Getting arrested can be scary, especially if you have no exposure to the criminal justice system beyond watching Law & Order in your family room. The following numbered items are a very general schedule of what to expect after you are arrested. Arrest: Arrest is a...

It is sometimes possible to have points removed from your South Carolina license, but it is best to take steps to ensure that the points do not end up on your license in the first place. Just because you get points removed, it does not mean you avoid other negative...

If you pay a traffic ticket in South Carolina, you admit guilt and are automatically convicted of the offense charged on the citation.   We live in a world where the effects of traffic offenses are minimized. Thus, paying a ticket, particularly when it is inconvenient...

Probation is a judicially imposed consequence to a criminal conviction that requires supervision of a criminal defendant by agents of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Pardons, and Parole.  Probation is a special form of supervision because it can only be...

A living will is a document that tells doctors about your healthcare wishes if you are suffering from a terminal illness or are rendered permanently unconscious.   "Estate planning" is not just for people with lots of money or assets. Even if you do not believe that...

An expungement is a court ordered destruction/sealing of a person's legal records related to an arrest, charges filed, or of eligible convicted crimes. Statutory law governs the circumstances under which offenses may be removed from an individual's criminal history....

If someone dies without a will in South Carolina, their estate is distributed through a legal process called intestate succession.  In South Carolina, the rules of intestacy are laid out in the South Carolina code.  If you are curious about what would happen if you or...

An expungement is a court ordered destruction/sealing of a person's legal records related to an arrest, charges filed or of eligible convicted crimes. Criminal records can hold you back, personally and professionally.  The following areas can be affected if you have a...

Short Answer: Maybe. Ask an attorney if you may qualify for a diversion program. Long Answer:  Completing community service hours through a formal diversion program or as part of an agreement approved by the prosecuting attorney/officer may allow you have your charges...

Despite the words Uniform Traffic ticket at the top of your citation, the potential outcomes for SC traffic cases are anything but uniform. With potential to negatively affect your license, insurance, and employment status, Blackwelder Law strongly encourages you...