligible for expungement. Offenses involving death, serious injury, or a commercial vehicle (CDL) are not eligible. Even after a successful set-aside, the Michigan Secretary of State still maintains the reportable driving offense on your driving record.
Attorney Norwood guides clients as a conviction set-aside lawyer through each step of the traditional expungement process:
Marijuana misdemeanor convictions based on conduct that is no longer illegal receive a streamlined expungement process. The prosecutor has 60 days to file a rebuttal. If they do, the court must set a hearing within 30 days. If they don’t, the court must enter an order setting aside the conviction within 21 days.
As a criminal record expungement lawyer, Attorney Norwood has spent years talking directly with people trying to close a difficult chapter of their lives. That firsthand experience shapes how he approaches every case.
Under the current Clean Slate law, you may be able to set aside up to three eligible felony convictions, depending on your waiting period and record. See the "Who Qualifies" section above for full eligibility details.
Attorney Matthew L. Norwood is based in Flint, Michigan, and represents clients throughout the Flint and Flint Township area seeking to clear eligible convictions from their record.
Yes. Marijuana possession or paraphernalia convictions benefit from a presumption process that can resolve significantly faster than a standard application. See "The Michigan Expungement Process" section above for the timeline.
Attorney Norwood has practiced criminal defense and handled expungement matters since 2002.
Under the current Clean Slate law, you may be able to set aside up to three eligible felony convictions, depending on your waiting period and record. See the "Who Qualifies" section above for full eligibility details.
Attorney Matthew L. Norwood is based in Flint, Michigan, and represents clients throughout the Flint and Flint Township area seeking to clear eligible convictions from their record.
Yes. Marijuana possession or paraphernalia convictions benefit from a presumption process that can resolve significantly faster than a standard application. See "The Michigan Expungement Process" section above for the timeline.
Attorney Norwood has practiced criminal defense and handled expungement matters since 2002.
Read what our satisfied clients say about our law firm based on their first-hand experience. Decide for yourself whether you need a dedicated criminal defense lawyer in Flint or not.
If a past conviction is holding you back, you may qualify to have it removed under Michigan’s Clean Slate law. Attorney Norwood has helped clients pursue expungement since 2002 and can help you understand your options.
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