Abbeville County Court Records Search
SouthCarolinaCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on SouthCarolinaCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Abbeville County, South Carolina maintains a multi-tiered court system with deep historical roots — estate records here date to the 1770s, and marriage licenses have been issued since 1911. Today, the county's courts handle thousands of matters each year across criminal, civil, family, and probate dockets, generating records that range from arrest warrants and indictments to divorce decrees, estate inventories, and marriage licenses. These records are the official account of judicial proceedings, and they are maintained by distinct offices depending on the type of case involved.
If you're looking to locate Abbeville County case information, SouthCarolinaCourts.us can help you navigate the state's judicial structure. The South Carolina Judicial Branch also operates online tools, court rosters, and county-specific search resources that allow the public to locate publicly available case information. Records can also be searched in person at clerk offices, through public access terminals, or by contacting the appropriate court directly.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Abbeville County?
Online Case Search
The South Carolina Judicial Branch provides a centralized Case Records Search portal where you can look up Abbeville County court cases. The county is listed directly on the search page, which covers Circuit Court (General Sessions and Common Pleas), Family Court, and select Magistrate Court records. The portal is a free public service.
Court dockets and rosters for Abbeville County's Common Pleas Court are also viewable through the Abbeville County court rosters page. To use the roster search, accept the site disclaimer, then select a Court Agency, a Roster Type, and a Begin Date.
For Family Court matters, a dedicated Family Court Case Management System public portal provides access to family court case information. Attorneys can also access a separate attorney login portal using their Attorney Information System credentials.
Appellate-level case information — cases before the Supreme Court of South Carolina and the Court of Appeals — is searchable through the C-Track Public Access system maintained by the Judicial Branch.
In-Person Access
For circuit, general sessions, and common pleas records, the primary in-person resource is the Abbeville County Clerk of Court:
Abbeville County Clerk of Court
102 Court Square, Room 103
Abbeville, SC 29620
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 99, Abbeville, SC 29620
Phone: (864) 366-5312, ext. 55
Fax: (864) 366-9188
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Requests for specific case information — including General Sessions criminal charges, Common Pleas civil files, and child support records — must be made in person at this location. The Clerk's Office does not provide legal advice.
Are Court Records Public in Abbeville County?
Most court records in Abbeville County are open to the public. The South Carolina Code of Laws recognizes the public's right to obtain records from government bodies, including the courts. The governing transparency statute is the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code § 30-4), which defines public records broadly to include all books, papers, recordings, and other documentary materials created or maintained by a public body.
Records Available to the Public
- Circuit Court criminal and civil case dockets (General Sessions and Common Pleas)
- Family Court records (divorce, custody, support proceedings)
- Probate Court filings for estates, guardianships, and trusts
- Magistrate Court civil and criminal records
- Real estate documents filed with the Register of Deeds
Records Restricted from Public Disclosure
Under S.C. Code § 30-4-40, certain information may be withheld from public disclosure. In the court context, restricted categories include:
- Records sealed by court order
- Personal identifying information of crime witnesses
- Attorney-client communications
- Records whose disclosure would not serve the public interest
- Certain information in active criminal investigations
The South Carolina Judicial Branch applies these restrictions consistently across county courts. When a record is partially restricted, the public body may redact the exempt portion and release the remainder.
Abbeville County Criminal Court Records
Court Structure for Criminal Matters
Criminal cases in Abbeville County move through two primary levels:
| Court | Criminal Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Magistrate Court | Offenses subject to fines up to $500 and/or imprisonment up to 30 days; preliminary hearings for General Sessions matters |
| Circuit Court – General Sessions | Felonies and serious misdemeanors; indicted cases bound over from Magistrate Court |
The Eighth Circuit Solicitor's Office prepares all General Sessions dockets and can be reached at (864) 942-8800. The General Sessions Clerk at the Clerk of Court's office (ext. 2201, Deputy Clerk Andrea Gross) manages the intake and maintenance of all warrants, tickets, bonds, and indictments.
Magistrate Court
Abbeville County Magistrate Court
Abbeville County Law Enforcement Center
21 Old Calhoun Falls Road, P.O. Box 1156
Abbeville, SC 29620
Phone: (864) 446-6500, ext. 2438 (general); ext. 2435 (traffic/criminal clerk)
Fax: (864) 446-6555
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Bond Court: Daily at 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM
Magistrate Court fines may be paid online through the Abbeville County online payments portal. If you prefer to mail a bond payment, send a money order, cashier's check, or bank-certified check payable to Abbeville Magistrate Court at P.O. Box 1156, Abbeville, SC 29620. Personal checks and cash are not accepted by mail.
Searching Criminal Records
The South Carolina Judicial Branch Case Records Search provides free online access to General Sessions and Magistrate Court dockets for Abbeville County. For arrest records and law enforcement incident reports maintained by the Sheriff's Office, contact the Abbeville County Law Enforcement Center at (864) 446-6200 (non-emergency line: (864) 366-8451).
Abbeville County Civil Court Records
Civil Jurisdiction
Civil cases in Abbeville County are divided by the amount in controversy:
- Magistrate Court (Small Claims): Civil claims not exceeding $7,500, including landlord-tenant actions, trespass, sales of abandoned property, and claim and delivery under S.C. Code Ann. § 22-3-10
- Circuit Court – Common Pleas: Civil cases with amounts in controversy exceeding $7,500, including contracts, torts, property disputes, and appeals from Magistrate Court
The Magistrate Court Civil Clerk can be reached at (864) 446-6500, ext. 2436. For restraining orders related to harassment or stalking, there is no filing fee — though the non-prevailing party is assessed $55.00 in court costs.
Accessing Common Pleas Records
The Common Pleas Clerk, TraTanus Agnew (ext. 2202), manages all civil case paperwork filed in the Circuit Court. In-person requests can be made at 102 Court Square, Room 103, during regular office hours. Mail requests should be directed to P.O. Box 99, Abbeville, SC 29620. Include the names of the case parties, the case number if known, and the approximate filing date to help with retrieval.
Common Pleas court rosters can be viewed through the Abbeville County court rosters portal on the South Carolina Judicial Branch website.
Real Estate Records
The Real Estate (Register of Deeds) Department within the Clerk of Court's Office manages all documents pertaining to real and personal property in Abbeville County, including deeds, mortgages, contracts, leases, powers of attorney, plats, and right-of-way easements. The ROD Clerk, Miranda Pernell, can be reached at ext. 2203. Recording inquiries require a visit to the Abbeville County Administrative Complex at 903 West Greenwood Street, Suite 2400, Abbeville, SC 29620 — not the main courthouse.
Abbeville County also offers a free Fraud Alert service that sends email notifications whenever a document is recorded under a property owner's name, helping detect unauthorized filings.
Abbeville County Family Court Records
Jurisdiction and Record Custody
The Abbeville County Family Court handles divorce, legal separation, annulment, child custody, visitation, child and spousal support, adoption, termination of parental rights, and domestic violence protection orders. All Family Court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court's Family Court division.
Abbeville County Family Court
102 Court Square, Room 103, P.O. Box 99
Abbeville, SC 29620
Phone: (864) 366-5312, ext. 2204 (Family Court Clerk Jennifer Bladon)
Phone: (864) 366-5312, ext. 2205 (Deputy Clerk Emily Hansen)
Fax: (864) 366-9188
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Family Court records are public records. Copies must be requested in person or in writing from the Clerk of Court's office. The Family Court Case Management System public portal allows online access to Family Court case information for Abbeville County.
Child Support Payments
Effective August 5, 2019, Abbeville County implemented the South Carolina State Disbursement Unit for all support payments. Obligors must make payments payable to the South Carolina State Disbursement Unit and mail them to: P.O. Box 100302, Columbia, SC 29202-3302. The SDU Customer Service Center can be reached at (800) 768-5858, Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM. Additional payment options are available through the SC Department of Social Services child support website.
Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses are issued by the Abbeville County Probate Court, not the Clerk of Court. Key requirements:
- Both parties must appear in person to file the application
- License fee: $40.00
- Both applicants must present a valid photo ID and Social Security card
- Applicants under 21 must also provide a certified birth certificate
- Applicants under 18 require parental consent (minimum age is 16)
- A 24-hour waiting period applies before the license is issued
- Certified copy fee: $5.00
Vital Records (Birth and Death)
Birth and death certificates for Abbeville County are issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health. The process for each:
| Record Type | Fee (Mail) | Fee (In-Person) | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | $12.00 (non-refundable) | $17.00 | Birth Certificate Application |
| Death Certificate | $12.00 (non-refundable) | $17.00 | Death Certificate Request Form |
Submit requests with a valid photo ID copy and the applicable fee to:
S.C. Department of Public Health – Vital Records Section
Mail: P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171
In-Person: 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 898-3630
Birth certificates are restricted to the record subject, parents named on the certificate, and legal guardians or representatives of those parties.
Abbeville County Probate Court Records
Overview
The Abbeville County Probate Court handles estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, trust disputes, involuntary commitments for mental illness and substance abuse, marriage license issuance, and approval of minor and wrongful death settlements. The court opens more than 200 estates annually and handles over 100 mental health matters each year.
Abbeville County Probate Court
Judge of Probate: Charles M. Sumner
Abbeville County Administrative Complex
903 West Greenwood Street, Suite 2300
Abbeville, SC 29620
Phone: (864) 366-5312, ext. 62
Fax: (864) 366-4023
Due to the high volume of estate filings, estates must be opened by appointment only. Call the office at (864) 366-5312, ext. 62 to schedule.
Types of Probate Proceedings
The court administers four main categories of estate proceedings:
- Testate — the deceased left a valid will
- Intestate — the deceased died without a will; state law governs distribution
- Small Estate Affidavit — for personal property valued under $25,000 with no real estate involved
- Will Filed Only — no assets to probate, will preserved for record
Requesting Copies of Probate Records
To obtain copies of older estate files, submit a written request to the Probate Court identifying the decedent by name and approximate date of death. Include a letter-sized self-addressed stamped envelope; the court will reply with a cost estimate before fulfilling the order.
Fee schedule for Probate Court record copies:
- Copies: $0.50 per page or side
- Handling fee: $1.50 per packet plus applicable postage
- Research fee: $5.00 per request (applies to all requests)
The Probate Court does not give legal advice and does not draft wills. Estate records in Abbeville County date back to the 1770s, making the Probate Court a valuable resource for genealogical and historical research in addition to active legal matters.