Chester County Court Records Search
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Chester County, South Carolina, sits in the north-central part of the state, with the city of Chester as its county seat. The county’s judicial system is organized within the Sixth Judicial Circuit and spans multiple court levels — Circuit Court, Family Court, Probate Court, Magistrate Court, and several Municipal Courts — each responsible for different categories of cases and maintaining distinct sets of records. These records document the full scope of legal activity within the county, from felony prosecutions and civil disputes to estate proceedings and domestic matters.
Researchers looking for court case information in South Carolina can draw on multiple resources: in-person visits to clerk offices, public access terminals at courthouses, and online tools maintained by the state’s judicial system. SouthCarolinaCourts.us is a useful starting point for locating court contact information and publicly available case records across all South Carolina counties, 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 began her service on January 2, 2025 — serves as the official custodian of all records generated by the Circuit Court and Family Court. The office’s records date back to 1776, with authenticated hard copies maintained 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.
Three main channels exist for conducting a case search:
- In-person at the Clerk of Court’s Office. Visitors can inspect court records at 140 Main Street during business hours. 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 cost the same rate per the Clerk’s published fee schedule.
- Online via the SC Judicial Branch Case Records Search. The South Carolina Judicial Branch operates a Case Records Search portal covering Circuit, Family, and participating Municipal Court records statewide. Users 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. Written requests may be submitted to P.O. Box 580, Chester, SC 29706. Include all identifying case information — full party names, approximate filing year, and case number if available.
The Clerk’s Office does not perform criminal background checks or title searches. For those services, see the Criminal Court Records section 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, establishes the public’s right to inspect and copy records maintained by public bodies, including the state’s courts. Most Chester County court records fall within this framework and are accessible without requiring a statement of purpose.
However, Section 30-4-40 permits public bodies to withhold certain categories of information from disclosure. In the court records context, the following are commonly restricted or exempt:
- Juvenile case records and proceedings
- Records sealed or expunged by court order
- Unexecuted arrest warrants
- Records subject to attorney-client privilege
- Documents that would identify witnesses, jurors, or crime victims
- Information compiled as part of an active criminal investigation
Where a record contains both public and exempt information, the custodian may redact the exempt portions and release the remainder. Exemptions under the FOIA are discretionary rather than mandatory — a public body may choose to release exempt records — but courts generally apply the exemptions consistently to protect the interests identified in the statute.
Chester County Criminal Court Records
Felony and major criminal cases in Chester County are heard by 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 respective jurisdictions.
Criminal Court Records at the Clerk’s Office
The Clerk of Court’s Office at 140 Main Street maintains all Circuit Court criminal filings, including indictments, plea records, trial transcripts, and sentencing orders. Records may be reviewed in person during business hours or requested by mail. Copy fees are $0.50 per page.
Arrest Records and Law Enforcement Resources
Arrest records originate with law enforcement agencies, not the courts. For Chester County arrest information, the 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. For records related to arrests not reflected in the online case index, contact the Sheriff’s Office directly during business hours.
Statewide Criminal History — SLED CATCH
For a comprehensive South Carolina criminal history, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) operates 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 fee 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. Preliminary hearings — held once monthly at the same location — allow defendants charged with General Sessions offenses to contest whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed 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 by claim amount between two levels of court. The Circuit Court’s Court of Common Pleas handles civil matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $7,500. Claims at or below that threshold are filed in Magistrate Court under S.C. Code Ann. § 22-3-10.
Court of Common Pleas Records
Common Pleas case files are maintained by the Clerk of Court at 140 Main Street. The office does not perform title searches on behalf of requesters; those searches must be conducted 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 provides 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. The Magistrate Court filing process requires:
- Filing a complaint in duplicate with the defendant’s full legal name and street address (route and box numbers not accepted)
- For claims against businesses — identifying whether 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. Appeals from Magistrate Court must be filed in writing within 30 days of notice of judgment and submitted 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. Property records can be searched online through the Chester County Register of Deeds Real Property Records Search or through the statewide SC Land Records portal. The County Assessor’s Office at the same Cochran Bypass location — (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 matters. The court’s records are maintained 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. Members of the public may request access to divorce records in person at 140 Main Street or through a 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. Others may receive only a verification statement confirming that the divorce occurred, including the date and county.
Certified divorce records from the state’s vital records office require completing the DHEC Marriage/Divorce Application Form and submitting 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 simultaneously.
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 must be reissued. Only the spouses, their adult children, and legal representatives are eligible for certified copies under S.C. Code §§ 44-63-10 et seq; others receive 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 remain confidential for 100 years from the date of birth, and death certificates for 50 years from the date of death. After these periods, the records become publicly available. Within the confidentiality periods, 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. Ineligible requesters receive uncertified copies or verification statements.
Requests use the DHEC Birth Application form or DHEC Death Application form, submitted with valid photo ID and the applicable fee to the DHEC Vital Records address above. Processing times range from approximately 30–34 minutes in person to 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. Payments should be made at 140 Main Street or mailed 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 may 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 required.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch also maintains a probate case search tool that allows searches by case number or party name, enabling remote lookup of open and closed probate dockets without an in-person visit.
Estate Administration
When a person dies owning assets that require administration, interested parties should contact the Probate Court after obtaining the death certificate. Common estate proceedings available in Chester County include:
- 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 — available for personal property only, valued under $25,000, as a simplified alternative to 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 regarding the ward’s condition. A conservator manages financial affairs and property for 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 is based on the total value of the protected person’s personal property (excluding real estate) plus estimated income. The court provides a comprehensive suite of standardized guardianship and conservatorship forms in both PDF and Word format. Individuals seeking either appointment are strongly encouraged to consult an attorney before approaching the Probate Court, as the procedures involve detailed petitions, physician affidavits, and ongoing reporting obligations.