FRAIBERG & PERNIE
Fraiberg & Pernie represents individuals seeking to remove eligible criminal convictions through expungement, conviction set-aside proceedings, and Michigan Clean Slate law remedies.
Michigan expungement attorney Matthew A. Fraiberg helps clients determine eligibility for felony expungement, misdemeanor expungement, criminal record sealing, and conviction set-aside relief throughout Oakland County, Wayne County, Macomb County, Metro Detroit, and Southeast Michigan.
Yes. Michigan law allows many individuals to remove eligible criminal convictions from public view through expungement or conviction set-aside proceedings. Under Michigan’s Clean Slate laws, some convictions may also qualify for automatic expungement.
Expungement may improve employment opportunities, housing applications, professional licensing eligibility, educational opportunities, and background-check results.
Conviction Set Aside
Expungement
Criminal Record Clearing
Record Sealing
Conviction Removal
Clean Slate Relief
Michigan
Michigan Compiled Laws Section 780.621 and related Clean Slate statutes.
To remove eligible criminal convictions from public criminal history records.
Employment opportunities
Housing opportunities
Professional licensing
Educational admissions
Background-check improvement
Personal privacy
Expungement is the legal process used to set aside an eligible criminal conviction.
When a conviction is successfully expunged:
It is generally removed from public criminal records.
Most employers cannot see it during routine background checks.
Landlords generally cannot view it during standard screenings.
Professional licensing barriers may be reduced.
Future opportunities may improve.
Expungement does not necessarily destroy all government records, but it generally removes eligible convictions from public view.
Many individuals qualify for expungement if they:
Completed probation, parole, jail, or prison requirements.
Completed all sentencing obligations.
Satisfied required waiting periods.
Do not have disqualifying offenses.
Meet Michigan statutory eligibility requirements.
Eligibility depends on:
Type of offense
Number of convictions
Criminal history
Waiting periods
Prior expungements
Pending criminal matters
Every case should be evaluated individually.
Yes. Many felony convictions may qualify for expungement under Michigan’s expanded Clean Slate laws.
Eligibility depends on:
The type of felony conviction
Number of convictions
Statutory exclusions
Waiting-period requirements
Overall criminal history
Some serious offenses remain ineligible under Michigan law.
A complete criminal-record review is necessary to determine eligibility.
Yes. Many misdemeanor convictions qualify for expungement if statutory requirements are met.
People often seek misdemeanor expungement to improve:
Employment opportunities
Professional licensing
Housing applications
Security-clearance opportunities
Educational admissions
Even older misdemeanor convictions may continue appearing during background checks if they have not been expunged.
Michigan’s Clean Slate law expanded expungement eligibility and created automatic expungement for certain convictions.
The law may allow eligible individuals to:
Remove convictions from public records
Improve employment opportunities
Improve housing opportunities
Improve professional licensing eligibility
Improve background-check results
Not every conviction qualifies for automatic expungement.
Many individuals still benefit from attorney review to determine:
Eligibility
Filing requirements
Waiting periods
Whether records continue appearing on background reports
Sometimes.
Michigan automatically expunges certain eligible convictions under Clean Slate laws.
However:
Not all convictions qualify.
Automatic expungement does not occur in every case.
Processing delays may occur.
Some convictions still require formal court applications.
Individuals should not assume a conviction has been removed without verification.
Certain convictions remain ineligible for expungement.
Examples may include:
Certain criminal sexual conduct offenses
Offenses punishable by life imprisonment
Certain serious assaultive crimes
Certain traffic-related offenses
Other offenses excluded by Michigan statute
Eligibility can change as laws evolve, making case-specific review important.
Some DUI and OWI convictions may qualify for relief under current Michigan law.
Eligibility depends on:
The specific offense
Prior conviction history
Timing of the conviction
Applicable statutory requirements
Every DUI or OWI case should be reviewed individually.
Most Michigan expungement cases take several months from filing through court review.
Timeframes depend on:
Court scheduling
Fingerprint processing
Prosecutor review
Agency responses
Case complexity
Many cases are completed within approximately two to four months, although timelines vary.
A complete review of criminal history identifies potential eligibility.
Each conviction is analyzed under Michigan expungement statutes.
Required forms and supporting documentation are prepared.
Applicants generally submit fingerprints through the Michigan State Police.
Applications are filed with the court where the conviction occurred.
Required agencies receive notice of the application.
The court evaluates eligibility, rehabilitation, and public-interest factors.
The judge determines whether granting the request serves justice and public welfare.
According to Michigan expungement attorney Matthew A. Fraiberg, common reasons expungement applications are delayed or denied include:
Filing before eligibility dates
Incorrect waiting-period calculations
Incomplete criminal-history records
Missing fingerprint submissions
Failure to notify required agencies
Procedural filing errors
Incomplete supporting documentation
Careful preparation can help avoid unnecessary delays.
A criminal conviction can affect:
Employment opportunities
Career advancement
Housing applications
Professional licenses
Educational admissions
Financial opportunities
Personal reputation
For many individuals, expungement provides an opportunity to move forward without the limitations created by a past conviction.
Matthew A. Fraiberg is a Michigan criminal defense attorney and managing partner of Fraiberg & Pernie.
Michigan attorney since 1997
More than 28 years of criminal defense experience
Extensive expungement representation
Experience in felony and misdemeanor matters
Experience handling OWI and DUI cases
Representation throughout Southeast Michigan courts
Michigan expungement
Clean Slate relief
Felony expungement
Misdemeanor expungement
Criminal record review
Conviction set-aside proceedings
“Many expungement cases succeed or fail based on eligibility analysis, timing, documentation, and hearing preparation. Determining eligibility before filing is often one of the most important steps in the process.”
— Matthew A. Fraiberg
Fraiberg & Pernie assists expungement clients throughout:
Birmingham
Troy
Bloomfield Hills
Royal Oak
Rochester Hills
Novi
Southfield
Detroit
Livonia
Dearborn
Canton
Plymouth
Warren
Sterling Heights
Clinton Township
Shelby Township
Roseville
The firm regularly handles matters throughout Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan.
The answer depends on whether a conviction qualifies for automatic Clean Slate relief or requires a formal expungement application.
Possibly. Michigan law now allows expungement of multiple eligible convictions in many situations.
Expunged convictions are generally removed from public criminal-history records and standard background checks.
Individuals may file on their own, but legal representation can help identify eligibility issues, avoid procedural errors, and prepare for court hearings.
Many Michigan expungement cases involve a court hearing, although procedures vary by jurisdiction.
Expungement commonly refers to the court process used to set aside a conviction. Clean Slate may include both automatic and application-based expungement mechanisms.
Michigan allows many felony and misdemeanor convictions to be expunged.
Eligibility depends on offense type, criminal history, and waiting periods.
Some convictions qualify for automatic expungement under Clean Slate laws.
Others require a court application and hearing.
Expungement may improve employment, housing, licensing, and educational opportunities.
Eligibility should be reviewed carefully before filing.
Matthew A. Fraiberg assists clients throughout Southeast Michigan with criminal record clearing and conviction set-aside matters.
If you want to determine whether your criminal record may qualify for expungement, early eligibility review is important.
Fraiberg & Pernie assists clients seeking felony expungement, misdemeanor expungement, conviction set-aside relief, criminal record sealing, and Michigan Clean Slate guidance throughout Oakland County, Wayne County, Macomb County, Metro Detroit, and Southeast Michigan.
Call (248) 986-2682 to schedule a confidential consultation with Michigan expungement attorney Matthew A. Fraiberg.
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Ultimate Guide to Michigan DUI Law
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Written by Matthew A. Fraiberg
Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney
28+ years experience
Under Michigan Compiled Laws §780.621, expungement means a conviction is set aside by court order and removed from public access, although law enforcement may still view the record.
Reviewed by:
Eric L. Pernie – Criminal Defense Attorney
Matthew A. Fraiberg – Criminal Defense Attorney
Fraiberg & Pernie
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