Among the valuable legal services we offer, is the guidance you need when petitioning the court to have a conviction set aside. Expungement, or the removal of a criminal conviction from your record, can be a complicated process that has the power to profoundly change your life. Having a conviction on your record can have an adverse affect on your ability to get a job, take out a loan or obtain housing.
If the conviction on your record is a felony in the state of Michigan, it can affect your right to hold certain businesses licenses and your eligibility for the military. Any sentences connected to subsequent felony convictions may be made more severe with a prior felony on your record.
Setting aside a conviction (sometimes called getting an expungement) will remove a specific conviction from your public criminal record. If you get an order setting aside your conviction, you can legally state on any job or school application that you have never been convicted of or arrested for that crime. You will also be able to state on any applications for public benefits, housing, or employment that you have not been convicted of that crime.
Before you petition the court to set aside a conviction, you must first determine if you are eligible. There are some basic time guidelines that affect eligibility as well as the nature of your conviction; civil infractions and designated types of crime cannot be expunged. To be considered for expungement, five years must have passed since the completion of your sentence, and you must not have had a previous conviction set aside. Copies of your fingerprints and the judgment of sentence, register of actions or probate order must be submitted along with other required documents. Consulting with an expungement attorney will help give you a better understanding of the forms you need to fill out to complete the application process and secure a court date. Understand that expungement is not a quick or simple process, but it can restore your freedoms and give you a second chance. Because the decision whether to expunge your record resides with a single judge, it is essential that you have the advice of a knowledgeable and skilled attorney to represent you. At Collis and Griffor, we provide comprehensive legal services throughout the state of Michigan, particularly in Wayne in Washtenaw counties, primarily serving the cities of Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. Our dedicated team of attorneys and legal professionals provide expert legal representation in the areas of dispute resolution, family law, business law, criminal and traffic law, real estate and probate law. We dedicate ourselves to providing thorough and individualized representation for all of our clients and know how important it is for you to take control of your record so you can move forward with your life.