Jasper County, South Carolina Court Records
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Jasper County sits in South Carolina's Lowcountry region along the state's southeastern corner, and its court system follows the unified judicial framework established for all counties in the state. Court records from these proceedings document the full arc of legal activity — from initial filings and motions through final judgments and post-trial orders. They cover criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family matters, probate administration, and more. Whether you're researching a case outcome, verifying a judgment, or pulling documents for legal purposes, knowing which office holds what records and how to reach them is the first practical step.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Jasper County?
For most case types, start with South Carolina's centralized online search tool. The South Carolina Judicial Branch's Case Records Search lets you look up trial court cases by county — Jasper County is listed under Circuit Number 14 (County Number 27). The search returns docket information for General Sessions (criminal) and Common Pleas (civil) cases, as well as some Family Court records. Appellate records from the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals can be reviewed separately through the C-Track Public Access portal.
For a broader state-level orientation, SouthCarolinaCourts.us can help you understand the court structure and locate available case information online.
Not every record appears in the digital index. Records that predate online filing, cases subject to court-ordered sealing, and certain sensitive matter types may only be available through in-person inspection or a formal written request. In those situations, the appropriate clerk's office is the right point of contact. The Jasper County Clerk of Courts office confirms that civil and Common Pleas case research can also be conducted at www.sccourts.org.
Are Court Records Public in Jasper County?
South Carolina law establishes a broad public right of access to government-held records, including court documents. Under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, codified at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq., any person may inspect, copy, or receive an electronic transmission of non-exempt public records from a public body. That right of access applies to most documents produced or filed during court proceedings.
That said, the law also recognizes specific exemptions under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40. Records falling within these exemptions may be withheld from public disclosure:
- Records sealed by court order
- Juvenile court records, which are restricted by statute
- Adoption records
- Documents protected by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product
- Information identifying confidential informants who reported violations to regulatory agencies
- Mental health, intellectual disability, chemical dependency, and tuberculosis proceedings handled in Probate Court
- Certain domestic violence and family court materials where confidentiality protections apply
If a record isn't available through the online portal, it may still exist in paper form at the clerk's office, or it may be sealed. Staff can generally tell you whether a record exists without disclosing any protected content.
Jasper County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Jasper County are divided by severity. Felony charges and more serious misdemeanors are processed through the General Sessions Division of the Circuit Court, while minor criminal offenses, traffic violations, and ordinance infractions are handled at the magistrate or municipal court level.
Jasper County Circuit Court — General Sessions Division
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 265 Russell Street, Ridgeland, SC 29936 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 248, Ridgeland, SC 29936 |
| Clerk of Court | Keith Horton |
| Phone | (843) 726-7710 |
| Fax | (843) 726-7782 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (except legal holidays) |
| rkhorton@jaspercountysc.gov |
Case records for General Sessions proceedings can be searched through the South Carolina Judicial Branch Case Records Search. The Clerk of Courts office does not conduct criminal background checks, but it directs researchers to online court records for civil and criminal case lookups.
If you need a comprehensive criminal history that goes beyond individual case files, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) maintains the state's criminal history database. The SLED CATCH system (Access to Criminal Histories) provides name-based criminal history searches for the public. The Jasper County Sheriff's Office explicitly states that it does not conduct background checks and refers that function to SLED.
Arrest and incident information held by the Sheriff's Office is available through a formal records request process. All law enforcement FOIA requests must be submitted by email to SheriffDiscovery@jaspercountysc.gov. The Jasper County Sheriff's Office records request page details the current FOIA fee schedule:
- Staff time: $15.00 per hour for search, retrieval, redaction, and electronic conversion
- Paper copies: $0.50 per page (standard) or $8.00 per page (as applicable)
- Requesters receive an invoice before records are released
The Sheriff's Office has 10 business days to notify a requester that records are available for records no more than 24 months old, and an additional 30 calendar days to provide the actual records. For in-person inquiries or ADA accommodations, contact the Criminal Investigations Division at (843) 726-7779.
Current inmate information is available through the Jasper County Detention Center's Inmate Inquiry System. Booking inquiries can also be directed to (843) 717-3300.
South Carolina law provides a process for removing certain criminal charges from a person's public record. Eligible individuals may pursue an expungement through a formal court application process administered by the South Carolina Judicial Branch. Qualifying offenses are defined under S.C. Code Ann. Title 17, Chapter 1, and typically include charges that were dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in acquittal, as well as certain first-offense convictions after completion of sentence.
Jasper County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Jasper County — those involving non-criminal disputes between parties — are handled at two levels depending on the dollar amount in dispute and the nature of the claim.
Circuit Court — Common Pleas Division
The Common Pleas Division hears civil cases exceeding the magistrate court's monetary jurisdiction, including contract disputes, tort claims, real property actions, and other civil litigation. The Clerk of Court at 265 Russell Street maintains these files and handles copy requests.
Magistrate Court — Civil Division
Smaller civil disputes go to the Magistrate Court. Jasper County's magistrate courts have civil jurisdiction over claims where the amount in dispute does not exceed $7,500. This includes evictions, suits for money damages, suits on notes, claim and delivery, and mechanics' liens. The Jasper County Magistrate Court operates from two locations:
Ridgeland Office
- Address: 967 West Adams Street, Ridgeland, SC 29936
- Phone: (843) 726-7933
Hardeeville Office
- Address: 21 Martin Street, Hardeeville, SC 29927
- Phone: (843) 784-2628
Filing fees at the Magistrate Court level include:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Summons and Complaint | $80.00 |
| Eviction | $40.00 |
| Claim and Delivery | $65.00 |
| Counterclaim | $10.00 |
| Writ of Ejectment | $10.00 |
| Subpoena of Witness | $8.00 |
| Notice to Quit the Premises | $65.00 |
| Restraining Order | No fee (losing party pays $55.00 at trial) |
| Non-Service Certified Mailing | $5.00 per defendant |
Small claims cases filed through the magistrate system carry a $20.50 filing fee, plus a $45 service fee per defendant when served by the Sheriff's Office. Parties who cannot appear on their court date may submit a written rescheduling request — including name, address, case number, and date — at least five days before trial.
Property records such as deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plats are recorded and maintained through the Jasper County Clerk of Courts office. Jasper County does not operate a separate Register of Deeds office, so the Clerk handles that function. Property records can be searched through the Jasper County Register of Deeds online system.
Jasper County Family Court Records
Family Court in Jasper County is part of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit and shares the Russell Street courthouse with Circuit Court operations. The Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over divorce and legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, adoption, termination of parental rights, domestic violence protective orders, and annulment of marriage.
Jasper County Family Court
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 265 Russell Street, Ridgeland, SC 29936 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 248, Ridgeland, SC 29936 |
| Phone | (843) 726-7710 |
| Fax | (843) 726-7782 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
Family Court records are generally accessible through the public index on the South Carolina Judicial Branch's case search portal, though certain proceedings — particularly those involving minors, adoption, and domestic violence protective orders — may be sealed or restricted by court order or statute.
Divorce proceedings in Family Court result in a final decree filed with the Clerk of Court. Certified copies of decrees are available from the Clerk's office upon request. For divorces granted since July 1962, the South Carolina Department of Public Health also maintains divorce report records through its Vital Records division.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses in Jasper County are issued exclusively by the Probate Court, which also maintains official marriage license records.
Jasper County Probate Court — Marriage Licenses
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 306 3rd Avenue, Ridgeland, SC 29936 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 1028, Ridgeland, SC 29936 |
| Phone | (843) 726-7718 |
| Fax | (843) 726-5173 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
Certified copies of marriage certificates may also be requested from the South Carolina Department of Public Health Vital Records office. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63, certified copies are restricted to the married parties, their adult children, spouses, and legal representatives. Others may receive a non-certified statement confirming that a marriage took place.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates for events occurring in Jasper County are maintained at the state level by the South Carolina Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records. You can submit requests in person, by mail, or through the DPH's online channels.
Current fee schedule for vital records:
| Record Type | Standard Fee | Expedited Fee | Additional Copies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | $12 (search fee) | $17 (search fee) | Included in search |
| Death Certificate | $12 (search fee) | $17 (search fee) | $3 each |
Access to certified birth certificates is restricted under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63 to the registrant, their parents, legal guardians, and legal representatives. Death certificates are available to the decedent's immediate family, legal representatives, or persons with a direct and tangible interest. All requesters must provide a valid government-issued photo ID. The DPH Vital Records office is located at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, and can be reached at (855) 472-3432. VitalChek's South Carolina portal also processes South Carolina vital records requests online.
Child support payments in family cases handled through the Clerk of Court can be made through ExpertPay ((866) 645-6347) or MoneyGram (receive code 14691), both available 24/7. Case payment history and information can be viewed through the DSS online client portal.
Jasper County Probate Court Records
The Jasper County Probate Court, presided over by the Honorable Albert L. Kleckley Jr., holds exclusive original jurisdiction over a range of matters distinct from the Circuit and Family Courts.
Jasper County Probate Court
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 306 3rd Avenue, Ridgeland, SC 29936 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 1028, Ridgeland, SC 29936 |
| Phone | (843) 726-7718 |
| Fax | (843) 726-5173 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
The Probate Court's jurisdiction covers:
- Decedents' estates, including both testate (with a will) and intestate (without a will) administrations
- Trusts
- Guardianships of adult incapacitated persons
- Conservatorships of minors and adult incapacitated persons
- Involuntary commitment proceedings involving mental illness, intellectual disability, chemical dependency, and tuberculosis
- Approval of certain wrongful death settlements
- Issuance and recording of marriage licenses
The Probate Court appoints personal representatives, trustees, conservators, and guardians; conducts hearings and trials in informal proceedings; and processes and admits to record wills, pleadings, motions, and other official documents. It maintains public records of all these proceedings.
Most probate records are accessible to the public. However, cases involving minors, sensitive mental health or commitment proceedings, or matters sealed by court order may be restricted. Probate cases can be searched through the South Carolina Probate Search tool, which allows lookups by case number or combinations of name fields.
Wills filed for probate become public records upon the death of the testator and admission to court. Researchers looking for historical probate records — including letters testamentary and estate inventories — may also consult the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, which holds older Jasper County probate records in its archival collections.
If you need to locate the probate file for a recently opened estate, the most direct path is to call the Probate Court at (843) 726-7718 or appear in person at 306 3rd Avenue during regular business hours. Court staff can confirm whether a proceeding has been opened, provide copy fees, and direct you to the appropriate file.