Beaufort County Court Records Search
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Beaufort County occupies the southeastern corner of South Carolina, encompassing the city of Beaufort, the town of Bluffton, the resort community of Hilton Head Island, and several smaller municipalities. The county falls within the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit and is served by a network of courts that includes the Circuit Court (handling felonies and major civil actions), the Family Court, the Probate Court, two Magistrate Courts, and several Municipal Courts. All of these courts generate records that may be relevant to attorneys, researchers, journalists, and members of the public seeking information about legal proceedings in the county.
Locating court records in South Carolina typically begins with identifying which court handled a particular matter and then contacting the appropriate clerk’s office or using an available online tool. The South Carolina Judicial Branch website provides a statewide courthouse directory, filing-fee schedules, downloadable court forms, and links to county-level case-search systems. For broader searches across multiple South Carolina counties, SouthCarolinaCourts.us may also help users identify the correct court and jurisdiction. At the local level, the Beaufort County Clerk of Court, the Probate Court, and individual magistrate and municipal courts each maintain their own record sets, and several of those offices offer electronic search tools described in the sections below.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Beaufort County?
The fastest method for locating a Beaufort County court case is the statewide Public Index case search, maintained by the South Carolina Judicial Branch. This free, browser-based portal covers Circuit Court (Common Pleas and General Sessions) and Family Court cases filed in Beaufort County. Users can query the system by party name, case number, or attorney name, and results display the case type, filing date, parties, and scheduled hearing information.
Step-by-step online search:
- Navigate to the Beaufort County Public Index portal.
- Select the search type (party name, case number, or attorney).
- Enter your search criteria and any available filters such as case type or date range.
- Review the returned results for case index data, docket entries, and scheduled court dates.
For records not available online—or when certified copies are needed—contact or visit the Beaufort County Clerk of Court:
Beaufort County Clerk of Court
Address: 102 Ribaut Road, Suite 208, Beaufort, SC 29902
Phone: (843) 255-5050 (Civil/Common Pleas) · (843) 255-5057 (Criminal/General Sessions)
Fax: (843) 255-9412
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
In-person visitors may review non-confidential case files at the clerk’s office during business hours. The clerk also accepts written records requests by mail addressed to P.O. Box 1128, Beaufort, SC 29901. Include the case number or full party name, the type of document needed, and payment for applicable copy fees.
Clerk of Court copy and search fees:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies per page (self-service) | $0.50 |
| Copies per page (staff-processed) | $0.55 |
| Certification (any document) | $3.00 |
| Exemplified copy | $4.00 |
| Records search (civil, judgment, or General Sessions) | $25.00 |
Payment is accepted in cash (exact change), cashier’s check, money order, or business check. Personal checks are not accepted. Court rosters for Common Pleas jury trials, motions, and General Sessions can be viewed through the Beaufort County Court Rosters page.
Are Court Records Public in Beaufort County?
South Carolina follows a strong presumption of public access to government records. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code § 30-4-10 et seq.) grants any person the right to inspect, copy, or receive electronic transmission of public records maintained by a public body, including courts and county offices. Court case files, docket entries, judgments, orders, and pleadings in civil, criminal, and family matters are generally available for public inspection unless a specific statute or court order restricts access.
Records that are typically open to the public include:
- Complaints, answers, and other pleadings in civil and criminal cases
- Court orders, judgments, and sentencing records
- Case index data, docket sheets, and hearing schedules
- Probate filings such as wills, estate inventories, and letters of appointment
- Marriage license records maintained by the Probate Court
- Property transaction records held by the Register of Deeds
Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Juvenile delinquency and status-offense records
- Adoption case files
- Records sealed by court order
- Expunged criminal records
- Abuse and neglect case files (DSS actions)
- Documents containing unredacted Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, or financial account numbers
Under S.C. Code § 30-2-320©, any individual may submit a written request to the Clerk of Court or Register of Deeds to redact protected personal identifiers from documents displayed on a publicly accessible website. There is no fee for such redaction. Requests for sealed or otherwise restricted records typically require a motion to the court demonstrating a legitimate legal basis for access.
Beaufort County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Beaufort County are divided among three court levels. The Circuit Court’s General Sessions division handles felonies and criminal appeals. Magistrate Courts have jurisdiction over offenses carrying a maximum fine of $500, a maximum sentence of 30 days, or both. Municipal Courts share concurrent jurisdiction with magistrate courts over ordinance violations arising within their respective municipalities.
Circuit Court – General Sessions
Address: 102 Ribaut Road, Suite 208, Beaufort, SC 29902
Phone: (843) 255-5057
Fax: (843) 255-9412
Criminal case records in the Circuit Court—including indictments, guilty pleas, sentencing orders, and final dispositions—can be searched through the Public Index portal. The General Sessions court roster is also available online through the Court Rosters page. Note that the Clerk of Court does not schedule General Sessions court dates; those are managed by the Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor.
Magistrate Courts maintain their own criminal dockets, which are posted on the online court docket page. To look up a specific criminal case from a magistrate court, contact the appropriate location:
Beaufort Magistrate Court – Traffic & Criminal
Address: 104 Ribaut Road, P.O. Box 2207, Beaufort, SC 29901
Phone: (843) 255-5700
Fax: (843) 255-9427
Email: beaufortmagistratecriminal@bcgov.net
Bluffton Magistrate Court – Traffic & Criminal
Address: 4819 Bluffton Parkway, 2nd Floor, P.O. Box 840, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone: (843) 255-5610
Fax: (843) 255-9510
Email: BlufftonTraffic@bcgov.net
Arrest and incident reports are maintained by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office rather than the courts. Requests for these records can be submitted through the Sheriff’s Freedom of Information Act request process or in person at the Sheriff’s administrative offices. Municipal police departments also maintain their own arrest records; for example, the Beaufort Police Department accepts FOIA requests at 1911 Boundary Street, Beaufort, SC 29902 (email: beaufortpd.recordsadmin@cityofbeaufort.org).
Statewide criminal history checks are administered by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) through the CATCH system. A name-based criminal records check costs $25 for most requesters. CATCH reports reflect only South Carolina arrest and conviction data; they do not include federal or out-of-state records.
Beaufort County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Beaufort County is split between the Circuit Court’s Common Pleas division (general civil jurisdiction) and the Magistrate Courts (civil disputes where the amount in controversy does not exceed $7,500).
Circuit Court – Common Pleas
Address: 102 Ribaut Road, Suite 208, Beaufort, SC 29902
Phone: (843) 255-5050
Fax: (843) 255-9412
Email: coccp@bcgov.net
Civil case filings, motions, and judgments from the Circuit Court are searchable through the Public Index portal. Copies of filed documents can be obtained from the Clerk of Court at $0.50 per page ($0.55 if staff-processed), with certification available for $3.00 per document.
Circuit Court civil filing fees (set by statute, per the South Carolina Judicial Branch fee schedule):
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| New civil case (Summons and Complaint) | $150 |
| Civil appeal (from Magistrate, Probate, or administrative agency) | $150 |
| Restored case (Rule 40J) | $150 |
| Foreign judgment | $100 |
| Transcript of judgment | $35 |
| Civil motion (requiring judge’s signature) | $25 |
| Lis pendens | $10 |
| Confession of judgment | $10 |
Standard court forms for initiating civil actions—including summons, complaints, and discovery forms—are available from the South Carolina Judicial Branch court forms page.
For smaller civil matters, the two Magistrate Courts accept filings for claims up to $7,500. Inquiries about civil filings and docket information can be directed to each court’s civil department:
Beaufort Magistrate Court – Civil Department
Fax: (843) 255-9516
Email: beaufortmagistratecivil@bcgov.net
Bluffton Magistrate Court – Civil Department
Fax: (843) 255-9517
Email: BlufftonCivil@bcgov.net
Both magistrate courts’ civil dockets are published on the county’s online court docket page. Office hours for both magistrate courts are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; no payments or filings are accepted outside those hours.
Beaufort County Family Court Records
The Beaufort County Family Court exercises exclusive jurisdiction over all domestic and juvenile matters, including divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, separate maintenance, domestic abuse, adoption, termination of parental rights, and juvenile delinquency cases.
Beaufort County Family Court
Address: 102 Ribaut Road, 1st Floor (Room 119), Beaufort, SC 29901
Phone: (843) 255-5660
Fax: (843) 255-9421
The Clerk of Court serves as the custodian of family court records. Public case information can be searched through the Public Index portal, and the family court docket is posted online. South Carolina’s Department of Social Services also provides a Family Court Public Portal for child support case information.
Family Court filing fees (per the statewide fee schedule):
- Divorce, annulment, or separate support and maintenance: $150
- Child custody or visitation: $150
- Child support, alimony, or modification of support: $150
- Adoption (domestic or foreign): $150
- Paternity action: $150
- Name change or correction of birth record: $150
- Registration of foreign divorce decree: $100 (waived if custody or support is addressed)
- Protection from domestic abuse: no fee
- DSS abuse/neglect actions: no fee
- Juvenile delinquency actions: no fee
Certain family court records carry access restrictions. Adoption files, juvenile delinquency records, and DSS abuse and neglect case files are confidential and unavailable to the general public. Domestic violence protective orders may also have limited access in certain circumstances.
Marriage records in Beaufort County are issued and maintained by the Probate Court, not the Family Court. Both applicants must appear in person at a Probate Court office by appointment. A 24-hour waiting period applies between the application and license issuance. Marriage license application fees are:
| Applicant Residency | Fee |
|---|---|
| Either or both applicants reside in Beaufort County | $50 |
| Neither resides in Beaufort County but at least one in SC | $75 |
| Both applicants reside outside South Carolina | $95 |
Fees must be paid in exact-change cash. Certified copies of recorded marriage licenses cost $5.00 and can be requested in person at the Beaufort or Hilton Head Island Probate Court offices, or by mail to: Beaufort County Probate Court, P.O. Box 1083, Beaufort, SC 29901. Mail requests require payment by certified bank check or money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Divorce records are part of the Family Court case file and obtainable through the Clerk of Court using the standard copy procedures and fees described above.
Birth and death certificates are maintained at the state level by the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). Birth certificates become fully public after 100 years; death certificates after 50 years. Before those thresholds, only eligible persons (immediate family members, legal representatives, or persons with a tangible interest) may obtain certified copies. The DPH charges a $12 search fee ($17 expedited) plus $3 for each additional copy. Requests may be made online, by phone, or in person at the regional vital records office located in Beaufort County:
DPH Vital Records – Beaufort Office
Address: 1407 King Street, Beaufort, SC 29902
Phone: (843) 525-7637
Application forms for birth certificates and death certificates are available on the DPH website. Mail and drop-off requests must be sent to the State Vital Records Office at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
Beaufort County Probate Court Records
The Beaufort County Probate Court has jurisdiction over estates of deceased persons, guardianships and conservatorships, involuntary mental health commitments, marriage licenses, and minor settlements valued at $25,000 or less. It also shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over power-of-attorney matters. The court operates from three locations, though all official court records are maintained at the Beaufort main office.
Beaufort Main Office
Address: 102 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, SC 29902
Phone: (843) 255-5850
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (building closes to public at 4:30 p.m.)
Hilton Head Island Satellite Office
Address: 539 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Phone: (843) 255-5866
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (closed to public at 4:30 p.m.; closed 12:00–1:00 p.m. for lunch)
Bluffton Satellite Office
Address: 4819 Bluffton Parkway, Myrtle Park Building, 3rd Floor, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone: (843) 255-5872
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m. for lunch)
All three offices operate by appointment for in-person court business. The satellite offices accept estate filings by drop-off only and are not equipped to process guardianship, conservatorship, trust, or therapeutic filings at this time.
Probate case records can be searched online through the South Carolina Probate Court Index, which allows searches by party name, case number, or case type at no cost. Marriage license filings are searchable through the separate Probate Court Marriage License Index.
Probate Court filing fees (selected, from the official fee schedule):
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Estate under $5,000 | $25.00 |
| Estate $5,000–$19,999 | $45.00 |
| Estate $20,000–$59,999 | $67.50 |
| Estate $60,000–$99,999 | $95.00 |
| Estate $100,000–$599,999 | $95.00 + 0.15% of value over $100,000 |
| Estate $600,000 or more | Above + 0.25% of value over $600,000 |
| Notice to Creditors publication | $45.00 |
| Petition for guardianship/conservatorship appointment | $150.00 |
| Informal probate (no appointment) | $25.00 |
| Will filed and indexed (§ 62-2-901) | $10.00 |
| Certified copy | $5.00 |
| Exemplified/authenticated copy | $20.00 |
| Photocopy (staff-made) | $0.50/page |
| Photocopy (self-service) | $0.30/page |
| Reopening a closed estate | $22.50 |
Payment must be made in exact-change cash, certified bank check, or money order. Debit and credit cards are not accepted. Probate court forms for estate administration, guardianship petitions, and other filings are available on the South Carolina Judicial Branch court forms page.
The estate administration process in Beaufort County follows the South Carolina Probate Code. Most wills are admitted to probate through informal proceedings that do not require a court appearance. After appointment, a personal representative must file a notice to creditors, an inventory and appraisement of probate assets, and ultimately a final accounting before the estate can be closed. Summary administration is available when the entire probate estate does not exceed $25,000 (less liens, funeral expenses, and last-illness medical costs), or when the sole heir or devisee is also the sole personal representative. Estates valued at $25,000 or less may be collected by affidavit under S.C. Code § 62-3-1201 without a formal probate proceeding.