Dorchester County, South Carolina Public Records

Mugshots or booking photos in Dorchester County can be accessed through the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office. They may provide these images upon request, and some may be available through their official website. For further assistance, you can visit the Sheriff's Office at 212 Deming Way, Summerville, SC 29483 or call their main line.

To obtain a criminal background check in Dorchester County, you should contact the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), which handles background checks for the state. You can request a background check online through the SLED CATCH portal. You may visit the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office for guidance on local procedures.

You can look up sex offenders in Dorchester County by accessing the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry. This online database allows you to search for registered sex offenders by name or location. The registry is maintained by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and provides detailed information on offenders residing in the county.

You can register to vote in Dorchester County through the South Carolina online voter registration system at scVOTES.gov, or in person at the Dorchester County Voter Registration and Elections Office at 500 North Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483, phone (843) 832-0070. The registration deadline is 30 days before any election. You must be a U.S. Citizen, at least 18 years old by election day, and a resident of South Carolina and the region. Absentee ballot applications are available through the same office for voters who qualify under South Carolina's excuse-based absentee voting system.

Property records in Dorchester County can be searched through two primary offices: the Register of Deeds at 201 Johnston Street, St. George, SC 29477, phone (843) 563-0130, for recorded deeds, mortgages, and liens; and the County Assessor's Office at 500 North Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483, phone (843) 832-0070, for property tax assessments and valuations. Both offices provide free online search tools accessible through dorchestercountysc.gov, including a GIS mapping system and document images for deeds recorded since approximately 1985. You can search by owner name, address, parcel number (TMS number), or legal description at no charge.

Birth and death certificates for Dorchester County events are issued by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), Office of Vital Records, located at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. Certified copies cost $12 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously. You can order online through VitalChek at vitalchek.com for expedited service with additional fees, or submit mail requests with typical processing times of 3-6 weeks. Applicants must provide valid photo identification and demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record, such as being the registrant, parent, legal guardian, or legal representative.

Business licenses in Dorchester County are issued at both county and municipal levels depending on business location. Contact Dorchester County Business Services at 500 North Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483, phone (843) 832-0070, for county licenses, or the relevant municipal government for businesses within city limits. For state-level business entity information including corporations and LLCs, use the free South Carolina Secretary of State business search at businessfilings.sc.gov. Fictitious name (DBA) registrations are filed with the Dorchester County Clerk of Court at 101 Ridge Street, St. George, SC 29477.