Edgefield County Court Records Search
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Edgefield County, South Carolina sits within the state's 11th Judicial Circuit, and its court system covers a wide range of legal matters — felony criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law proceedings, juvenile cases, estate administration, and property transactions. The Clerk of Court's office manages records from all of these courts and also serves as the Register of Deeds, making it the central stop for both judicial and land-record requests. Before you call or visit, it helps to know which division handles the type of record you need.
South Carolina residents and researchers can find court case information through the Clerk's office directly, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online judicial records portals. SouthCarolinaCourts.us is a useful place to start if you want to understand how the state's court structure works before making a formal request.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Edgefield County?
The Edgefield County Clerk of Court, currently the Honorable Charles L. Reel, oversees all records for the Circuit Court's three divisions — General Sessions, Common Pleas, and Family Court — as well as the Register of Deeds and the County Archives. A staff of eight clerks supports these departments.
Edgefield County Clerk of Court / Register of Deeds
Address: 129 Courthouse Square, #206, Edgefield, SC 29824
Mailing: P.O. Box 34, Edgefield, SC 29824
Phone: (General Sessions/Common Pleas): (803) 637-4082
Phone: (Family Court): (803) 637-4081
Phone: (Register of Deeds): (803) 637-4049
General Inquiry: (803) 637-4080
Fax: (803) 637-4117
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Website: edgefieldclerkofcourt.org
The full court system in Edgefield County includes the following locations:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit & Family Court (Clerk) | 129 Courthouse Square, Edgefield, SC 29824 | (803) 637-4080 |
| Probate Court | 129 Courthouse Square, #212, Edgefield, SC 29824 | (803) 637-4076 |
| Magistrate Court | 264 Star Road, Edgefield, SC 29824 | (803) 637-4052 |
| Sheriff's Office | 264 Star Road, Edgefield, SC 29824 | (803) 637-5337 |
Online case search options include:
- South Carolina Judicial Branch Case Records Search — covers trial court records across all counties, searchable by party name, case number, and county; Edgefield is in the 11th Circuit
- SC Family Court Public Index Portal — provides online access to family court case filings and docket information
- South Carolina DSS Public Access Person Search — allows public lookup of certain divorce-related case information maintained by the Department of Social Services
For in-person requests, visit the Clerk's office during business hours. Have the party name, case number, or approximate filing date ready — it speeds up the search considerably.
Are Court Records Public in Edgefield County?
Under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, Section 30-4-30(A), any person has the right to inspect, copy, or receive an electronic transmission of any public record held by a public body. That right covers court records at the Edgefield County Clerk of Court and other government offices throughout the county.
Access is not unlimited, however. Section 30-4-40 allows public bodies to withhold certain categories of information, including:
- Information specifically exempted from disclosure by state or federal statute
- Personal information whose release would constitute an unreasonable invasion of individual privacy
- Work product and correspondence between a public body and its legal counsel
- Information protected by attorney-client privilege
- The identity of anyone who reports a suspected violation of law to a state regulatory body
- Records that could compromise an ongoing law enforcement investigation or threaten individual safety
FOIA request fees are set by SC Code of Laws 30-4-30. Contact the Clerk of Court directly to ask about current fees for copying and document retrieval before submitting your request.
Edgefield County Criminal Court Records
Felony-level criminal prosecutions in Edgefield County go through the Circuit Court's General Sessions division, which processes indictments, arraignments, trial proceedings, bonds, and case dispositions. The Clerk of Court receives and keeps all records produced through General Sessions, including warrants and criminal filings forwarded from the magistrate and sheriff's offices.
You can search General Sessions case records through the South Carolina Judicial Branch Case Records Search portal by party name or case number. For in-person requests, go to the Clerk's office at 129 Courthouse Square and call (803) 637-4082 or (803) 637-4080 ahead of time if you want details on fees and processing times.
Misdemeanor criminal charges and traffic violations fall to the Edgefield County Magistrate Court, which has primary jurisdiction over matters where the maximum penalty does not exceed 30 days in jail or a corresponding fine. The Magistrate Court is at 264 Star Road, Edgefield, SC 29824, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with Chief Magistrate Gary Hitt presiding. Criminal and traffic fine payments can be made in person by cash, credit card, money order, or cashier's check; by mail via money order or cashier's check; or online by credit card for applicable traffic and criminal cases. The court does not accept telephone payments.
For broader criminal history searches, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) runs the CATCH (Citizens Access to Criminal Histories) system, which lets you search statewide criminal records by name. The standard fee is $25.00 per search for the general public. Certain qualifying charitable organizations may be eligible for a reduced fee of $8.00.
Arrest and inmate information in Edgefield County is held by the Sheriff's Office. There is currently no online inmate lookup system. To inquire about current detainees, call (803) 637-4124. For non-emergency law enforcement matters, use the general Sheriff's number at (803) 637-5337.
Edgefield County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation above the magistrate court threshold is handled by the Circuit Court's Common Pleas division. The Clerk of Court receives and maintains all civil filings — petitions, complaints, motions, judgments, and execution records. Common Pleas covers civil matters outside the Magistrate Court's jurisdiction, which is capped at $7,500 for monetary disputes and certain landlord-tenant matters.
Small claims and limited civil matters fall to the Edgefield County Magistrate Court at 264 Star Road. Civil filings at the Magistrate Court must be submitted by 4:00 PM. The court handles civil disputes up to $7,500 and can help make sure forms are filled out correctly, though it cannot provide legal advice.
Civil case records from Common Pleas are searchable through the South Carolina Judicial Branch Case Records Search portal. In-person requests can be made at the Clerk of Court's office, Suite 206, at 129 Courthouse Square.
Land and property records are maintained by the Register of Deeds division of the Clerk's office, led by Deputy Clerk Cindy Davis (cdavis@edgefieldcounty.sc.gov). The Deed Room holds records dating back to 1913 in paper form, with all documents recorded after 1996 available digitally. Records include deeds, plats, mortgages, powers of attorney, military discharge records (DD-214), and liens. Online access to property records is available through the Avenu Insights land records search portal maintained by the Clerk's office. The statewide SC Land Records index also lets you search document information by party name and legal description. Direct in-person and mail requests to the Register of Deeds at (803) 637-4049.
Edgefield County Family Court Records
The Family Court division, part of the 11th Judicial Circuit, handles all domestic relations and juvenile matters in Edgefield County. Under South Carolina law, the Family Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over a broad range of proceedings. Family Court records are managed by the Clerk of Court's Family Court department. Key contacts include Deputy Clerk Michelle Goss (mgoss@edgefieldcounty.sc.gov) and Clerk Emma Huffman (ehuffman@edgefieldcounty.sc.gov). The Family Court line is (803) 637-4081.
Cases handled by Edgefield County Family Court include:
- Divorce and legal separation
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support and alimony
- Adoptions and name changes
- Juvenile delinquency, runaways, and truancy
- DSS cases involving child abuse and neglect, vulnerable adult abuse, and foster care matters
- Domestic violence protection orders
Family court case records are accessible through the South Carolina Family Court Public Index and also through the main SC Judicial Branch Case Records Search. Divorce case information may also appear in the DSS Public Access Person Search portal. To obtain physical copies of Family Court orders or filings, contact the Clerk's office in person or by phone during business hours.
Marriage licenses in Edgefield County are issued by the Edgefield County Probate Court at 129 Courthouse Square, #212. The Probate Court is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and can be reached at (803) 637-4076. Copies of marriage records are also available from the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) Vital Records Division for marriages recorded since July 1950. Under state law, certified marriage certificate copies are restricted to the parties married, their adult children, current or former spouses, and the Department of Social Services for child support purposes. Other requesters may receive only a statement confirming that the marriage occurred.
DPH vital records fees (effective October 1, 2023):
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard records search (mail requests) | $12.00 per record (includes 1 certified copy if found) |
| Expedited records search (in-person, online) | $17.00 per record (includes 1 certified copy if found) |
| Additional copies of the same record | $3.00 per copy |
| Special filing fee (amendments, adoptions, legitimations, court orders) | $15.00 per record |
Divorce records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at the courthouse where the divorce was finalized. Most divorce records are public and can be accessed in person at the Clerk's office, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The DPH Vital Records Office also keeps divorce reports for qualified requesters — the same eligibility rules that apply to marriage records govern access to divorce reports through DPH.
Birth and death records are handled by the SC DPH Vital Records Division. Birth certificates are available for births occurring in South Carolina since 1915, restricted to the registrant, named parents, or a legal guardian or representative. Death certificates are available to immediate family members and legal representatives of the decedent; all others receive only a statement confirming death. Requests can be submitted in person, by mail, online, or by drop-off. The death record application form is available on the DPH website. Mail requests require a money order or cashier's check payable to S.C. DPH.
Edgefield County Probate Court Records
The Edgefield County Probate Court, located at 129 Courthouse Square, #212, Edgefield, SC 29824, is presided over by the Honorable Gregory Anderson and can be reached at (803) 637-4076. The court is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Matters handled by the Probate Court include:
- Estate administration for both testate (with a will) and intestate (without a will) decedents
- Probating of wills and appointment of personal representatives
- Guardianships for incapacitated adults
- Conservatorships for adults and minors
- Mental health commitment proceedings
- Minor settlements under $25,000
- Application and issuance of marriage licenses
Probate records are held by the Probate Court and can be requested in person during regular business hours. The Clerk of Court's office at 129 Courthouse Square also maintains some probate-related filings that cross into circuit court jurisdiction. Probate case information may appear in the SC Judicial Branch Case Records Search depending on the case type, or you can request it directly through the Probate Court office.
To request probate records, contact the Probate Court at (803) 637-4076 or visit in person. Bring the full name of the decedent or protected person and, if you have it, the approximate date of filing or estate number — this will help staff locate the record more quickly. Fees for certified copies of probate documents are set by the Probate Court and may vary by case type. For general guidance on the probate process in South Carolina, the South Carolina Judicial Branch provides statewide information on court procedures and forms.