About South Carolina Public Records

About South Carolina public records

Uncover free public records in South Carolina and conduct a background check or look up courts for divorces, lawsuits, criminal records. Search the state's courts for probate, family law matters, federal cases and juvenile issues. Employee screening sources, property value, personal and business assets, bankruptcies, liens, judgments, home foreclosures, death, birth and marriage records. Business and corporation search of U.C.C. and other company filings. Birth records, death records and marriage certificates from the S.C. department of health and environmental control. Death row and offender searches statewide with instant results keeping you informed about your area.

Court records and filings

Access South Carolina Courts online directly. Search court records; from South Carolina county courts to Supreme courts. Find criminal filings, South Carolina dissolution of marriage or divorce records from official state websites. File small claims lawsuits. Link to South Carolina probate sources with helpful information. Bankruptcy courts by jurisdiction or by districts. South Carolina state courts contact information such as telephone numbers and more.

Court search routes

As there may be more one source to obtaining South Carolina criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.

South Carolina State Court Structure:

The South Carolina municipal court maintains jurisdiction over misdemeanor, DWI or DUI from up to 30 days and/or $500, and traffic or other violation cases. The municipal court hears preliminary hearings. The South Carolina municipal court has jury trials. The South Carolina probate court has jurisdiction over marriage licenses, estates of deceased persons, guardianships of incompetents, conservator ships of estates of minors and incompetents, minor settlements under $25,000 and involuntary commitments to institutions for mentally ill and/or chemically dependent persons. The probate court also has exclusive jurisdiction over trusts and concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts over powers of attorney. The South Carolina magistrate court has jurisdiction over tort, contract, and real property rights cases, from $0 to $7,500. The South Carolina magistrate court has jurisdiction over small claims of up to $7,500. The magistrate court also hears misdemeanor, DWI or DUI, from up to 30 days and/or $500, and traffic or other violation cases. The magistrate court handles preliminary hearings. The magistrate court hears jury trials. The South Carolina family court has exclusive domestic relations jurisdiction. The family court also has jurisdiction over traffic or other violation, but for juvenile cases only. The family court also hears juvenile proceedings. The family court has no jury trials. The South Carolina circuit court has jurisdiction over tort, contract, real property rights, and miscellaneous civil cases. The circuit court has exclusive civil appeals jurisdiction. The South Carolina circuit court hears cases involving misdemeanors over 30 days, and DWI or DUI, second offense or greater. The circuit court has exclusive felony, criminal appeals, and miscellaneous criminal jurisdiction. The circuit court has jury trials except in appeals. The South Carolina court of appeals has mandatory jurisdiction in civil, non capital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, and original proceeding cases assigned by the Supreme Court. The court of appeals has no discretionary jurisdiction. The South Carolina supreme court has mandatory jurisdiction in civil, capital criminal, criminal, juvenile, disciplinary, certified questions from federal courts, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision cases. The supreme court has discretionary jurisdiction in civil, non capital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceeding, interlocutory decision cases.

Criminal records and background checks

South Carolina criminal records are maintained by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). SLED provides criminal background checks and maintains the state criminal history repository. Court records are accessible through the South Carolina courts online system. SLED also operates the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry.

Background check access

South Carolina criminal background checks and public records searches. Court records access links and resources and look up divorces. Begin you employment screening with license verification. Personal history, judgments and liens, free instant UCC searches online. Link to many government agencies that provide public records. Request bankruptcy records, drivers records, find property and real estate ownership or find an address. Order birth certificates, marriage, death and recorded documents. Research among the most complete directory of databases with how to instructions, inquiry forms and step by step process of obtaining public information. Background Checks Help And Frequently Asked Questions Plus Other Related Information

Vital records

Statewide South Carolina vital records. Search births, marriage records and death certificates. Divorces filed with courts. State vital records offices. Link to the agencies in South Carolina and order vital records. Many records are public information available to the public from private and government entities. You can use information to verify your records. Look up vital statistics and free vital searches in South Carolina to conduct research online. Department of health and environmental control vital records services, methods to obtain copies of records, death indexes 1915 to 1959, department of archives and history, divorce reports, record search fees.

Property and asset records

Search for assets in South Carolina and obtain records of property, business ownership, professional license verification and other personal or corporate assets. Find bankruptcies, liens, UCC judgment filings and find out about information that can effect a person's or company's asset. See the status of a business and verify ownership, DBA, status, activity and whether the corporation or business filed in South Carolina owns property, vehicles, real estate and more. Unclaimed property and asset search from official government databases open to the public.

Government records and agencies

Access South Carolina government agencies and obtain information on executive branches, legislative branches and jucidial branches within state jurisdiction. Link below to the state government agencies as well as state government information and services. Other state government resources such as codified state law, voters registration and other state government departments

Driving and vehicle records

Direct South Carolina official government links to driver license and registration resources. Vehicle registration, tags, driving history, online forms, office locations, and hours.

Expungements and record clearing

Expunge your criminal past of felonies, misdemeanors, D.U.I convictions and more in the state of South Carolina. Get information regarding expungements and begin to erase your previous South Carolina criminal records statewide as well as nationwide. Some records can contain inaccurate or erroneous information that can be amended. Both juvenile and adult cases that can be corrected and begin your search for employment without a tainted past showing.

Genealogy and historical research

South Carolina genealogy related links and topics. Individual state search of your ancestors, start a family tree, browse census records and more online. Find many records at the Department of Archives and History.

Missing children resources

South Carolina Department of Corrections will focus on current long term missing child cases in an attempt to generate new information for investigation. Search for information on missing children by name, missing date or missing location. The Attorney Generals office is working with the State Law Enforcement Division to find South Carolinas missing children. The South Carolina Child Amber Alert website tells you how the program works and these broadcasts through radio and television stations assist law enforcement agencies in finding abducted children. On the South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children website you will find a number of informative and useful links for all ages to learn more about Internet safety and protecting children online. Parents are able to find information and steps to follow if they believe their child is missing. Family members can download a handbook for those who have experienced a family abduction, learn about the laws that will help them, prevention methods, and suggestions for aftercare following the abduction. You can view an online current map of the origins of missing children in South Carolina.