Union County Court Records Search
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Union County, South Carolina operates a multi-tiered court system that generates and preserves a wide variety of legal records. These records document the full arc of court proceedings — from initial filings through hearings and final rulings — and include dockets, motions, orders, judgments, pleadings, evidence, and transcripts. Records from the Circuit, Family, Probate, Magistrate, and Municipal Courts are maintained within the county and serve as official proof of legal actions for residents, attorneys, researchers, and anyone with a legitimate interest in verifying legal history or case status.
Where to Start Your Search:
You can access South Carolina court records through clerk offices, in-person courthouse visits, and online tools maintained by the state judiciary. SouthCarolinaCourts.us may help you locate publicly available court case information. The South Carolina Judicial Branch also maintains its own case records search system covering all counties, and you can request Union County records directly through the Clerk of Court's office during regular business hours.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Union County?
The Union County Clerk of Court is the primary custodian of civil and criminal court records at the Circuit and Family Court levels. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is located at the Union County Courthouse.
Union County Clerk of Court
Address: 210 West Main Street, Union, SC 29379
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 703, Union, SC 29379
Phone: (864) 429-1630
Fax: (864) 429-1715
Clerk: Stephanie C. Kitchens
Online Search Options:
Public Index: The South Carolina Judicial Branch's Public Index allows free online searches of civil and some criminal court records by party name or case number. This is the fastest way to locate a Union County case without visiting the courthouse.
SC Courts Case Records Search: The South Carolina Judicial Branch case records search covers Union County (Circuit Number 16, County Number 44) and some municipal court records.
C-Track Public Access: For appellate matters, the C-Track system provides access to Supreme Court and Court of Appeals case information.
In-Person Review: You may inspect records at the courthouse during business hours. There is one public entrance on North Herndon Street. All persons and their belongings are subject to security screening, and backpacks are prohibited.
Copies: Online viewing is free, but obtaining paper copies requires a visit to the Clerk's office and payment of the applicable fees. Standard copy fees are $0.50 per page; certified copies cost $1.00 per page, per South Carolina Code § 8-21-310.
Are Court Records Public in Union County?
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code Title 30, Chapter 4) establishes the public's right to inspect and copy government records, including court records maintained by the Clerk of Court. Under this law, the Union County Clerk of Court is authorized to release records to any person who requests them, subject to specific statutory exemptions.
Records Restricted from Public Access:
- Mental health records
- Adoption records and proceedings
- Juvenile court records
- Attorney-client communications
- Records whose disclosure would reveal the identity of a confidential source
- Records whose release would interfere with pending judicial proceedings
- Records that would constitute an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy
When a record contains both public and restricted information, the custodian may redact the confidential portions and release the remainder. If you believe a record has been improperly withheld, you may pursue remedies under the FOIA.
Union County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Union County are handled at two primary levels: the Circuit Court (General Sessions) for felony offenses, and the Magistrate Court for misdemeanors and lesser criminal charges.
Union County Magistrate Court
Address: 210 West Main Street, Union, SC 29379
Phone: (864) 429-1648
Fax: (864) 429-1685
Chief Magistrate: The Honorable David Kevin Morrow
Magistrate Court handles misdemeanor criminal matters including criminal domestic violence, malicious injury to property, trespassing, county ordinance violations, and traffic offenses such as DUI and driving under suspension. Magistrates also issue arrest and search warrants, conduct bail bond hearings twice daily, and hold preliminary hearings for General Sessions-level cases. A magistrate may impose a fine with court assessments of up to $5,242.50 and/or a sentence of up to 180 days.
Arrest Records and Detention Information:
Criminal history and arrest records in Union County are maintained by the Union County Sheriff's Office and the Detention Center. The Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate search tool through the Zuercher Portal, allowing searches by name, arrest date, custody date, sex, race, or holding agency. You can also make in-person record requests at the Sheriff's Office.
Union County Sheriff's Office
Phone: (864) 429-1612
After Hours: (864) 429-1611
Criminal case records from the General Sessions (Circuit) Court can be searched free of charge through the Public Index or requested in person at the Clerk of Court's office.
Union County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Union County fall under the jurisdiction of either the Circuit Court (Court of Common Pleas) for larger claims or the Magistrate Court for disputes of $7,500 or less. The Clerk of Court maintains all Common Pleas filings, while the Magistrate Court handles its own civil docket separately.
Magistrate Court Civil Fee Schedule:
| Civil Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Summons and Complaint | $80.00 |
| Claim and Delivery | $65.00 |
| Rule to Vacate (Eviction) | $40.00 |
| Writ of Ejection (2nd Paper) | $10.00 |
| Magistrate's Sale | $35.00 |
| Restraining Order | $55.00 |
| Pick-up Order | $20.00 |
| Subpoena for Witnesses | $8.00 |
For civil records at the Circuit Court level, you can search online using the Public Index or visit the Clerk's office at 210 West Main Street during business hours. The Clerk of Court also maintains an Online Deed Search portal for property-related civil records such as deeds, liens, and plats, searchable by party name, property, or book and page number.
The two municipal courts in Union County handle ordinance violations and certain traffic matters within their respective city limits:
Jonesville Municipal Court
Address: 131 North Main Street, Jonesville, SC 29353
Phone: (864) 674-5746
Fax: (864) 674-6634
Union Municipal Court
Address: 215 Thompson Blvd., Union, SC 29379
Phone: (864) 429-1713
Fax: (864) 429-1728
Union County Family Court Records
South Carolina's Family Court is the exclusive forum for all domestic and family matters, including divorce, legal separation, annulment, child custody, visitation, child support, adoption, termination of parental rights, domestic violence protective orders, and cases involving minors who are abused or neglected. In Union County, these proceedings are heard through the Circuit Court system, and related records are maintained by the Clerk of Court.
Divorce Records:
You can search divorce records online through the Public Index using a name or case number. In-person requests are accepted at the Clerk's office Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for standard copies and $1.00 per page for certified copies under S.C. Code § 8-21-310.
Marriage Records:
Marriage licenses in Union County are issued and maintained by the Union County Probate Court. You can obtain certified copies of marriage certificates by completing the Marriage Certificate Request Form, available on the Probate Court's website, and submitting it in person or by mail.
- Fee: $5.00 per certificate
- Mail requests: Add a self-addressed stamped envelope or $0.50 for postage ($5.50 total)
- Mail to: Union County Probate Court, In RE: Marriage Certificate, 210 West Main Street, Union, SC 29379
Note: South Carolina did not issue formal marriage licenses before 1911. Marriages occurring prior to that date were recognized as common law marriages, and no official public record exists for them.
Birth Records:
Birth certificates become public records after 100 years. Before that threshold, access is limited to the registrant (age 18 or older), parents named on the certificate, legal guardians, or legal representatives. Immediate family members may obtain a certified copy if the registrant is deceased, provided they submit a certified copy of the registrant's death record. The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) issues birth records through several channels:
| Request Method | Standard Fee | Expedited Fee | Additional Copies |
|---|---|---|---|
| By mail (state office only) | $12.00 | $17.00 | $3.00 each |
| In person (DPH offices) | $17.00 | N/A | $3.00 each |
| Online (via VitalChek) | $17.00 + $8.75 vendor fee | N/A | $3.00 each |
| By Phone: (via VitalChek) | $17.00 + $12.85 vendor fee | N/A | $3.00 each |
For mail requests, complete the Vital Records Birth Application Form and send it with a valid photo ID and payment to: S.C. Department of Public Health, Vital Records Section, P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171. In-person requests at the DPH State Vital Records Office (2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201; hours 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) are generally processed in 30–45 minutes if presented before 4:00 p.m.
Death Records:
Death certificates are public after 50 years. Restricted copies are available to immediate family members, their legal representatives, and individuals with a direct tangible interest in the deceased's property. The DPH issues death records for the same fees as birth records. Mail requests should include the completed Vital Records Death Application Form, a photo ID, and the applicable fee. Online and phone requests are handled through VitalChek and GoCertificates.
Union County Probate Court Records
The Union County Probate Court is located at the Union County Courthouse and has jurisdiction over estate proceedings, trust matters, involuntary commitments for alcohol or drug abuse and mental illness, guardianships, conservatorships, minor settlement approvals, wrongful death settlements, and the issuance of marriage licenses.
Union County Probate Court
Address: 210 West Main Street, Union, SC 29379
Phone: (864) 429-1625
Fax: (864) 427-1198
Hours: By appointment only, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday
Accessing Probate Records:
Probate court records are available for free viewing during office hours. Because the court operates by appointment, contact the court in advance before visiting. Copy fees are as follows:
- Standard copies: $0.50 per page
- Older archived documents (Papervision): $1.00 per page
Mail Copy Requests:
Written requests for probate document copies should include:
- The case name or the decedent's name
- The specific document(s) requested
- The requester's full mailing address and phone number
- Payment: $5.00 processing fee, plus $0.50 per page for standard copies or $1.00 per page for Papervision/archived copies
Mail requests to: Union County Probate Court, 210 West Main Street, Union, SC 29379.
Probate matters handled by the court include estate administration, will probation, appointment of personal representatives, conservatorship and guardianship petitions, and approval of minor settlements. If you need guidance on estate procedures or guardianship matters, contact the Probate Court directly — staff cannot provide legal advice.