Sumter County Court Records Search
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Sumter County occupies a central position in South Carolina, with Yuba City—rather, the City of Sumter—serving as its county seat and primary hub for judicial activity. The county’s courts fall within the Third Judicial Circuit and operate out of two main facilities: the Sumter County Judicial Center on North Harvin Street, which houses the Circuit Court (General Sessions and Common Pleas), Family Court, and Probate Court; and the Summary Court building on East Canal Street, which serves as the location for Magistrate Court proceedings. The Clerk of Court, the Honorable James C. Campbell, oversees record-keeping for Circuit Court and Family Court matters, while the Probate Court maintains its own records under Judge Dale Atkinson. Whether you need a criminal sentence sheet, a divorce decree, a civil judgment, or an estate file, knowing which office holds the record and how to request it is essential.
South Carolina provides multiple avenues for locating court case information, from in-person visits at clerk offices and public-access terminals to online search portals maintained by the state judiciary. SouthCarolinaCourts.us can help users identify publicly available case data and connect with official resources across the state’s 46 counties. In Sumter County, the Clerk of Court’s Office offers an online docket search for Circuit Court cases, and the state operates separate portals for Family Court and Probate Court records. The details below cover each method for locating and obtaining records.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Sumter County?
The most direct way to find a Sumter County court case is through the Third Judicial Circuit Public Index, which provides searchable records for General Sessions (criminal) and Common Pleas (civil) cases. This free online tool allows searches by party name, case number, or attorney name, and returns docket entries, hearing dates, and case status information. Users must accept a disclaimer before accessing the system, and should note that as of January 1, 2026, home addresses are no longer displayed on the public index for either new or existing cases.
For Family Court case information, the FCCMS Public Access Portal operated by the South Carolina Department of Social Services allows searches for scheduled hearings and basic docket data across all South Carolina counties, including Sumter.
Probate Court records can be searched through the South Carolina Probate Search page, where users select “Sumter” from the county menu and search by case number, case name, or party name.
Key Court Locations and Contacts
| Court | Address | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court (General Sessions & Common Pleas) | 215 N. Harvin St., Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 436-2227 | (803) 436-2223 |
| Family Court | 215 N. Harvin St., Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 436-2366 | (803) 774-2814 |
| Probate Court | 215 N. Harvin St., Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 436-2166 | (803) 436-2407 |
| Summary Court (Magistrate) | 190 E. Canal St., Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 436-2280 | (803) 436-2789 |
| Sumter Municipal Court | 190 E. Canal St., Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 436-2280 / (803) 436-2290 | (803) 774-2829 |
All offices listed above operate Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding posted holidays.
Direct Phone Lines Within the Clerk of Court Office
The Clerk’s Office maintains several departmental lines for specific inquiries:
- Common Pleas / Civil Court (Room 309): (803) 436-2228 or (803) 436-2231
- General Sessions / Criminal (Room 311): (803) 436-2264 or (803) 436-2265
- Fine Information: (803) 436-2230
- Jury Information: (803) 436-2233
- Criminal Court: (803) 436-2232
- Family Court: (803) 436-2366
In-Person and Mail Requests
Walk-in visitors can review non-confidential case files at the Clerk of Court Office on the third floor of the Sumter County Judicial Center. To request records by mail, send a written request that identifies the case by number or party name, specifies the documents needed, and includes payment by cash or money order (personal checks are not accepted for most transactions). Direct mail to the Sumter County Clerk of Court, 215 N. Harvin St., Sumter, SC 29150.
Are Court Records Public in Sumter County?
South Carolina law establishes a broad right of public access to government records. Under Section 30-4-10 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) declares that the public has the right to know about the activities and operations of government, and Section 30-4-30 grants any person the right to inspect, copy, or receive electronic transmission of public records maintained by state and local agencies.
Court records maintained by the Sumter County Clerk of Court—including docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, sentence sheets, and final divorce decrees—are generally accessible to the public upon request and payment of applicable fees. The state judiciary’s Public Index makes much of this information available electronically as well.
Records That Are Not Open to the Public
Despite the strong presumption of openness, several categories of court records in South Carolina are restricted or confidential by statute or court rule:
- Juvenile proceedings — Records in juvenile delinquency and child abuse/neglect cases are confidential and accessible only to authorized parties.
- Sealed and expunged records — Cases that have been sealed by court order or expunged under S.C. Code § 17-22-910 are removed from public access.
- Ongoing law enforcement investigations — Records tied to active investigations may be withheld.
- Records barred by state or federal statute — Certain categories of information, including social security numbers, financial account numbers, and other personally identifiable data, must be redacted from publicly available records. Individuals may request that the Clerk of Court or Register of Deeds remove such information from documents posted online, and there is no fee for this redaction.
- Incarcerated individuals — Federal, state, and county inmates are generally restricted from accessing court records through public portals.
FOIA requests should be submitted in writing to the custodian agency—typically the Clerk of Court for trial court records. Under South Carolina law, the agency must respond within 30 calendar days.
Sumter County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Sumter County are prosecuted in the General Sessions division of the Circuit Court for felonies and serious misdemeanors, while lesser criminal offenses fall to the Magistrate Court and Municipal Courts. The Clerk of Court maintains the official General Sessions case files, which include arrest warrants, indictments, pleadings, sentence sheets, and orders. These records are stored on the third floor of the Judicial Center in Room 311.
Searching Criminal Court Records
The Third Judicial Circuit Public Index is the primary online tool for looking up General Sessions cases. Enter the defendant’s name or case number to view docket entries, charges, hearing dates, and disposition information. For Magistrate Court criminal cases—including preliminary hearings, bond matters, and magistrate-level misdemeanor trials—contact the Summary Court at (803) 436-2280.
Obtaining Copies
Certified copies of criminal sentence sheets and other General Sessions documents cost $10.00 per document. Requests must be made in writing or in person; the Clerk’s Office does not fulfill document requests by telephone. Payment is accepted by cash or money order only—personal checks are not accepted for fine payments or certified copies.
Sheriff’s Office Records
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records, warrants, and inmate information:
Sumter County Sheriff’s Office
1281 North Main Street, Sumter, SC 29153
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 430, Sumter, SC 29151
Non-Emergency Phone: (803) 436-2774
Main Line: (803) 436-2000
Fax: (803) 436-2054
Current inmate information for individuals held at the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center may be accessible through the Inmate Search Page, which allows searches by name, race, gender, and date of birth.
Statewide Criminal History Searches
For a comprehensive South Carolina criminal background check, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) operates the CATCH system (Citizens Access to Criminal History). Users can search by name, gender, and date of birth. The fee is $25.00 per record, plus a $1.00 convenience fee for online transactions. CATCH provides South Carolina criminal history only; it does not include federal or out-of-state records.
Expungement
Eligible individuals may apply for expungement of certain criminal records through the Solicitor’s Office of the Third Judicial Circuit. Expungement procedures are governed by S.C. Code §§ 17-22-910 through 17-22-960 and related statutes. Once a record is expunged, it is no longer visible through public searches.
Sumter County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Sumter County is divided between the Court of Common Pleas (a division of Circuit Court) for cases exceeding $7,500, and the Magistrate Court for civil claims up to $7,500. The Clerk of Court maintains all Common Pleas case files, including complaints, answers, motions, discovery materials, and judgments. The Common Pleas staff can be reached directly at (803) 436-2228 or (803) 436-2231 in Room 309 of the Judicial Center.
Circuit Court (Common Pleas) Filing Fees
Filing fees for civil actions in South Carolina Circuit Court are set by statute and apply uniformly across all counties. According to the South Carolina Judicial Branch fee schedule, the primary fees are:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| New civil action (never previously filed) | $150.00 |
| Lis Pendens (without Summons & Complaint) | $10.00 |
| Transcript of Judgment (Federal/Magistrate Court) | $35.00 |
| Foreign Judgment | $100.00 |
| Restoration under Rule 40(j) | $150.00 |
| Driver’s license reinstatement (§ 56-1-385) | $200.00 |
No filing fee is required for appeals from Magistrate or Municipal Court in criminal matters, post-conviction relief cases, cases filed in forma pauperis, or cases where the plaintiff is represented by a legal aid organization under Rule 3(b)(2), SCRCP.
Magistrate Court Civil Matters
The Sumter County Summary Court handles civil lawsuits not exceeding $7,500, evictions, restraining orders, claim and delivery (repossession) actions, and abandoned automobile sales. The Summary Court is located at 190 East Canal Street, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 1428, Sumter, SC 29151-1428.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case records from the Court of Common Pleas are searchable through the Third Judicial Circuit Public Index by case number or party name. For Magistrate Court civil records, contact the Summary Court directly at (803) 436-2280. Property-related records, including deeds, liens, and mortgages, are maintained by the Sumter County Register of Deeds at 141 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29150, Phone: (803) 436-2177 The Register of Deeds office also provides an online search portal for land records, though users must create an account to access it.
Sumter County Family Court Records
The Sumter County Family Court handles all domestic relations matters, including divorce, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, adoption, domestic violence petitions, child abuse and neglect cases, and juvenile delinquency. The office is supervised by Clerk of Court James C. Campbell, with Marie A. Witherspoon serving as Family Court Chief Deputy. The Family Court maintains over 35,000 case files and collects and distributes approximately $8 million in child support payments annually.
Filing Fees
Family Court filing fees in South Carolina are established by the South Carolina Judicial Branch:
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce, annulment, or separate support | $150.00 |
| Child custody / visitation action | $150.00 |
| Child support / spousal support action | $150.00 |
| Adoption (domestic or foreign) | $150.00 |
| Paternity action | $150.00 |
| Name change / correction of birth record | $150.00 |
| Registration of foreign judgment (no custody/support) | $100.00 |
| Domestic violence protection orders | No fee |
| DSS abuse and neglect actions | No fee |
| Juvenile delinquency actions | No fee |
No fee is charged to a defendant or respondent for filing an answer or response in any civil family court proceeding under S.C. Code § 8-21-310(12).
Searching Family Court Records
Family Court scheduled hearings can be viewed through the FCCMS Public Access Portal. For copies of specific case documents, including final divorce decrees and separation agreements, submit a written or in-person request to the Clerk of Court Office. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $10.00. Requests for divorce records are not handled by telephone.
The Family Court office provides several downloadable forms on the Sumter County Family Court page, including change-of-address forms for plaintiffs and defendants, a delinquent child support form, and a missing check form.
Confidential Family Court Records
Access to certain Family Court records is restricted under South Carolina law. Juvenile delinquency records, child abuse and neglect files, and adoption records are not available to the general public. Access to these records is limited to the parties involved, their attorneys, authorized government agencies, and individuals with a valid court order. Domestic violence petition files may also contain restricted information.
Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses in Sumter County are issued by the Probate Court, not the Clerk of Court or Family Court. Contact the Probate Court at (803) 436-2166 for marriage license applications and certified copies.
Vital Records (Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce)
Certified copies of birth certificates, death records, marriage certificates, and divorce reports can be obtained from the South Carolina Department of Public Health through the Vital Records page. Applicants can order documents online through the department’s authorized vendor or download mail-in application forms. Fees for vital records are:
- Search and expedited delivery: $17.00 per document (non-refundable)
- Additional copy of the same document: $3.00
- Amendment fee: $15.00 per record
Birth records become publicly available 100 years after the date of birth, and death records become publicly available 50 years after the date of death. Until those timeframes expire, access is restricted to immediate family members, legal representatives, persons with subpoenas, and authorized government agencies.
Sumter County Probate Court Records
The Sumter County Probate Court, presided over by Judge Dale Atkinson, handles the probate of decedents’ estates, involuntary commitment of mentally incompetent and chemically addicted persons, guardianships and conservatorships of incapacitated adults, conservatorships of minors, and the issuance of marriage licenses. The court operates from the Judicial Center at 215 North Harvin Street, Sumter, SC 29150.
Sumter County Probate Court
Address: 215 North Harvin Street, Sumter, SC 29150
Phone: (803) 436-2166
Fax: (803) 436-2407
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Types of Probate Records
Records maintained by the Probate Court include petitions for probate, wills, letters testamentary and letters of administration, inventories and appraisals, accountings, guardianship and conservatorship petitions and orders, and final settlement documents. Marriage license records are also maintained by this office.
Searching Probate Records Online
The South Carolina Probate Search portal provides free online access to probate case data across the state. To search Sumter County probate records:
- Navigate to the search page.
- Select “Sumter” from the county dropdown menu.
- Enter a case number, last or business name, or first name.
- Choose whether to search all parties or case names only.
- Optionally check the box to include surrounding counties.
- Review the results, which display case number, case name, party, type of case, filing date, appointment date, creditor claim deadline, and case status.
Probate Court Forms
The South Carolina Judicial Branch publishes standardized Probate Court forms for use in all counties. Key forms include the Petition for Appointment of Personal Representative (Form 300ES), Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property (Form 420ES), and forms for guardianship and conservatorship proceedings.
Requesting Records In Person or by Mail
To obtain copies of probate records, visit the Probate Court on the ground floor of the Judicial Center during business hours, or mail a written request to the court address. Include the decedent’s name, case number if known, and a description of the documents needed. Contact the court at (803) 436-2166 to confirm current copy and certification fees before submitting a request. Older Sumter County probate and estate records may also be available through the South Carolina Archives and History Center in Columbia for genealogical and historical research purposes.