This toolkit tells you what you need to know if you would like to ask a court to set aside a juvenile adjudication (conviction) from your past. If your adjudication is set aside, it cannot be seen by the public. This toolkit is only for you if you were convicted as a minor. For general information about setting aside an adjudication, read the Articles. Read the Common Questions if you have a specific question. If you want to ask the court to set aside your adjudication, use the Forms link to prepare your forms. Use the Checklist below to make sure you followed all the steps in the process. Go to Courts & Agencies for information about the court that will handle your case.
You'll find links to legal aid offices and lawyer referral services under Find A Lawyer. If there is a Self-Help Center in your area you can get more help there. If you need something other than legal help, look in Community Services. If you need a fee waiver, an interpreter, a court to accommodate your disability, or more information about going to court, visit Going to Court.
Common Questions
If a minor is convicted of a crime, it is called juvenile adjudication. If a minor is tried and convicted as an adult, it is a conviction. To learn more about getting a conviction set aside, see the I Have an Adult Criminal Conviction That I Would Like to Set Aside (Expunge) toolkit.
Read the article Setting Aside a Juvenile Adjudication to learn about the process of getting an adjudication set aside. Use the Checklist at the end of the I Have a Juvenile Adjudication That I Would Like to Set Aside (Expunge) toolkit as a step-by-step guide.
If the judge orders your adjudication to be set aside, the court will send a copy of the Order On Application to Set Aside Adjudication to the Michigan State Police.
If the adjudication is set aside, you will not have to disclose it to potential employers.