Marion County Court Records Search
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Marion County, South Carolina — anchored by its county seat of Marion and the city of Mullins — runs a multi-tiered court system covering criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. Court records from these proceedings include motions, pleadings, orders, judgments, dockets, exhibits, and subpoenas, documenting every stage of a case from initial filing to final disposition. Attorneys, journalists, background researchers, and parties to active cases all rely on these records regularly.
If you're researching court cases in South Carolina, SouthCarolinaCourts.us is a useful reference for publicly available case information across the state. Marion County records can be searched through the South Carolina Judicial Branch's online portal, reviewed at public access terminals inside the courthouse, or requested directly from the Clerk of Court's office in Marion.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Marion County?
Start with the Marion County Clerk of Court, which maintains circuit court, family court, and Register of Deeds records. Clerk of Court Christy M. Gray leads the office, which handles record keeping, jury administration, child support and alimony collection, and public access to court files.
Marion County Clerk of Court
Physical Address: 1305 N. Main Street, Marion, SC 29571
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 295, Marion, SC 29571
Phone: (843) 423-8240 | Fax: (843) 423-8242
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Copy fees are $8.00 per document. Personal checks are not accepted — pay by cash, money order, cashier's check, or business check made payable to Marion County Clerk of Court. Mail requests must include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
You have three ways to search Marion County court records:
- Online via South Carolina Public Index: The South Carolina Judicial Branch's case records search lets you run free public name searches for Circuit Court and Family Court cases across all counties, including Marion. Select Marion County from the county list, then search by party name or case number. Some Municipal Court records are also available through this portal.
- In person at the Clerk of Court: Visit 1305 N. Main Street during business hours. Staff can help you find cases — bring the party's full name, case number, and approximate filing date if you have them.
- By mail: Send a written request with identifying information (party name, case number, date of filing) along with the $8.00 per-document copy fee by money order or cashier's check to the mailing address above.
Marion County is part of the 12th Judicial Circuit of South Carolina, as confirmed by the South Carolina Judicial Branch courthouse directory.
Are Court Records Public in Marion County?
Most Marion County court records are public under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code § 30-4-10 et seq.). The SCFOIA gives any person the right to inspect, copy, or receive an electronic copy of public records held by a governmental body, subject to a limited set of statutory exemptions.
The following categories are restricted or confidential:
- Juvenile court records (sealed by statute to protect minor offenders)
- Adoption records and related family court files
- Records sealed by court order
- Information that would compromise active law enforcement investigations
- Records containing sensitive personal data redacted to prevent identity theft or personal harm
- Mental health commitment records within probate proceedings
- Confidential settlement terms incorporated by reference into orders
When a court file contains both public and restricted content, clerks are required to redact or segregate the confidential portions before releasing the rest. If you believe a record has been improperly withheld, you may seek review through the SCFOIA administrative process or pursue relief in the Court of Common Pleas.
Marion County Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in Marion County are distributed across three court levels based on offense severity:
| Court | Jurisdiction | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court — General Sessions | Felonies and serious misdemeanors | 103 N. Main Street, Marion |
| Magistrate Court | Offenses with max fine of $1,000 or 30 days | 2715 E. Hwy 76, Suite B, Mullins |
| Municipal Courts | City ordinance violations (max $5,000 / 1 year) | Various (see below) |
Marion County Circuit Court (General Sessions Division)
Address: Marion County Courthouse, 103 N. Main Street, Marion, SC 29571
Clerk of Court: (843) 423-8240
The General Sessions Division handles felony prosecutions and criminal matters beyond the reach of lower courts. The Clerk of Court maintains all case files, which are searchable through the SC Judicial Branch case records portal.
Marion County Magistrate Court
Address: 2715 East Highway 76, Suite B, Mullins, SC 29574
Phone: (843) 292-5238 | Fax: (843) 423-8394
Email: MagistrateCourt@marionsc.org
The Magistrate Court handles criminal and traffic offenses with a maximum penalty of $1,000 or 30 days in jail, with state assessments added to any fine imposed. You can pay traffic tickets online or by mailing a money order or cashier's check to the Magistrate Court. Under S.C. Code § 22-5-110, the Magistrate Court no longer issues arrest warrants to non-law-enforcement parties; courtesy summonses are issued instead, contingent on review of a Sheriff's Office incident report.
Municipal Courts in Marion County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Marion City Municipal Court | 1024 S. Main Street, Marion, SC 29571 | (843) 423-8616 Ext. 305 |
| Mullins Municipal Court | 151 N.E. Front Street, Mullins, SC 29574 | (843) 464-0707 |
| Nichols Municipal Court | 514 West Mullins Street, Nichols, SC 29581 | (843) 526-2193 |
| Sellers Municipal Court | 2552 Highway 301, Sellers, SC 29592 | (843) 752-5009 |
Arrest Records and Criminal History
Arrest records come from law enforcement agencies, not the Circuit Clerk. For Marion County arrest information, contact the Marion County Sheriff's Office:
Address: 1811 N. Highway 501 Bypass, Marion, SC 29571
Phone: (843) 423-8216, Option 2 | Fax: (843) 292-5220
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
For a full statewide criminal history report, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) CATCH portal at catch.sled.sc.gov is the official source. The fee is $25.00 per request (non-refundable), payable by major credit or debit card. Charitable organizations qualify for a reduced fee of $8.00. SLED reports cover statewide criminal history and are not limited to Marion County records.
Marion County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Marion County is split between the Circuit Court's Court of Common Pleas and the Magistrate Court, depending on the dollar amount in dispute.
Circuit Court — Court of Common Pleas
Address: Marion County Courthouse, 103 N. Main Street, Marion, SC 29571
Clerk: (843) 423-8240
The Court of Common Pleas handles civil lawsuits above the Magistrate Court's jurisdictional ceiling — breach of contract, tort claims, real property disputes, foreclosures, and injunctive relief actions. The Clerk of Court maintains all case files and also serves as the Register of Deeds, recording deeds, mortgages, financing statements, tax liens, plats, and powers of attorney.
Magistrate Court Civil Division
Address: 2715 E. Highway 76, Suite B, Mullins, SC 29574
Phone: (843) 292-5238
The Magistrate Court hears civil lawsuits where the amount in dispute does not exceed $7,500, covering money owed, defaulted credit payments, breach of contract, abandoned property sales, and landlord-tenant matters. Complaints are filed in the county where the defendant resides or does business. A filing fee is required; if a complaint goes unanswered within 30 days, the court may award a default judgment.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case information for both the Court of Common Pleas and Family Court is searchable for free through the SC case records search portal. Search by party name or case number after selecting Marion County. For certified copies of civil case documents, submit a request to the Clerk of Court with the $8.00 per-document fee.
Marion County Family Court Records
The Marion County Family Court handles divorce, child custody and visitation, child support, domestic violence orders, adoptions, and other family law cases. It operates as a division of the 12th Judicial Circuit.
Marion County Family Court
Address: 1305 N. Main Street, Marion, SC 29571
Clerk of Court: (843) 423-8240
The same Clerk of Court office that serves the Circuit Court also maintains Family Court records — custody orders, divorce decrees, child support payment records, and adoption files. The office also collects and disburses child support and alimony as part of its statutory functions.
Divorce and Family Court Records Access
Family Court case records are searchable through the SC Judicial Branch case records search portal. Certified copies of divorce decrees and orders are available from the Clerk of Court at $8.00 per document.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses in Marion County are issued and maintained by the Marion County Probate Court, which charges $5.00 per certified copy of a marriage license. For marriages recorded between July 1950 and December 2023, you can also request certified copies from the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) Vital Records Office. For marriages outside that date range, the Probate Court is the only source.
Vital Records Fees — SC DPH:
| Request Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard records search (mail) | $12.00 (non-refundable; includes 1 certified copy if found) |
| Expedited search (in-person/online) | $17.00 (non-refundable; includes 1 certified copy if found) |
| Each additional copy of same record | $3.00 |
Mail requests for marriage or divorce records use the DPH Vital Records Marriage/Divorce Application (Form D-0639), submitted with a money order or cashier's check payable to S.C. DPH to:
S.C. Department of Public Health, Vital Records Section
P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171
Access to certified marriage certificates is restricted to the named registrants (bride or groom), their adult children, former or present spouses of either registrant, and their authorized legal representatives. Anyone else may obtain only a confirmation statement showing that a marriage occurred, along with the date and county.
Birth and Death Certificates
Birth and death certificates are obtained through the DPH Vital Records Office. Birth certificates are restricted to individuals named on the record and immediate family. Death certificates are available to family members, spouses, and legal representatives. The same fee schedule applies: $12.00 for a standard mail search or $17.00 for expedited in-person or online service, plus $3.00 per additional copy.
Marion County Probate Court Records
The Marion County Probate Court has original jurisdiction over estate administration, will probate, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, the estates of minors and incapacitated persons, and involuntary commitments. Probate Judge T. Carroll Atkinson III has presided over the court since July 1987. Most probate matters are resolved without a jury trial, though the court retains authority to conduct one when warranted.
Marion County Probate Court
Address: 2523 East Highway 76, P.O. Box 583, Marion, SC 29571
Phone: (843) 423-8244
Associate Probate Judge: Samantha Woodberry (swoodberry@marionsc.org)
Probate Judge Clerk: Amanda Page (apage@marionsc.org)
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Searching Probate Records
You can search probate records online through the South Carolina Probate Search portal at southcarolinaprobate.net, which allows searches by case number, last name, first name, or middle name. Partial name searches using the "%" wildcard are supported. For copies of specific probate documents, contact the Probate Court directly by phone, email, or in person.
Estate records, wills, and guardianship proceedings that are not under seal are generally publicly accessible. Involuntary commitment records and certain guardianship files involving living individuals carry access restrictions to protect personal privacy and sensitive health information. The Probate Court's clerks will explain any applicable restrictions when you make a records request.
For historical probate research, the South Carolina Judicial Branch also maintains probate court information through sccourts.org.