29 September, 2026
Can a Felony Be Removed From Your Record in Michigan?
You type your own name into a background check site, just to see what comes up. The felony is still there, years later, exactly as detailed as the day it was filed.
As you know, a felony from years ago can become current again, fast, whether it is a Lansing employer that runs a background check, a Grand Rapids landlord asks about a conviction you didn’t think they’d care about, or a professional license application suddenly wants details from a case so long ago that you’re not even the same person.
The question comes back around: can a felony be removed from your record in Michigan?
In many cases, yes. Eligible felony convictions can be set aside, removing them from the public criminal record. Some clear automatically. Others require an application, a hearing, and a judge’s approval.
Coontz Law understands how much weight a record like that carries long after the case is over, and we step in to help you find out if your conviction qualifies.
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Start With the Felony You Actually Have, Not the One You Remember
People often remember a case by the arrest, charge, plea deal, or sentence. Expungement eligibility depends on the conviction that appears on the record.
Under Michigan’s current set-aside rules, a person with no more than three felony convictions may generally apply to have eligible convictions set aside.
Separate limits apply to assaultive crimes and repeated convictions for certain offenses punishable by more than 10 years. Some convictions cannot be set aside, including felonies punishable by life imprisonment and several specifically excluded offenses.
Start by identifying the statute of conviction, the court, the sentence date, when probation or parole ended, and whether other convictions affect eligibility. Two people who both say they have an old “felony assault” can have very different outcomes once the actual statutes and records are reviewed.
When Several Felonies Can Count as One
Michigan has a limited rule that treats multiple felony offenses as one conviction for set-aside purposes when the offenses occurred within 24 hours and arose from the same transaction. Important exceptions include assaultive crimes, crimes involving a dangerous weapon, and offenses with a maximum penalty of 10 years or more.
That rule matters for someone who appears to exceed the three-felony limit. It is also easy to misapply.
A Michigan expungement attorney can review the full record before you assume you are eligible, ineligible, or stuck waiting.
A Michigan Expungement Application Needs More Than an Eligible Date
For one felony, the application waiting period is generally five years from the latest applicable event, including sentencing, completion of probation, discharge from parole, or completion of imprisonment. An application to set aside more than one felony generally requires seven years to have elapsed from the latest applicable event.
Reaching that date only gets you to the courthouse door.
When a court considers a set aside application, the applicant’s circumstances and behavior since the conviction must warrant relief, and setting the conviction aside must be consistent with the public welfare.
These are separate considerations. Michigan’s Supreme Court has emphasized that a court must account for both rather than combining them into a single test.
That means the hearing is not just about proving enough time has passed. It is about showing what happened after the felony.
Give the Judge Evidence of the Life You Built
A strong felony set-aside case gives the court something concrete to evaluate. Useful proof may include:
- Steady employment, promotions, or vocational training;
- Education or professional licensing;
- Treatment, recovery, or counseling when relevant;
- Community involvement or volunteer work; and
- Family responsibilities and other evidence of stability.
Specific examples are more useful than broad claims about change. A supervisor’s description of how you became a trusted employee says more than a stack of letters calling you “a good person.” Supporting documents and detailed letters can help show the court what changed after the conviction.
Your reason for seeking relief matters too. Maybe the conviction blocks advancement at a Lansing-area employer, keeps surfacing on East Lansing housing applications, or stands between you and a professional credential. The court should understand how the public record affects the life you built after the case.
Why a Michigan Expungement Attorney Can Matter Before You File
You are not legally required to hire a lawyer to seek an expungement. Michigan provides forms, and some people with straightforward records handle the process themselves. A felony record can complicate the analysis.
Coontz Law starts with the record, not the form. We determine what you were actually convicted of, how multiple convictions count, whether the waiting period has expired, and whether automatic relief has already changed part of the record.
If an application is the right route, we help gather certified records, organize evidence of changes, prepare supporting materials, address complications before the hearing, and present the case to the court.
The point is not to pretend the felony never happened. It is to show why it should no longer introduce you before you get the chance to introduce yourself.
What Does Michigan Expungement Law Actually Remove?
A successful set-aside makes the conviction nonpublic for most purposes. It does not destroy every government record of the case. Michigan State Police retains a nonpublic record that authorized courts, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and certain other government actors may access for limited statutory purposes.
“Expunged” means the law changes the conviction’s public status and access to it. It does not mean the history ceased to exist.
The Case Is Old. Your Life Is Current.
If an old felony keeps showing up long after you finished the sentence, do not assume you have to live with it.
Coontz Law helps people across Michigan determine whether a conviction can be set aside and what happens next. We review the record, identify the available route, prepare the application and supporting evidence, and represent you at the hearing.
You already did the years after the conviction. Now, find out whether the record still has to follow you.
FAQs
Can an Eligible Felony Be Removed Automatically in Michigan?
Yes. Certain eligible felony convictions can be automatically set aside 10 years after sentencing or the completion of a Michigan Department of Corrections prison term, whichever occurs later. Automatic relief is limited to no more than two felony convictions. If yours has not cleared automatically, application-based relief may still be available.
What If My Felony Cannot Be Expunged?
Some convictions are excluded from Michigan’s set-aside law. If yours cannot be expunged, another form of relief, such as a pardon, may be worth evaluating. Confirm the exact statute first, rather than assuming every serious felony receives the same treatment.
Do I Still Have to Say I Was Convicted After a Felony Is Set Aside?
Michigan law generally treats a person whose conviction has been set aside as not having been previously convicted, subject to statutory exceptions. Questions involving government licensing, law enforcement, immigration, or other specialized disclosures may require a closer look at the specific rule at issue.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page:
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:
- MCL § 780.621. Application for order setting aside conviction.
- MCL § 780.621c. Prohibition on setting aside convictions for certain criminal cases.
- MCL § 780.621b – Setting aside multiple criminal offenses arising out of same transaction; exceptions.
- People v. Butka, 514 Mich. 366 (2024)
- MCL § 780.621d. Application and procedures for setting aside felonies and serious misdemeanor convictions.
- MCL § 780.623. Retention and availability of nonpublic records after a conviction is set aside.
- Michigan State Police. Michigan Clean Slate
- MCL § 780.622. Entry of order; effect.
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