Dillon County Court Records Search

Dillon County, South Carolina sits within the state's 4th Judicial Circuit, and its court system produces a wide variety of official records — from general sessions criminal files and civil judgments to family court orders and probate estate documents. These records are generated and maintained by multiple courts and government offices, each with distinct jurisdiction, contact information, and access rules. Knowing where to begin and which office holds the specific record you need will save considerable time and effort.

If you're starting remotely, SouthCarolinaCourts.us provides a statewide reference for understanding South Carolina's court structure and locating court case information. Records may also be searched through clerk offices, in person at public access terminals in courthouses, and through the South Carolina Judicial Branch's online case search tools. The sections below explain each court's jurisdiction, how to make record requests, what fees apply, and which records are subject to confidentiality restrictions.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Dillon County?

Start with the office of the Clerk of Court, currently held by the Honorable Marquita Britton, who took office on January 7, 2025. The Clerk handles both the Circuit Court and the Family Court and is responsible for all docket management, fee collection, and maintenance of court records.

Dillon County Clerk of Court / Register of Deeds
Address: 301 W. Main Street, Dillon, SC 29536
Mailing: P.O. Drawer 1220, Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: (843) 774-1425
Fax: (843) 841-3706
Email: dccoc@dilloncountysc.org
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

The full court system in Dillon County spans several facilities:

Court	Address	Phone
Circuit & Family Court (Clerk)	301 W. Main St., Dillon, SC 29536	(843) 774-1425
Magistrate Court	1033 Old Latta Hwy, Dillon, SC 29536	(843) 774-1406
Probate Court	401 W. Main St., Room 303, Dillon, SC 29536	(843) 774-1423
Dillon Municipal Court	401 W. Main St., Dillon, SC 29536	(843) 774-0049
Lake View Municipal Court	205 N. Main St., Lake View, SC 29563	(843) 759-2861
Latta Municipal Court	109 NW Railroad Ave., Latta, SC 29565	(843) 752-6110

Online case search is available through the South Carolina Judicial Branch's Case Records Search portal, which covers trial court records across all counties, including Dillon. The portal is searchable by party name, case number, and county. Dillon County is identified as County Number 17 within Circuit 4. The Judicial Branch also maintains a separate Family Court records search for domestic case filings. For appellate matters, the C-Track Public Access system covers the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.

In-person requests may be made directly at the Clerk of Court's office during business hours. Bring the party name, case number, or filing date to help staff locate records efficiently. The Clerk may charge fees for searching, producing, and certifying copies of records.

Are Court Records Public in Dillon County?

South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code § 30-4-40) establishes the public's right to inspect and copy government records, including most court documents. Under this framework, Dillon County court records are generally accessible to any member of the public without requiring a stated reason for the request.

However, certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure. Under Section 30-4-40, the following are not available to the general public:

Trade secrets and proprietary commercial information
Information whose disclosure would constitute an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy
Records relating to ongoing law enforcement investigations, where release could compromise the fairness of a trial, endanger someone's safety, or expose investigative methods
Records explicitly shielded from disclosure under state or federal law or regulation

Beyond FOIA exemptions, South Carolina statutes impose additional restrictions on specific vital records. Juvenile records receive heightened protection and are generally not accessible through public channels. When records are released pursuant to a public records request, custodians are required to redact sensitive personal identifiers before providing copies.

Dillon County Criminal Court Records

Criminal matters in Dillon County are divided between two courts based on offense severity. The Circuit Court — General Sessions division — handles felony charges and serious criminal prosecutions. The Magistrate Court, located at 1033 Old Latta Highway, handles misdemeanor criminal offenses, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings. Municipal courts in Dillon, Lake View, and Latta handle petty criminal matters and ordinance violations within their respective city limits.

The Clerk of Court maintains criminal warrants, indictments, bail records, trial lists, and case dispositions for all Circuit Court criminal matters. These records can be searched through the South Carolina Judicial Branch Case Records Search portal or by visiting the Clerk's office in person.

For broader criminal history information, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) operates the CATCH system (Citizens Access to Criminal Histories), a name-based public search tool that lets anyone view and print South Carolina criminal records. CATCH draws from SLED's statewide criminal records database, which includes arrest and conviction histories reported by local law enforcement agencies and detention facilities across all counties.

Arrest records are primarily maintained by the arresting agency. In Dillon County, that is typically the Dillon County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff James "Jamie" Hamilton. The Sheriff's main office is located at 1033 Old Latta Highway, P.O. Box 627, Dillon, SC 29536, and can be reached by phone at (843) 774-1432. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

The Dillon County Detention Center, a division of the Sheriff's Office, is located at 1027 Old Latta Highway and can house up to 200 inmates. For detention center inquiries, contact Director Sarah Samuel at (843) 774-1435. Victims and witnesses of crime in Dillon County can access support through the Fourth Circuit Solicitor's Victim Assistance program.

Dillon County Civil Court Records

Civil litigation in Dillon County is handled at two primary levels. The Circuit Court — Common Pleas division — hears civil cases involving amounts in controversy that exceed the magistrate court's limit. The Dillon County Magistrate Court handles civil matters valued at $7,500 or less, including evictions, summons and complaints, and claim and delivery actions.

Small claims fall within the Magistrate Court's civil jurisdiction and are capped at $7,500 under South Carolina law. This court is designed to handle straightforward disputes without requiring legal representation, and cases are decided by a magistrate judge rather than a jury.

The Clerk of Court is responsible for all civil filings in the Circuit Court, including the receipt of complaints, management of trial lists, and collection of court fees and costs. Civil case records are searchable online through the South Carolina Judicial Branch Case Records Search portal.

Property records connected to civil matters — including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and conveyances — are maintained by the Dillon County Clerk of Court in the capacity of Register of Deeds. An online property records search is available through the county's Avenu Insights portal, which allows public searches of most recorded documents. The statewide SC Land Records system also indexes parties and property descriptions for recorded instruments across South Carolina counties. In-person requests and certified copies of recorded documents may be made at the Clerk/Register of Deeds office at 301 W. Main Street during regular business hours.

Dillon County Family Court Records

Family Court in Dillon County operates as part of the statewide uniform Family Court system established by statute in 1976. The Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all domestic relations matters, including:

Divorce and legal separation
Child custody and visitation
Child support and alimony
Division of marital property
Termination of parental rights
Adoption proceedings
Name changes
Juvenile delinquency matters (for minors under 17, with serious charges transferable to Circuit Court)
Orders of Protection (domestic violence restraining orders)

Family Court cases are heard at the Dillon County Courthouse. All Family Court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court, who is also responsible for collecting and disbursing court-ordered child support payments, issuing Rules to Show Cause when court orders are not followed, and transmitting Orders of Protection to local law enforcement agencies. Family Court case records are searchable through the South Carolina Judicial Branch's Family Court records tool.

Marriage Records are issued and maintained by the Dillon County Probate Court. The Probate Court issues marriage licenses and certified copies of marriage licenses. Copies may also be obtained from the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) Vital Records Division. Under S.C. Code § 44-63-86, marriage certificates may only be issued to the parties married, their adult children, a current or former spouse, or the Department of Social Services for child support purposes. All other requesters receive a statement confirming only that a marriage occurred, along with the date and county.

Marriage certificate fees through DPH:

In-person and online requests: $17 non-refundable search fee + $3 per additional copy
Mail requests: $12 non-refundable search fee + $3 per additional copy

More information is available on the DPH Marriage Certificates page.

Divorce Records are maintained by the Clerk of Court where the divorce was finalized. The DPH Vital Records Division also maintains divorce reports, which are restricted under the same eligibility rules as marriage certificates — available only to the parties divorced, their adult children, or the Department of Social Services for child support purposes.

Birth Records are maintained solely by the South Carolina Department of Public Health and are restricted. Certified copies may be obtained only by:

A parent listed on the birth certificate (with valid ID)
The named individual if age 18 or older
A legal guardian or legal representative with documentation
An immediate family member if the named person is deceased (with a certified copy of the death record)

Birth certificate request methods and fees through DPH:

Online (parents only): $17 non-refundable search fee + $3 per additional copy + $8 processing fee
By phone: $17 search fee + $3 per copy + $12 service fee + delivery fee
In person: $17 non-refundable search fee + $3 per additional copy; valid ID and completed application form required
By mail: $12 non-refundable search fee + $3 per additional copy; completed application and copy of valid ID required

Death Records are governed by S.C. Code § 44-63-84 and are restricted to immediate family members of the deceased, their legal representatives, or the Department of Social Services. All other individuals receive only a statement verifying the death occurred, with the date and county. Death records become fully public documents 50 years after the date of death, at which point any person may request copies upon payment of applicable fees. Full details on requesting death certificates are available on the DPH Death Certificates page.

Dillon County Probate Court Records

The Dillon County Probate Court, presided over by Judge Teresa W. Smith, is located at 401 W. Main Street, Room 303, Dillon, SC 29536. The court is reachable at (843) 774-1423 and operates Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

The Probate Court handles a broad range of matters involving decedents' estates, protected individuals, and civil commitments. Its primary functions include:

Opening and administering full estate files (required when the decedent owned real property)
Processing small estate packets (for estates with no real property and probate assets under $25,000)
Admitting wills to probate when there are no transferable probate assets
Filing formal actions when a will is contested or parties disagree on the Personal Representative
Opening and maintaining conservatorship and adult guardianship files
Mental health, alcohol, and drug commitment hearings
Issuing marriage licenses and certified copies
Minor settlement hearings for claims up to $25,000
Wrongful death and pain and suffering settlement hearings

Probate filing options:

Full Estate Packet: Required when the decedent owned real property at death
Small Estate Packet: Available when no real property exists and total probate assets fall under $25,000
Admit a Will to Probate: Used when a valid will exists but there are no assets requiring transfer; the court provides an Admit a Will to Probate Information & Application
Formal Action: Required when the original will is unavailable or when interested parties cannot agree on who should serve as Personal Representative; the court provides a How to File a Formal Action guide

Probate court records are maintained by the Probate Court Clerk and are available for inspection and copying in person at the courthouse during regular office hours. For matters where jurisdiction is shared with the Circuit Court or Family Court — such as certain formal estate proceedings governed by the rules of civil procedure — records may be held by the Clerk of Court at 301 W. Main Street rather than the Probate Court. Ask the appropriate clerk's office which court holds the specific records you need before making the trip.