Horry County Court Records
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Horry County is one of the largest and fastest-growing counties in South Carolina, with a court system that produces a significant volume of legal records each year. The county seat is Conway, where most court offices are centralized at the Horry County Government & Justice Center. Whether you need to look up a criminal charge, review a civil judgment, obtain a divorce decree, or research a probate matter, knowing where and how to access these records will save you considerable time. This guide covers the main methods for searching and requesting court records maintained by the various judicial offices in Horry County.
You can start locating court records through the offices of the Clerk of Court, the Probate Court, magistrate courts throughout the county, and state-level databases. The South Carolina Judicial Branch maintains an online portal at SouthCarolinaCourts.us that can help you identify publicly available court case information statewide, including records indexed from Horry County's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. Beyond web-based tools, records may be obtained in person at the courthouse, by mail, or through formal written requests to the appropriate office.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Horry County?
There are multiple ways to search for cases filed within Horry County's judicial system. The right approach depends on the type of case, how much identifying information you have, and whether you need certified copies or just want to view basic case data.
Online Search Tools
Horry County offers four primary online platforms for locating court records:
- Public Index — The South Carolina Judicial Branch operates the Public Index, which allows the public to search circuit, family, and some magistrate court records by case number, case type, party name, date range, or court agency. This free tool displays basic case information, including party names, case actions, and associated case numbers.
- Horry County AcclaimWeb — The county maintains an Official Records Search tool for searching by party name (grantor or grantee). You can filter results by document type and date range. Once you locate a document, you can add it to a cart and purchase it for unredacted viewing over a 24-hour period.
- Family Court Public Access — The South Carolina Department of Social Services provides a Family Court Public Access Search where you can look up family court case data by party name or case information.
- Probate Court Public Inquiry — Probate cases can be searched through the Horry County Probate Court Public Inquiry Tool, which offers searches by case number, case type, or party name.
In-Person Requests
You can visit the Horry County Clerk of Court's office Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Staff can help you locate cases when you provide the parties' names, case numbers, or other identifying details. A government-issued photo ID may be required, particularly for restricted records.
Horry County Clerk of Court
Address: 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526
Mailing: P.O. Box 677, Conway, SC 29528
Phone: (843) 915-5080
Fax: (843) 915-6081
Family Court Line: (843) 915-5081
Mail Requests
Written requests can be mailed to the Clerk of Court. Include your name, phone number, and mailing address, along with as much identifying case information as you have—full names of parties involved, any known case numbers, the type of record sought, and whether you need certified copies. Enclose the applicable search and copying fees with your request.
Are Court Records Public in Horry County?
Court records in Horry County are generally open to public inspection. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified in Title 30, Chapter 4 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, establishes that records created and maintained by public bodies are presumptively public and must be made available for inspection and copying unless a specific exemption applies.
That said, several categories of court records carry access restrictions under state law and court rules. Records that are typically sealed, redacted, or limited to authorized parties include:
- Juvenile records — Proceedings involving minors in the family court system are generally confidential.
- Adoption records — These are sealed and accessible only by court order or to specifically authorized persons.
- Expunged records — Cases that have been expunged are removed from public databases.
- Sealed or vacated records — A judge may order certain records sealed for privacy or safety reasons.
- Records containing sensitive personal identifiers — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and certain victim information may be redacted from public copies.
When copies of court records are released, the Clerk's office may redact protected information before providing them. Authorized persons—such as parties to the case, their attorneys, and immediate family members—may access certain restricted records by presenting valid identification and, in some situations, a court order.
If you need access to records not readily available through public channels, you can submit a formal FOIA request to:
Public Information Office
Address: 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526
Phone: (843) 915-5390
Horry County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Horry County are handled primarily through the Court of General Sessions, which is part of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. This court has jurisdiction over adult felony cases and misdemeanor offenses carrying penalties of more than 30 days in jail or fines exceeding $500. Lesser criminal matters—including DUI charges, minor assault, and certain domestic violence offenses—are adjudicated by the county's magistrate courts.
Searching Criminal Case Records
Criminal case records can be searched through the Public Index maintained by the South Carolina Judicial Branch. You can search by party name, case number, case type, or date range.
Statewide Criminal History Checks
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) maintains criminal history records for the entire state. You can run a name-based criminal background check through the SLED CATCH system. Each search requires:
- The subject's last name and first initial
- Date of birth
- A non-refundable fee of $25 (or $8 for qualifying charitable organizations)
SLED also accepts mail-in requests at:
SLED Records Department
P.O. Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398
Fingerprint-based background checks are available only when required by statute. The CATCH database does not include sex offender information, which is maintained separately on the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry.
Arrest and Detention Records
The Horry County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, charges, warrants, and detention information. The Sheriff's Office operates the J. Reuben Long Detention Center and maintains a searchable online bookings and release database where you can look up current and recent inmates by last name, booking date, or release date.
Horry County Sheriff's Office
Address: 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526
Mailing: P.O. Box 380, Conway, SC 29526
Phone: (843) 915-5450
Fax: (843) 915-6451
Key Criminal Court Locations
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Horry County Courthouse (General Sessions) | 1201 Third Avenue, Conway, SC 29526 | (843) 915-5080 |
| Centralized Magistrate Bond Court | J. Reuben Long Detention Center, 4150 J. Reuben Long Ave., Conway, SC 29526 | (843) 915-5145 |
| Preliminary Hearing Court | 1201 21st Avenue North, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 | (843) 444-6127 |
| Criminal Domestic Violence Court | 1201 Third Avenue, Conway, SC 29526 | (843) 915-5065 |
| Central Traffic Court | 1201 Third Avenue, Conway, SC 29526 | (843) 915-5070 |
Horry County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Horry County are heard through the Court of Common Pleas, the civil division of the Circuit Court within the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. This court handles contract disputes, personal injury claims, landlord-tenant disagreements, debt collection actions, real property disputes, and other civil litigation. Magistrate courts also hear civil cases with claims below their jurisdictional limits.
How to Obtain Civil Court Records
The Horry County Clerk of Court is the official custodian of all civil case records filed in Circuit Court. You can obtain them three ways:
- Online — Use the Public Index to search by case number, party name, or case type. Basic case data—including party information, associated actions, and filing dates—is displayed at no charge.
- In Person — Visit the Clerk of Court's office at 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Provide the case number or party names. Applicable copying fees will apply, and a valid photo ID may be required.
- By Mail — Send a written request to the Clerk of Court at P.O. Box 677, Conway, SC 29528. Include the case number or party names, specify whether you need certified or uncertified copies, and enclose the applicable fee.
Records containing personal or sensitive information—such as financial disclosures in debt collection matters—may only be released to authorized persons, including the parties to the case, their legal counsel, or their immediate family members. If you need certified copies, make that clear in your request, as the Clerk's office stamps certified records to authenticate them as true copies of the originals.
Property-Related Civil Records
Land transfers, deeds, mortgages, tax liens, and plats are maintained by the Horry County Register of Deeds. You can search these through the county's AcclaimWeb Official Records Search or the free Land Records Search tool, which allows searches by owner name, address, tax map number, or subdivision. The Register of Deeds charges service fees for copies.
Horry County Register of Deeds
Address: 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526
Mailing: P.O. Box 470, Conway, SC 29526
Phone: (843) 915-5430
Fax: (843) 915-6430
Email: hcg.RegisterOfDeeds@horrycountysc.gov
Horry County Family Court Records
The Horry County Family Court handles a broad range of domestic and family-related proceedings, including divorce and annulment, child custody and visitation, child support enforcement and modification, paternity actions, domestic violence protective orders, and juvenile matters. The Family Court operates under the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit and is located at:
Horry County Family Court
Address: 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526
Phone: (843) 915-5081
Fax: (843) 915-6082
Accessing Family Court Records
Family court case information can be searched through the Public Index by party name or case number. The South Carolina Department of Social Services also offers a Family Court Public Access search tool that lets you search by party or docket information.
Because of the sensitive nature of family proceedings, significant portions of these records are restricted. Juvenile case files are confidential under South Carolina law, and adoption records are sealed. Domestic violence proceedings may also contain information shielded from public disclosure. Access to restricted family court records is generally limited to parties in the case, their attorneys, and in some circumstances immediate family members—all of whom may need to present valid identification.
Divorce Records
Divorce decrees filed through the Family Court are maintained by the Clerk of Court. Certified copies of divorce records from July 1962 through December 2022 are also available through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC). The fee for a divorce record from SCDHEC is $17 (non-refundable) for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy. Phone requests typically take 5–7 business days; in-person requests at the SCDHEC office in Columbia take 30–45 minutes. Under South Carolina Code Section 44-63-80, only authorized parties—the individuals named in the divorce, their adult children, their current spouses, or their legal representatives—may obtain certified copies.
SCDHEC State Vital Records Office
Address: 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 898-3630
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses and certificates are issued and maintained by the Horry County Probate Court. Applications are accepted in person Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both applicants must appear in person with their Social Security cards and valid identification. A state-mandated 24-hour waiting period applies between application and issuance.
| Applicant Residency | Marriage License Fee |
|---|---|
| Horry County Resident | $55.00* |
| South Carolina Resident | $80.00* |
| Out-of-State Resident | $120.00* |
*Includes $5.00 for one certified marriage certificate.
Fees must be paid in cash (for in-person applicants) or by money order payable to Horry County Probate Court. Mail-in applications must be received at least 30 days before the anticipated ceremony date and can be submitted using the Marriage License Application form.
To get certified copies of marriage certificates after the fact, complete the Certified Marriage Certificate Request Form and mail it with $5.00 per copy (records from 1994 to present) or a $10.00 research fee plus $5.00 per copy (records prior to 1994) to:
Horry County Probate Court
Attn: Marriage License Division
P.O. Box 288, Conway, SC 29528
Horry County Probate Court Records
The Horry County Probate Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over probate matters and several related categories of cases. The court is located on the second floor of the Horry County Government & Justice Center in Conway and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Horry County Probate Court
Address: 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526
Mailing: P.O. Box 288, Conway, SC 29528
Phone: (843) 915-5370
Fax: (843) 915-6370
Email: hcg.ProbateCourt@horrycountysc.gov
Types of Cases Handled
The Probate Court handles the following categories of matters:
- Estate Administration — Processing the estate of a deceased person, including the probate of wills and distribution of assets to heirs and devisees. Under South Carolina law, a will must be filed with the court within 30 days of the date of death. Most estates proceed through informal administration unless an interested party demands a hearing under South Carolina Code Section 62-3-204.
- Guardianship and Conservatorship — Appointing guardians to manage the personal affairs of incapacitated adults or minors, and conservators to manage their financial affairs. Incapacity may result from mental illness, physical disability, advanced age, or chronic substance abuse, among other causes.
- Involuntary Commitments — Proceedings for the institutionalization of individuals who, due to mental illness or substance abuse, pose a risk of harm to themselves or others. Anyone seeking to initiate such proceedings must first contact Waccamaw Center for Mental Health for an assessment before petitioning the Probate Court.
- Marriage Licensing — Issuing marriage licenses and maintaining records of marriage certificates, as described in the Family Court Records section above.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case records can be searched online through the Horry County Probate Court Public Inquiry Tool. You can search by case number, case type, or party name to access estate, guardianship, conservatorship, and trust case records.
In-person requests can be made at the Probate Court during business hours. The court also accepts requests by phone and email. If you need to open estate proceedings or file a guardianship petition, downloadable form packets are available on the Probate Court Forms page on the county website, covering estate administration, guardianship, conservatorship, and general court filings. To schedule an appointment for estate matters, call (843) 915-5371 or (843) 915-5372. Opening appointments generally last about one hour.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death records are not maintained by the Probate Court, but they're often relevant in probate and family proceedings. In South Carolina, SCDHEC is the official custodial agency for vital records. You can obtain copies through the following channels:
- Online — Through authorized vendors for a $17 non-refundable search fee, plus $3 per additional copy and an $8.70 processing fee. Turnaround is 5–7 business days.
- Phone — Call (877) 284-1008. Limited to the registrant requesting their own record. A fee applies; turnaround is 5–7 business days.
- In Person — Complete a vital records application form at the regional SCDHEC office. The fee is $17 plus $3 per extra copy. Records are typically available within 30–45 minutes.
The Horry County regional SCDHEC office is located at:
SCDHEC Horry County Office
Address: 1931 Industrial Park Road, Conway, SC 29526
Phone: (843) 915-8802
Under South Carolina Code Section 44-63-80, certified copies of birth and death records are only issued to the registrant (if of legal age), their parents, legal guardians, or authorized legal representatives. A valid government-issued, employer-issued, or school-issued ID is required for all requests.