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Horry County Court Records

Horry County court records are official documents recording the proceedings and outcomes of court cases in Horry County. They serve as a repository of previous legal actions and their repercussions, informing citizens of how South Carolina law works and the actions of their judiciary. The custodian of court records in Horry County is the Clerk of Court for Horry County.

The clerk creates records for the circuit court and the family court and files and updates them as the case progresses. Horry County court records are governed by the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This law dictates which court records are classified as confidential, thereby protecting both the public right to access and individual privacy. Hays County court records integrate with other public records, such as vital records, arrest information, and criminal records.

Are Horry County Court Records Public?

Yes. Horry County court records are classified as public records under South Carolina law unless specifically restricted by the court. Case types such as juvenile cases, sealed cases, and expunged cases are restricted from unauthorized public access. A court order is required to retrieve these records. Openly available court records include civil cases, criminal cases, traffic cases, probate cases, and divorce cases.

What Information is Available in Horry County Court Records?

Court records in South Carolina typically follow a standard format. Horry County Court records, like those of other counties, will typically contain the following information:

  • Case information (case number, type, filing date, court, judge)
  • Names of parties involved in the case (plaintiff, defendant, attorney)
  • Dockets
  • Judgements
  • Affidavit
  • Exhibits
  • Motions
  • Orders/motions
  • Bond or bail information
  • Fees or restitution payment record

Horry County Court Records Search

A Horry County Court Records Search can be completed online, in person, by mail, or by phone.

  • Online Access: The Horry County Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Public Index tool allows individuals to search for and retrieve several types of court records for free. The search can be conducted using name or case number. At the state level, the South Carolina Department of Social Services’s public access tool allows for free online searches of state court records.
  • In-Person Access: The Horry County Clerk of Court is the custodian of local court records. A visit to their office allows individuals to use the public terminals available to search for records and also get assistance from available admin staff to complete the search. Requests for certified copies of court records are made in person in Horry County.
  • Mail and Phone Requests: Mail requests are made using a written document containing the case number or names of parties involved in the case. The request is then mailed in a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) along with the applicable fee paid by check or mail order. Phone inquiries only confirm the case numbers, the fee for the request, and the availability of a record. Individuals can not request copies of court records over the phone.

Fees for Court Records in Horry County

The fees for court records in Horry County vary with the type of record requested, whether standard copies or certified copies. Fees for copying records are paid on a per-page basis in South Carolina, and it costs $0.50 to $1.00 for each page of a regular copy of a record. This fee is standard and applicable to both in-person and mail requests. For certified copies of records (for legal and other official purposes), there is an additional $5.00 certification fee added to the per-page costs.

Certified records require an in person request method as they are sealed and signed by the clerk. The county’s Public Index tool does not require a subscription before it gives access to records, but it does not offer record downloads. Management of vital records, including birth records, death records, and marriage records, falls under the jurisdiction of the Vital Records office of the South Carolina Department of Public Health. The DPH’s office address and contact information in Horry County are as follows:

Vital Records

S.C. Department of Public Health

1931 Industrial Park Road

Conway, SC 29526

Phone: (843) 915-8802.

Horry County Courthouse Locations

Horry County falls under the 15th Judicial Circuit in South Carolina, and the county clerk makes the phone directory of courts available on their website. The locations of the Horry County Courthouses and their contact information are as follows:

Horry County Government & Justice Center (Main Courthouse) - Civil, criminal, and family matters

1301 Second Avenue

Conway, SC 29526

Phone: (843) 915-5080.

Horry Probate Court - Probate matters and estate administration

1301 Second Avenue

Conway, SC 29526

Phone: (843) 915-5370.

Horry County Magistrate Court - traffic offenses, small claims, and misdemeanors

1201 Third Avenue

Conway, SC 29526-1071

Phone: (843) 915-5290.

Criminal Records Access in Horry County

Criminal records access in Horry County is available at both the state and the local level with independent record custodians. State-level criminal history checks are handled by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) using its name-based check tool, CATCH portal (Citizens Access to Criminal Histories). There is a non-refundable fee of $25 required to complete a criminal record search, with an additional $1 if it’s a background check. Local criminal case records are available from the Horry County Sheriff or the Horry County Clerk of Court if the case proceeded to trial. Local searches can be conducted in person at the county courthouse using the public terminals available or with the help of an administrative staff member.

Horry County Probate Records

Horry County probate records are court documentations of cases concerning wills, estate administration, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships. They constitute a deceased person’s history of possessions and give instructions on how they are to be managed in the event of their death or incapacitation. Examples of these records include estate records, petitions, wills, probate filings, appraisals, accounting records, and conservatorship reports.

Some probate records are publicly available, but probate records containing sensitive information such as juvenile records, mental health records, and family and financial matters are restricted by law. Recent probate records, such as estate records, are available online through the county’s public index tool and the state’s public access tool. When searching for a record online, individuals should ensure that they select probate court as a sub-case type for more exact matches. Legacy or older probate records require an in-person visit to the courthouse.

Horry County Family Court Records

Horry County Family Court Records are created during the court proceedings of cases about family matters, including adoption, child custody, child support, child abuse, paternity, visitation rights, and divorce. The Horry Family Court oversees these cases, and the Horry County Clerk of Court is the record custodian of family court records. Not all family records are classified as public records. Divorce cases and child support cases are open to the public, while adoption records, juvenile records, and records of child abuse or neglect are confidential per South Carolina law.

Horry County’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit has a Public Index tool through which individuals can retrieve case records. Requesters are required to enter the correct case subtype while completing their search for the most accurate search results. The South Carolina Department of Social Services also maintains a Public Access tool that allows individuals to search for state court records. Individuals can search by case number or by name and select the specific family case type under case category.

An in-person visit can be paid to the Horry County Clerk of Court’s office to conduct a search using the public access terminals available at the courthouse. A photo identification and the case number are important to have before a search can be completed, and fees apply for making copies of the record. The clerk’s office can also be contacted for certified copies of family court records. Payment for certified records is made by money order or cashier’s check before the request is processed. Certified copies contain a seal and the clerk’s certification, and these types of records can be used for official purposes.

Federal Court Records in Horry County

South Carolina is a single federal judicial district. This means that the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina has jurisdiction over all federal court records in Horry County. As the federal trial court for South Carolina, this court in all its district locations creates and maintains federal civil and criminal cases from Horry County. The Clerk of Court for the District of South Carolina, not the Horry County Clerk of Court, manages these federal court records and makes them available to the public upon request.

Federal court records can be retrieved through the clerk’s offices of the federal courthouses in the District of South Carolina. Interested individuals can visit the courthouses to review and copy records through the on-site public terminal or with the help of the admin staff. Federal records are also available online through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). PACER serves as the national repository for federal cases, so upon user registration, it allows a look-up of court records for a small per-page fee.

Horry County Court