Georgetown County Courts – A Practical Guide to Court Records and Services
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Georgetown County is part of South Carolina’s 15th Judicial Circuit and runs its main court operations out of the Georgetown County Judicial Center at 401 Cleland Street, Georgetown, SC 29440. The county’s court system covers a wide range of proceedings through the Court of Common Pleas (civil), the Court of General Sessions (criminal), Family Court, Probate Court, six Magistrate Courts, a Master-in-Equity, and two Municipal Courts. If you need records, the Clerk of Courts office is your first stop — it handles Common Pleas, Family Court, and General Sessions files, from new civil filings and judgments to criminal case records and juvenile matters.
If you want to search case records online before making any phone calls, SouthCarolinaCourts.us offers case records search functionality covering trial court filings statewide, including Georgetown. The Georgetown County page on the state judiciary’s website lists court contact details, judicial assignments, and direct links to case records and court rosters. The county also has an online services page with links to case searches and court dockets.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Georgetown County?
There are several ways to search for court cases filed in Georgetown County, and the right approach depends on the type of case and which court handled it.
Online Searches
Start with the South Carolina Judicial Branch’s Public Index Search, which lets you look up Common Pleas, General Sessions, and Family Court cases by party name, case number, or attorney. Georgetown County is Circuit Number 15 and County Number 22 in this system. Some municipal court records are also available through this portal. For court dockets and trial rosters, use the judiciary’s Court Docket Search portal. If you need Probate Court records, the South Carolina Probate Search system lets you search by case number or party name for any county.
In-Person Searches
Public access computer terminals are available at the Clerk of Courts office if you prefer to search on-site. Keep in mind that clerks staff will not conduct research on behalf of third parties like credit bureaus or private companies — those entities need to use the public terminals or online portals themselves.
Clerk of Court Contact Information
- Physical Address: 401 Cleland Street, 1st Floor, Room 115, Georgetown, SC 29440
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 479, Georgetown, SC 29442
- Phone: (843) 545-3215
- Fax: (843) 545-3088
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
You can also reach specific divisions by email:
- General inquiries: clerkofcourt@gtcounty.org
- Common Pleas (civil): commonpleas@gtcounty.org
- Family Court: familycourt@gtcounty.org
- General Sessions (criminal): generalsessions@gtcounty.org
Obtaining Copies
When requesting copies of court documents, photocopies run $0.50 per page and certification costs $1.00 per document, based on the Family Court fee schedule. Circuit Court filings follow a similar copy-fee structure. It’s worth calling the relevant clerks division ahead of time to confirm the exact cost and which payment methods are accepted before you visit or mail a request.
Are Court Records Public in Georgetown County?
Court records in Georgetown County are generally open to public inspection under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code Ann. 30-4). This law gives the public the right to inspect and obtain copies of records held by public bodies, including court offices. That said, Section 30-4-40 lays out specific exemptions where disclosure is not required.
Categories of restricted or exempt records include:
- Personal privacy protections: Records containing personal information whose disclosure would be an unreasonable invasion of privacy — including sensitive details about individuals with disabilities when sought for commercial solicitation — may be withheld.
- Law enforcement investigative records: Materials compiled for law enforcement purposes may be restricted if releasing them would interfere with active investigations, compromise someone's right to a fair trial, reveal confidential informant identities, expose law enforcement techniques, endanger individuals, or disclose intercepted communications that were never introduced at trial.
- Attorney-client privilege: Correspondence and work product exchanged between an attorney and a public body remain protected.
- Research data: Proprietary research data held by state institutions of higher education is exempt until it's publicly released or published.
Family Court confidential records carry additional restrictions. Adoption cases, abuse and neglect proceedings, and termination of parental rights cases are automatically confidential. Juvenile matters involving minors under age seventeen are likewise sealed. Any case that a Family Court judge orders sealed is unavailable to the public without a subsequent court order to unseal it — and these cases simply do not appear in the Clerk of Courts public access system.
If you need records that may fall under any of these exemptions, contact the relevant clerks division directly. Documents that contain a mix of public and protected information may be released with portions redacted.
Georgetown County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Georgetown County are prosecuted in the Court of General Sessions, which handles felony and misdemeanor offenses. The Solicitor’s office for the 15th Judicial Circuit represents the state in these proceedings. Records such as indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and trial documents are maintained by the Clerk of Court and are searchable through the Public Index Search.
Georgetown County Sheriff's Office
Arrest records and incident reports are held by the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office. You can contact them for records inquiries or booking information:
- Physical Address: 430 N. Fraser Street, Georgetown, SC 29440
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1292, Georgetown, SC 29442
- Phone: (843) 546-5102
- Fax: (843) 546-2752
- Website: gcsheriff.org
Statewide Criminal Background Checks
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) runs the state’s centralized criminal history repository. Name-based criminal record searches are handled through the CATCH (Criminal Records Check) system. Here’s what you need to know before you search:
- Each search costs a non-refundable $25 fee, plus a $1.00 convenience fee for online transactions.
- Searches require an exact match of the subject's last name, first initial, and date of birth. If a Social Security Number is provided, it will also be checked.
- Qualifying charitable organizations under state law pay a reduced fee of $8.00.
- Criminal records checks for prospective teachers and substitute teachers are provided at no cost to local school districts under Section 501(3) of the federal tax code.
If you prefer to submit a mail-in request, send a completed Criminal Records Check Form along with payment by certified check, business check, cashier’s check, or money order — personal checks and cash are not accepted — and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
SLED Records Department
P.O. Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221-1398
Note that the CATCH system does not provide information about wanted persons or registered sex offenders. For sex offender data, you can search the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry at no charge.
Criminal Appeals
Appeals from Magistrate or Municipal Court criminal matters to General Sessions do not require a filing fee under S.C. Code 8-21-310(11). Cases decided in General Sessions are appealed to the South Carolina Supreme Court or Court of Appeals.
Georgetown County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Georgetown County are split between the Court of Common Pleas and the Magistrate Courts based on the dollar amount in dispute. Common Pleas takes cases where the amount or property value exceeds $7,500, while Magistrate Courts handle claims of $7,500 or less. The Master-in-Equity Court hears non-jury civil matters referred from Common Pleas — mostly foreclosure cases, partition actions, judicial sales, and judgment collection proceedings. You cannot file a case directly in the Master’s Court; cases arrive there by Order of Reference from Common Pleas.
Circuit Court (Common Pleas) Filing Fees
Based on the statewide fee schedule:
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| New civil case (most types) | $150 |
| Lis Pendens (without Summons and Complaint) | $10 |
| Cancellation of Lis Pendens | $1 |
| Transcript of Judgment from Magistrate/Federal Court | $35 |
| Foreign Judgment | $100 |
| Reinstatement of permanently revoked driver's license | $200 |
| Appeals from Magistrate (civil), Probate, or administrative agencies | $150 |
Foreign judgment filings require a certified sealed copy of the judgment, a sealed exemplification from the original court, and an affidavit confirming the judgment is final, uncontested, and unsatisfied in whole or in part.
Magistrate Court Filing Fees
Small claims and other civil matters at the Magistrate level carry their own fee schedule:
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Summons and Complaint | $80 |
| Claim and Delivery | $65 |
| Eviction (Order and Rule to Evict) | $40 |
| Writ of Ejectment (after eviction) | $10 |
| Judicial Sale | $35 |
| Restraining Order | Free |
Once a Magistrate Court judgment is entered and the required waiting period expires, the winning party may bring a Transcript of Judgment to the Clerk of Court and pay the $35 filing fee to place it on the defendant’s record. Alternatively, an Execution Order can be obtained and presented to the Sheriff’s Office — which charges a $25 filing fee — to begin property seizure proceedings.
Georgetown County Magistrate Court Locations
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Georgetown Magistrate | 333 Cleland Street, Georgetown, SC 29442 | (843) 545-3381 |
| Andrews Magistrate | 110 N. Morgan Avenue, Andrews, SC 29510 | (843) 545-3631 |
| Murrells Inlet Magistrate | 14329 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island, SC 29585 | (843) 545-3635 |
| Pawleys Island Magistrate | 14329 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island, SC 29585 | (843) 545-3633 |
| Pleasant Hill Magistrate | 9974 Pleasant Hill Drive, Hemingway, SC 29554 | (843) 545-3637 |
Small claims cases must be filed in the Magistrate Court whose district covers the defendant’s place of residence or business. The Georgetown County courts page gives an overview of each court division and its jurisdiction.
Pro Bono and Legal Aid Resources
If you can’t afford an attorney and meet income guidelines, contact the South Carolina Center for Equal Justice at (888) 346-5592. If you don’t qualify for legal aid but still can’t afford to hire a lawyer, you may be able to get help through the South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Program at (803) 799-4015. If you’re able to pay for representation, the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service can be reached at (800) 868-2284.
Georgetown County Family Court Records
The Georgetown County Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over domestic matters. Cases heard here include alimony, annulments, name changes, child support, custody and visitation, division of marital property, divorces, domestic violence, legal guardianships, paternity, and separate maintenance and support. All records from these proceedings are maintained by the Clerk of Courts Family Court division.
Filing Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Domestic cases filing fee | $150 (unless waived by a judge) |
| Lis Pendens filed with Summons and Complaint | $150 |
| Lis Pendens only | $10 |
| Cancellation of Lis Pendens | $1 |
| Motions / Rule to Show Cause | $25 (no fee for RTSC strictly for child/spousal support) |
| Copies | $0.50 per page |
| Certifications | $1 per document |
A Motion Fee Schedule (PDF) is available for download from the county’s website.
Child and Spousal Support Payments
As of June 1, 2019, all regular child support and alimony payments ordered in Georgetown County go to the South Carolina State Disbursement Unit (SDU) — not to the Clerk of Courts office. Mail payments to:
South Carolina State Disbursement Unit
P.O. Box 100302
Columbia, SC 29202
Purge payments ordered following a contempt finding (Rule to Show Cause) must still be paid directly at the Georgetown County Clerk of Courts office in cash, cashier’s check, or money order — personal checks are not accepted. For questions about SDU payments, call the toll-free line at (800) 768-5858, available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Confidential Cases
Adoption proceedings, abuse and neglect cases, and termination of parental rights are confidential and will not appear in the public access system. Juvenile cases involving minors under age 17 are also sealed. If a Family Court judge has ordered a case sealed, a court order is required before public access is permitted.
Divorce Records
Under S.C. Code Ann. 44-63-8, certified copies of divorce records are restricted to the divorced parties, their adult children, a current or former spouse, or authorized legal representatives. If you fall outside those categories, you may request a formal statement confirming that a divorce occurred, along with the date and basic public details. Direct requests to the Clerk of Courts Family Court division at 401 Cleland Street, 1st Floor, Room 115, Georgetown, SC 29440, or call (843) 545-3215.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued through the Georgetown County Probate Court Marriage Division. Certified copies of marriage certificates follow the same access restrictions under 44-63-8 — only the married couple, their adult children, a current or former spouse, or legal representatives may obtain certified copies. Anyone else may request a statement confirming the marriage, date, and location from the Probate Court.
Marriage License Fees
| Applicant Residency | Fee |
|---|---|
| Either or both applicants reside in Georgetown County | $50 |
| Neither resides in Georgetown County but one resides in South Carolina | $75 |
| Both applicants reside outside South Carolina | $115 |
Active duty military members are treated as residents of the county and state where their installation is located. To apply by mail, send a completed Application for License and Certificate of Marriage (PDF), copies of valid government-issued photo identification for both applicants, the appropriate fee (cashier’s check or money order payable to Georgetown County Treasurer), and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Probate Court / Marriage Division
P.O. Drawer 421270
Georgetown, SC 29442
For express delivery, use the physical address: 401 Cleland Street, Judicial Center, Georgetown, SC 29440. South Carolina requires a statutory 24-hour waiting period between application and issuance. For questions, contact the Probate Court at (843) 545-3274.
Birth and Death Records
Birth records become publicly accessible 100 years after the date of birth under S.C. Code Ann. 44-63-80. Death records open up 50 years after the date of death under 44-63-84. Before those periods expire, certified copies are available only to the registrant (if of legal age), parents, guardians, or legal representatives. The Georgetown County Department of Social Services handles vital records inquiries at 330 Dozier Street, Georgetown, SC 29440, Phone: (843) 546-5134. Statewide vital records copies may also be requested from the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
Georgetown County Probate Court Records
The Georgetown County Probate Court operates across four broad divisions: Estate, Protective Court (guardianships and conservatorships), Therapeutic Court (involuntary commitments), and Marriage License. The court does not write wills and does not hear criminal cases.
Estate Division
This division handles probating wills, interpreting wills, resolving will contests, overseeing estate administration, appointing personal representatives, and supervising the transfer of a decedent’s assets. Both informal proceedings — used when there is no dispute — and formal proceedings, which require a summons and petition similar to civil litigation, are available. Questions about heirs, successors, and property belonging to an estate are routinely addressed here.
Protective Court Division
Guardianships can be established for adults who lack the capacity to make personal decisions due to incapacity. Conservatorships deal with managing an incapacitated person’s financial assets and may also be appointed for minors set to receive assets totaling more than $15,000 annually. The court determines the level of incapacity, defines the scope of constitutional rights being removed, and provides ongoing oversight of fiduciary management. Trust-related matters — including dissolution, successor trustee appointments, and enforcement — also fall within this division.
Therapeutic Court Division
Involuntary commitment hearings for mental illness, intellectual disability, substance abuse, and tuberculosis are conducted through this division. If a person is found to be a danger to themselves or others and in need of treatment, the Probate Court may order inpatient or outpatient care.
Additional Matters
The Probate Court also approves wrongful death and survival action settlements, approves minor settlements under $25,000, makes determinations under the South Carolina Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, and may hear actions to determine paternity, common-law marriage, or marital agreement interpretation when those issues arise alongside pending estate, trust, guardianship, or conservatorship matters.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case records can be searched online through the South Carolina Probate Search system — select Georgetown County, then enter a case number or party name. Probate forms for estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and involuntary commitments are available from the South Carolina court forms page.
Contact Information
- Physical Address: 401 Cleland Street, Room 140, Georgetown, SC 29440
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 421270, Georgetown, SC 29442
- Phone: (843) 545-3274