Socastee Public Records
Socastee public records are handled entirely through Horry County government, as Socastee is an unincorporated community with no separate municipal government of its own. All records requests, police reports, court filings, and property documents for Socastee go through Horry County departments. The county seat in Conway handles most in-person records access. This guide explains how to search and obtain Socastee public records using Horry County offices, the SC Judicial Branch Public Index, and other state and online tools.
Socastee Quick Facts
Public Records in Socastee
Socastee is a large unincorporated community in Horry County, South Carolina, located near Myrtle Beach along the Intracoastal Waterway. Because it has no municipal government, all public records for Socastee are maintained at the county level. There is no city hall, city clerk, or municipal court in Socastee. Residents must direct all public records requests to the appropriate Horry County department.
Horry County government is headquartered in Conway, about 12 miles from Socastee. The Horry County Clerk of Court at 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC holds all court records for the county, including cases arising from Socastee. The Horry County Register of Deeds maintains property deeds, mortgages, plats, and other land documents. Tax records and building permits for Socastee are handled through the county assessor and planning departments. Zoning and land use matters also go through county planning offices.
All public records requests for Socastee must be submitted to Horry County using the county's FOIA procedures. The county's main website at horrycountysc.gov provides department contacts, records request information, and directions to the county seat in Conway. County business hours are generally 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Note: Because Socastee has no municipal court, any traffic violations, ordinance matters, or misdemeanor cases involving Socastee residents are handled through Horry County Magistrate Court.
Socastee Police and Sheriff Records
Public safety in Socastee is provided by the Horry County Police Department and the Horry County Sheriff's Office. There is no city police department for Socastee. Incident reports and accident reports from Socastee are maintained by the Horry County Police Department. Records requests go through the county's FOIA process.
The Horry County Sheriff's Office handles warrant service, jail operations, and detention records for the county including Socastee. For inmate searches and detention information, contact the Sheriff's Office through the county's main website. Both the Horry County Police Department and the Sheriff's Office follow South Carolina FOIA guidelines for releasing public records.
The SC Department of Public Safety oversees statewide law enforcement standards and maintains DPS records applicable to Socastee and all South Carolina communities.
Visit the SC Department of Public Safety for statewide law enforcement records and DPS contact information.
Sex offender information for the Socastee area is available at no cost through the SLED Sex Offender Registry. This registry covers all of South Carolina and can be searched by name or address. The SLED main website provides additional resources for law enforcement records and background checks.
Note: Horry County follows the same FOIA response timelines as city governments in South Carolina. Records requests must receive an initial response within 10 business days for standard records and 20 business days for older records.
How to Request Socastee Public Records
All public records requests for Socastee must go through Horry County. There is no city or town FOIA coordinator for Socastee. Contact the appropriate county department for the type of record you need. Property records go to the Register of Deeds, court records to the Clerk of Court, police records to the Horry County Police Department or Sheriff's Office, and general county records to the county administrator's office.
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at Title 30, Chapter 4 requires all government bodies to respond to written records requests. The initial response must come within 10 business days for records less than 24 months old. For older records, the window is 20 business days. Records must be produced within 30 calendar days after approval. Electronic records carry no copy fee. Paper copies are typically $0.25 per page. For Horry County, the fee schedule mirrors Conway's at $0.25 per page for letter, legal, and ledger sizes.
Be specific when submitting requests. Include the name of the person involved, the date of the incident or document, a description of the records sought, and any case or incident numbers you have. Horry County processes FOIA requests through the relevant county department. Requests can be submitted in person at the Conway courthouse, by mail, or electronically through county portals. A deposit of up to 25% of the estimated cost may be required before the county begins searching.
Socastee Court Records
Socastee has no municipal court. Cases arising in Socastee are heard in Horry County Magistrate Court or, for more serious matters, the Horry County Circuit Court. The Horry County Clerk of Court at 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC maintains all Circuit Court, Family Court, and General Sessions records for the county. Court records for Socastee residents are part of the Horry County court system.
Search Horry County court cases for free using the SC Judicial Branch Public Index. This system is accessible 24 hours a day and covers all 46 South Carolina counties. You can search by party name, case number, or court type for civil, criminal, and family cases. Case status, hearing dates, and document images are available for most cases. Home addresses were removed from Public Index results as of January 1, 2026.
The SC appellate court records system allows public access to higher court filings for cases that have moved beyond Horry County courts.
Use the SC C-Track Public Access system to search for appellate court records involving Horry County cases from Socastee.
For certified copies of court records, contact the Horry County Clerk of Court during business hours. Copy fees and certification fees apply. The Clerk's office also processes fine payments and handles jury administration for the county.
Socastee Property and Vital Records
Property records for Socastee are held at the Horry County Register of Deeds. This office records and maintains deeds, mortgages, easements, plats, UCC filings, and tax liens for all of Horry County. Records can be searched in person at the Conway courthouse or online through the county's property portal. Building permits, assessments, and tax records for Socastee properties are also maintained by county departments.
Birth and death certificates are not held at the county level. These vital records are maintained by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Marriage licenses for Socastee residents are issued by the Horry County Probate Court in Conway. For older genealogical research, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds historical state agency records, land grants, and other materials.
Searching Socastee Records Online
The SC Public Index is the primary tool for searching Socastee court records online at no cost. It covers Horry County and all other South Carolina counties. You can search by name or case number for civil, criminal, and family matters.
For criminal background checks, the SLED CATCH system costs $25 per search. Charities pay $8. Mail requests go to SLED Records Dept, PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398, phone 803-896-1443. Results are name-based and cover South Carolina records only. For current state inmates, use the SC Department of Corrections inmate search. Business filings for Socastee-area companies are at the Secretary of State's business filings portal. Voter registration records are searchable at scvotes.gov.
Horry County Public Records
Socastee is in Horry County. Court and property records for Socastee are filed at the Horry County courthouse in Conway. Visit the county page for complete records access.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Socastee is surrounded by several Grand Strand communities in Horry County. These nearby cities share the county court system and access to state records databases.