Chester County, South Carolina Court Records
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Chester County occupies the north-central part of South Carolina, with the city of Chester as its county seat. The county's judicial system sits within the Sixth Judicial Circuit and runs across several court levels — Circuit Court, Family Court, Probate Court, Magistrate Court, and a handful of Municipal Courts — each handling different types of cases and keeping its own set of records. Together, these courts document the full range of legal activity in the county, from felony prosecutions and civil disputes to estate proceedings and domestic matters.
If you're searching for court case information in South Carolina, you have several options: visiting clerk offices in person, using public access terminals at courthouses, or checking online tools maintained by the state's judicial system. SouthCarolinaCourts.us is a helpful resource for finding court contact information and publicly available case records across every South Carolina county, including Chester.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Chester County?
The Chester County Clerk of Court — currently the Honorable Betty Jo Lawson, who took office on January 2, 2025 — is the official record keeper for all Circuit Court and Family Court files. The office holds records dating back to 1776, with authenticated hard copies kept on-site.
Chester County Clerk of Court
Address: 140 Main Street, Chester, SC 29706
Mailing: P.O. Box 580, Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 385-2605
Civil Fax: (855) 946-0423 | Criminal Fax: (855) 935-3708
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
There are three main ways to search for a case:
- In-person at the Clerk of Court's Office. Visit 140 Main Street during business hours to inspect records directly. A public copier is available at $0.50 per page for standard documents and $1.00 per page for ledger-size documents. Staff-copied records follow the same per-page rates under the Clerk's published fee schedule.
- Online via the SC Judicial Branch Case Records Search. The South Carolina Judicial Branch runs a Case Records Search portal covering Circuit, Family, and participating Municipal Court records statewide. You can search by party name or case number. The Chester County Sixth Judicial Circuit Public Index also provides online access to local court filings, including bond court records.
- By mail. Send a written request to P.O. Box 580, Chester, SC 29706. Include all the identifying information you have — full party names, approximate filing year, and case number if available.
Note that the Clerk's Office does not conduct criminal background checks or title searches. For those, see the sections below.
Are Court Records Public in Chester County?
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at S.C. Code 30-4-10 through 30-4-165, gives the public the right to inspect and copy records held by government bodies, including courts. Most Chester County court records fall under this framework and are accessible without any need to explain your purpose.
That said, Section 30-4-40 allows public bodies to withhold certain categories of records. In the court context, the following are commonly restricted or exempt from full disclosure:
- Juvenile case records and proceedings
- Records sealed or expunged by court order
- Unexecuted arrest warrants
- Records covered by attorney-client privilege
- Documents that would identify witnesses, jurors, or crime victims
- Information compiled as part of an active criminal investigation
When a record contains both public and exempt information, the custodian may redact the restricted portions and release the rest. FOIA exemptions are discretionary rather than mandatory — a public body can choose to release exempt records — but courts generally apply them consistently to protect the interests identified in the statute.
Chester County Criminal Court Records
Felony and major criminal cases in Chester County go through the Chester County Circuit Court (General Sessions division). Misdemeanor offenses, traffic matters, and preliminary proceedings are handled at the Magistrate Court level. Municipal Courts address city ordinance violations within their own jurisdictions.
Criminal Court Records at the Clerk's Office
The Clerk of Court's Office at 140 Main Street keeps all Circuit Court criminal filings — indictments, plea records, trial transcripts, and sentencing orders. You can review them in person during business hours or request copies by mail. The copy fee is $0.50 per page.
Arrest Records and Law Enforcement Resources
Arrest records come from law enforcement agencies, not the courts. For Chester County arrest information, your primary contacts are:
Chester County Sheriff's Office
Address: 2740 Dawson Drive, Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 581-5131 | Fax: (803) 581-5552
Non-Emergency: (803) 385-5433
Detention Center: (803) 581-2602
The Chester County Sheriff's Office maintains booking records for the county detention center. If you're looking for arrest records not reflected in the online case index, contact the Sheriff's Office directly during business hours.
Statewide Criminal History — SLED CATCH
For a full South Carolina criminal history, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) runs CATCH (Citizens Access to Criminal Histories), a name-based public criminal records search. The standard fee is $25.00 per search. Approved charitable organizations may qualify for a reduced rate of $8.00. CATCH covers South Carolina records only; national criminal history checks are available separately under specific circumstances.
Magistrate Court Bond Hearings and Preliminary Hearings
The Chester County Magistrate Court holds bond hearings twice daily at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., seven days a week — including weekends and holidays — at 2740 Dawson Drive, Chester, SC 29706. Monthly preliminary hearings at the same location give defendants charged with General Sessions offenses the chance to contest whether enough evidence exists to send the case to trial. Magistrates cannot set bond for capital offenses or certain violent crimes; those bonds must be set by a Circuit Court Judge.
Chester County Municipal Courts
| Municipal Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Chester Municipal Court | 2740 Dawson Drive, Chester, SC 29706 | (803) 581-2133 |
| Fort Lawn Municipal Court | 510 Municipal Drive, P.O. Box 37, Fort Lawn, SC 29714 | (803) 872-4724 |
| Great Falls Municipal Court | 810 Dearborn Street, P.O. Box 177, Great Falls, SC 29055 | (803) 482-2055 |
Chester County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Chester County are divided between two court levels based on the dollar amount at stake. The Circuit Court's Court of Common Pleas handles cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $7,500. Claims at or below that threshold go to Magistrate Court under S.C. Code Ann. 22-3-10.
Court of Common Pleas Records
Common Pleas case files are kept by the Clerk of Court at 140 Main Street. The office does not perform title searches — you'll need to run those independently through the Register of Deeds. For civil record copies, the self-service rate is $0.50 per page; ledger-size documents cost $1.00 per page. The SC Judicial Branch Case Records Search gives you online access to case docket information.
Magistrate Court Small Claims and Civil Proceedings
The Chester County Magistrate Court at 2740 Dawson Drive handles small claims and general civil matters up to $7,500. Filing a complaint requires:
- Filing a complaint in duplicate with the defendant's full legal name and street address (route and box numbers are not accepted)
- For claims against businesses — identifying whether the business is incorporated or privately owned; providing the registered agent's name for corporations
- For collection on an account or note — including notarized duplicate copies of statements, invoices, or notes
Subpoenas issued by the court carry an $8.00 per subpoena charge. Judgments accrue interest at 12% from the date of judgment and remain enforceable for 10 years. If you want to appeal a Magistrate Court decision, you must file the appeal in writing within 30 days of receiving notice of the judgment and submit it to the Court of Common Pleas with the applicable filing fee.
Magistrate Court hours are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The payment window is open Monday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Property Records
Deeds, liens, mortgages, and plats for Chester County are recorded by the Chester County Register of Deeds, reachable at (803) 385-2606. You can search property records online through the Chester County Register of Deeds Real Property Records Search or the statewide SC Land Records portal. The County Assessor's Office at the same Cochran Bypass address — (803) 385-2860 — handles property tax appraisals and assessments.
Register of Deeds and Assessor's Office
Address: 1476 J.A. Cochran Bypass, Chester, SC 29706
Chester County Family Court Records
The Chester County Family Court, located at 126 Wylie Street, has exclusive jurisdiction over divorce and legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support and paternity, domestic violence protective orders, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and termination of parental rights. The court's records are kept separately from the Circuit Court's filings.
Chester County Family Court
Address: 126 Wylie Street, Chester, SC 29706
Mailing: P.O. Box 580, Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 377-7156 | Fax: (855) 932-2202
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Divorce Records
Divorce case files are held by the Clerk of Court's Office. You can request access in person at 140 Main Street or by written mail request. Under S.C. Code 44-63-90, certified copies of official divorce reports — covering July 1962 through December 2023 — are restricted to the divorced parties, their adult children, current or former spouses of either party, and authorized legal representatives. Anyone else may receive only a verification statement confirming that the divorce occurred, including the date and county.
To get certified divorce records from the state's vital records office, complete the DHEC Marriage/Divorce Application Form and submit it with valid photo ID and the applicable fee to:
SC DHEC Vital Records
Address: 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Mail requests: Vital Records Section, P.O. Box 1000, West Columbia, SC 29171
Phone: (803) 898-3630
Fees: $12.00 standard (mail/drop-box) | $17.00 expedited (in-person/online) | $3.00 per additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the Chester County Probate Court. Certified copies of previously issued marriage licenses cost $5.00 per copy from the Probate Court, with an additional fee of approximately $6.75 if the license needs to be reissued. Under S.C. Code 44-63-10 et seq., only the spouses, their adult children, and legal representatives are eligible for certified copies — everyone else receives a verification statement.
For marriage certificates dated July 1950 through December 2023, certified copies are available through DHEC Vital Records using the same application and fee structure as divorce records.
Birth and Death Records
Under South Carolina Code 44-63-80 and 44-63-84, birth certificates are confidential for 100 years from the date of birth, and death certificates for 50 years from the date of death. After those periods, the records become publicly available. During the confidentiality window, only specified eligible individuals — such as the registrant, named parents, immediate family members, legal guardians, and those with a direct legal or property interest — may obtain certified copies. Everyone else receives an uncertified copy or a verification statement.
Submit requests using the DHEC Birth Application form or the DHEC Death Application form, along with valid photo ID and the applicable fee, to the DHEC Vital Records address above. Processing times run roughly 30–34 minutes for in-person requests and up to four weeks for mail submissions.
Child Support Payments
The Clerk of Court's Office accepts child support payments by cash, money order, certified check, or wage garnishment only — personal checks and credit cards are not accepted. Bring payments to 140 Main Street or mail them to P.O. Box 580, Chester, SC 29706.
Chester County Probate Court Records
The Chester County Probate Court handles estate administration, guardianship and conservatorship appointments, involuntary mental health and substance abuse commitments, and marriage license issuance.
Chester County Probate Court
Address: 1476 J.A. Cochran Bypass, Chester, SC 29706
Mailing: P.O. Box 580, Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 385-2604 | Fax: (855) 932-9283
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Accessing Probate Records
Public probate records can be inspected or copied at the Probate Court's office. Copy fees are $0.50 per page, with a $5.00 certification fee for certified copies. A research fee may apply when extensive staff assistance is needed.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch also offers a probate case search tool that lets you look up open and closed probate dockets by case number or party name — no in-person visit required.
Estate Administration
When someone dies with assets that need to be administered, interested parties should contact the Probate Court after obtaining the death certificate. Chester County offers four common estate proceedings depending on the circumstances:
- Informal Probate — admits a will as valid without a formal hearing
- Formal Probate — requires a hearing to confirm the will's validity, with a filing fee of $150.00 for heirship determination hearings
- Intestate Administration — used when the decedent left no will
- Small Estate Affidavit — a simplified option for personal property only, valued under $25,000, that avoids full administration
Guardianship and Conservatorship
A guardian manages personal and custodial matters for an incapacitated adult — including decisions about residence, healthcare, and daily care — and must file annual reports with the Probate Court about the ward's condition. A conservator manages the financial affairs and property of an incapacitated adult or minor, must file annual accountings with the court, and cannot make expenditures without a written court order. If bond is required, it's calculated based on the total value of the protected person's personal property (excluding real estate) plus estimated income. The court provides a comprehensive set of standardized guardianship and conservatorship forms in both PDF and Word format. Anyone considering either role is strongly encouraged to consult an attorney before approaching the Probate Court, as the process involves detailed petitions, physician affidavits, and ongoing reporting obligations.