Dear Mrs. Shearin,

Thank you for contacting the Governor’s Office regarding your request for an expungement.  Be advised that our office cannot offer you legal advice, but we can provide you with information, which we hope you find helpful.

In the State of South Carolina, the Governor has no authority to expunge a criminal record.  Pursuant to the South Carolina Code of Laws, a criminal record may only be expunged through an application to the court, which must be signed by a judge.  An individual should contact the solicitor’s office in the area where the charge originated to seek assistance and obtain an application, which does require a fee. 

Also, please be advised that an individual does not have to have a lawyer to request an expungement but can represent himself or herself pro se.  Helpful resources with additional information can be found online at www.sccourts.org/selfhelp/ and www.scfathersandfamilies.com/resources/.

Again, thank you for contacting the Governor’s Office.  If there is anything else we can do for you, please let me know. 

Sincerely,

Rebecca Schimsa

Office of the Governor