By statute, the Governor, members of the General Assembly, and other public officials are entitled to legal advice from the Attorney General's Office. An Attorney General's opinion is thus a written public document responding to a specific legal question asked by a public official. All opinions have been reviewed by the Opinions Section and represent the highest standards of research. An Attorney General's opinion attempts to resolve questions of law as the author believes a court would decide the issue. Unlike a court, however, Attorney General opinions cannot decide factual disputes.

For information:

Opinions from 1868 to present are available in the Office of the Attorney General Law Library, 1000 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29211.

Opinions dating from 1959 to present are available on the Westlaw or Lexis research databases.

By statute, the Governor, members of the General Assembly, and other public officials are entitled to legal advice from the Attorney General's Office. An Attorney General's opinion is thus a written public document responding to a specific legal question asked by a public official. All opinions have been reviewed by the Opinions Section and represent the highest standards of research.