The 7 ways a charge can be expunged:

1. There are no fees if the charge was dismissed, nol prossed, or the defendant was found not guilty.

2. It is a 1st fraudulent check charge with no other conviction within one year.

3. It is a 1st conviction in a magistrate or municipal court with no criminal conviction for 3 years.

4. You complete PTI.

5. It is a 1st conviction for Failure to Stop for a Blue light and no criminal conviction has occurred in 3 years.

6. You received a conditional discharge.

7. The conviction was a 1st offense as a Youthful Offender and no further criminal convictions have occurred in the 5 years after the date of your sentence was Completed.
 

** Some restrictions apply **

 ** DUI Convictions are never eligible to be expunged under any circumstances **

Common Myths about Expungements:

1. You have to be taken to jail to have a record.

2. You don’t have a record if you have never been to court.

3. If your charge has been dismissed, then you do not have a record.

4. The judge/lawyer told me I didn't have to worry about it.

5. It automatically comes off your record after 5 years.  

The Truth is:

1. An arrest does not mean being taken to jail in handcuffs.  If an officer takes your fingerprints you will have a record.  An arrest also occurs when you are given a ticket.

2. You can be found guilty in your absence if you fail to appear for a court date.  You can be found guilty, forfeit your bond and never go to court.

3. A record includes both arrests and court dispositions.

4. Court officials may be well meaning but often they are not fully informed about expungements. You are responsible for your record and for knowing what charges are on it.  You can obtain a copy of your record from SLED by accessing the SLED websitewww.sled.sc.gov and the cost is $25.00

5. Nothing automatically comes off your record,  no matter what.

How to get an Expungement:

Hire an attorney
OR
Request an Expungement Order from the Solicitor’s Office.

You will need to:

1. Pay the Research and Preparation fee of $250.00 in the form of a money order made payable to the Sixth Circuit Solicitor’s office, a money order made payable to the Lancaster County Clerk of Court for $35.00 for their recording fee, and a money order made payable to SLED when applicable, for their processing fee.

2. Bring all money orders to the Sixth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

IF YOUR CHARGE IS DEEMED INELIGIBLE, THE $250.00 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE

Things to remember:

• Under most circumstances, you can receive one Expungement for a conviction in your lifetime.

• All circuit court convictions stay on your record unless they fall under the exceptions of the Youthful Offender Act (22-5-920) or Failure to Stop for a Blue Light (56-5-750) or carry 30 days and/or $500 or less.

• The fee for an expungement is $250.00.

• The filing fee for the clerk of court is $35.00.

• The fee is waived for non-convictions. SLED charges a $25.00 fee for processing Orders forconvictions.

• Often a completely clean arrest record can be achieved; however, many charges can never be expunged.

Get in touch

To schedule an appointment, please contact:

Contact Information

Ann Hardee for Chester and Fairfield Counties

P. O. Box 728
140 Main Street
Chester, South Carolina 29706

Phone:  (803) 377-1141
Fax:  (803) 581-2242

P. O.  Box 1085
115 S. Congress Street
Winnsboro, South Carolina 29180

Phone:  (803) 712-1735
Fax:  (803) 712-1267

Julie S. Small for Lancaster County
jsmall@scsolicitor6.org

P. O. Box 607
104 North Main Street
Lancaster, South Carolina 29721

Phone:  (803) 416-9367
Fax:  (855) 971-3168