Michigan Second Chances Lawyer

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Don’t wait— contact us today to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
(517) 940-8004

You’re filling out a job application, and your pen hesitates over the same box it always does. You could lie, but you know how that ends if they check. You could tell the truth, and know that the callback will never come.

hat misdemeanor from a decade ago has nothing to do with who you are now, but it still decides what doors open for you today.

You’ve heard people mention setting aside a conviction or getting rights restored before, but it’s usually followed by “it’s complicated” or “it depends,” and you’re tired of vague answers when you just want to know if you qualify.

Coontz Law understands that a past mistake shouldn’t keep writing your future, and we step in to find out exactly where you stand and what it takes to clear your record.

A Fresh Start Awaits

Your Past Doesn’t Have to Define Your Future

We all make mistakes, but a single wrong turn shouldn’t limit the rest of your life. Whether you are seeking to clear your record through expungement, restore your driver’s license, or regain your constitutional rights, taking action to reclaim your independence requires real courage.

At Coontz Law, we listen without judgment. We believe in redemption and fight for true second chances—not a lifetime of obstacles. Explore your legal options for second chance relief in Michigan and see how we can help you clear your name.

What Can a Second-Chance Lawyer Actually Help You Change?

“Second chance” is not one legal procedure. The right path depends on what is still restricted, the conviction involved, when you completed the sentence, and what has happened since.

Depending on the situation, relief may involve:

Each option has its own rules, evidence, and decision-maker. The first question is simple: what right or opportunity are you trying to get back?

What is Michigan’s Second Chance Law?

What people sometimes call Michigan’s second chance law is actually a collection of laws and procedures addressing different consequences of a conviction.

Michigan’s Clean Slate laws automatically set aside some eligible convictions. Other eligible convictions still require an application to the court. Automatic set-asides began in April 2023, but application-based expungement remains a separate process with its own eligibility rules.

This difference matters. You might assume a record has already been cleared, wait for automatic relief that does not apply, or focus on expungement when the real issue is a license or firearm restriction. The remedy has to match what is actually holding you back.

Why Pay a Lawyer If Some Second-Chance Filings Are DIY?

The question isn’t whether you can find or fill out the form. It’s whether filing it now is the right move.

An attorney can look over your criminal history, find the right solution, check waiting periods and any disqualifying convictions, gather the records needed, help you get ready to testify, and spot problems that could hurt your case.

Timing can matter as much as eligibility. Michigan limits firearm-restoration petitions to one in 12 months. And if a court denies a Sex Offenders Registration Act (SORA) petition after a hearing, another petition generally cannot be filed under that provision. Filing quickly is not always the same as filing strategically.

How Does the Right Remedy Depend on What You Need Back?

Once you know what is still restricted, the legal path becomes easier to identify. Expungement, license restoration, firearm rights restoration, SORA relief, and clemency serve different functions and go through different decision-makers.

Clear an Eligible Criminal Record

A set-aside clears an eligible conviction from the public criminal record. Most employers generally will not see a set-aside conviction on a background check, although Michigan maintains a nonpublic record that remains available for limited purposes allowed by law.

You don’t need a lawyer for every expungement application in Michigan. Legal help is most useful if you’re unsure about eligibility, have more than one conviction, or want someone to prepare your case and go with you.

Build a Driver’s License Restoration Case

A revoked license does not come back just because the minimum waiting period has passed. Many revocations, including those tied to repeat alcohol or drug-related driving offenses and felony driving offenses, require a reinstatement hearing before the Michigan Secretary of State.

If you need to get to work in Lansing, work a shift in Grand Rapids, or take your kids to school where there’s little public transportation, having a license can make all the difference in your daily life.

Treat Firearm Rights as Their Own Legal Question

Michigan firearm restrictions depend on the conviction. State law applies different rules to felonies, “specified felonies,” and certain misdemeanors involving domestic violence. A person with a specified felony generally must satisfy the waiting period and obtain a circuit-court restoration order.

State and federal restrictions can also overlap, so restoring rights under Michigan law does not necessarily end the analysis. Coontz Law reviews the conviction and the legal disability before advising what relief may be available.

Use the Narrower Remedy When the Usual One Does Not Fit

Some people may qualify to ask a court to discontinue sex offender registration. Others may need executive clemency, an extraordinary process that goes through the Michigan Parole Board before the governor makes a final decision.

Each of these solutions deals with a different legal issue. The first step is to figure out the real problem, not just fill out forms.

Coontz Law Has Always Been a Second-Chance Lawyer

Coontz Law’s second-chance work starts from a basic premise: your worst moment should not get permanent voting rights over the rest of your life. The firm focuses on helping people move from being weighed down by the past to taking control of what comes next.

We make the process practical. We use technology to cut unnecessary paperwork, communicate regularly, and limit the number of matters we take so your case gets real attention.

We also use flat-fee pricing, so you know what you are agreeing to before the work starts. No surprise fee waiting at the other end. We’re based in Lansing and handle second-chance matters across Michigan.

The legal system already had its say about what happened. Second-chance work asks what the law allows you to reclaim now.

You Don’t Have to Know Which Petition You Need. Call Us Today.

You don’t need to know the name of the petition before you call. Tell us what’s still affecting you today, and we can review the record, explain which options actually fit, and tell you what the process requires.

If we’re the right fit, you can bring us onto your team with a no-surprise fee and a clear plan for what happens next. Schedule a consultation today.

At Coontz Law, we proudly serve clients in the following areas within Michigan County:

Additional Questions About Second Chance Crimes in Michigan

Does an Expunged Conviction Disappear for Every Purpose?

No. A Michigan set-aside generally removes the conviction from public view, but law enforcement and certain government or licensing entities may still access the nonpublic record in circumstances allowed by law.

Can Expungement Restore My Michigan Driver’s License?

Not by itself. Expunging a driving-related conviction does not remove it from the driving record, so that that license restoration may require a separate process with the Secretary of State.

What Should I Bring to a Second-Chance Consultation?

If you have them, bring court paperwork, a current criminal-history record, driver’s license notices or a driving record, and any documents involving firearm or registration restrictions.

Legal References Used to Inform This Page:

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