Search Aiken County Public Records

Aiken County public records are held by multiple county offices and accessible through both local and state portals. The Clerk of Court manages court filings. The Register of Deeds keeps property documents. The Sheriff's Office maintains criminal and detention records. State law makes most of these documents available to the public at no charge for online viewing. This guide covers where to find Aiken County records, what each office holds, and how to submit a formal records request when needed.

Aiken County Court Records

The Aiken County Clerk of Court is located at 109 Park Avenue SE, Aiken, SC 29801. The main phone number is (803) 642-1710. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Clerk of Court, Lisa McWhorter, manages records for General Sessions (criminal), Common Pleas (civil), and Family Court cases. The office also handles jury management, collects court-ordered fines and fees, and processes passport applications.

Court records for Aiken County are fully searchable through the Aiken County Public Index. This free tool lets you look up cases by party name or case number. Results include case status, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions. The index covers Circuit Court, Family Court, and Magistrate Court filings. As of January 1, 2026, home addresses are no longer displayed in search results to protect personal privacy.

Copy fees at the Clerk's office run $0.25 per page for standard copies and $5 for a certification stamp. Public access terminals are available at the office for in-person searching during business hours.

The Aiken County Public Index is the official portal for searching civil, criminal, and family court filings at the local level. It connects directly to the statewide SC Judicial Branch system.

Aiken County Property Records

The Aiken County Register of Deeds maintains property records at 1930 University Parkway, Second Floor, Aiken, SC 29801. You can reach the office at 803-642-2072 or by email at rod@aikencountysc.gov. The office records deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, federal and state tax liens, mechanic's liens, and UCC financing statements. Military DD-214 discharge forms are also recorded here. Property records dating back to 1871 are on file.

Online property search is available through qPublic at qpublic.net/sc/aiken. You can search by owner name, property address, or document type. Name searches require at least three characters. Basic searches are free; the system provides parcel data, ownership history, and recorded document images. E-recording is available for qualified submitters through approved vendors.

Certified copies are available for $5 per document plus per-page copy fees. Free public access terminals are at the Register of Deeds office. The GIS mapping integration makes it easier to verify parcel boundaries alongside recorded deed information. Power of attorney documents and military records are also part of the Register of Deeds collection.

Note: Identity theft protection is available through the office. Property owners can request free redaction of Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and credit card numbers from recorded documents under SC privacy law.

Aiken County Criminal Records

Sheriff Michael Hunt leads the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. The Detention Center is at 420 Hampton Avenue NE, Aiken, SC 29801, with a phone number of 803-642-1761. The Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated Aiken County and operates the county jail. An online inmate search is available through the county website. Results show current inmates by name along with booking information, charges, and bond amounts.

Statewide criminal background checks run through the SLED CATCH system. An online check costs $25; charitable organizations pay $8. You need the subject's full name and date of birth. Mail-based requests go to SLED Records Department, PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398. Phone inquiries can be directed to 803-896-1443. The results are name-based; fingerprint checks may be needed for conclusive identity matching.

The SLED Sex Offender Registry is searchable by name, address, county, or zip code for all 46 South Carolina counties. Email alerts are available when a registered offender changes address within a selected area. Aiken County Sheriff's Office also maintains warrant information through its Warrants Division.

How to Request Aiken County Public Records

Aiken County follows South Carolina FOIA (Title 30, Chapter 4) for all public records requests. Requests must be in writing and can be submitted by mail, email, fax, or in person to the relevant department. Many Aiken County records are available online without a formal FOIA request, including court records through the Public Index and property documents through qPublic.

For recent records (under 24 months old), the agency has 10 business days to respond. For older records, the response window extends to 20 business days. Once the agency decides to produce the records, it has 30 calendar days to deliver them. If an agency fails to respond within the required time, the request is deemed approved. An arbitrary refusal to provide records can result in a $500 civil penalty against the responsible official.

Copy costs in Aiken County are $0.20 per page for black-and-white 8.5x11 copies, $0.50 per page for color. Certified documents cost $5 each. Search and retrieval time is billed at $20 per hour after the first free hour. Electronic records can be transmitted at no charge. Marriage license copies through the Probate Court cost $50 including a certified copy.

South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act sets the rules for every public records request submitted in Aiken County. The statute defines what agencies must provide, how quickly they must respond, and what fees they may charge.

No ID is required to request non-restricted public records. You are also not required to state the reason for your request. Confidential information that agencies may withhold includes Social Security numbers, financial account data, medical records, and juvenile records. The commercial use of protected personal information is a misdemeanor under SC Code § 30-2-50.

Aiken County Online Records Access

Multiple online tools serve Aiken County residents and researchers. The SC Judicial Branch Case Records Search covers all 46 counties and is free to use. Business entities registered in South Carolina can be looked up through the Secretary of State Business Filing portal. Searches run by exact name, partial name, or using a contains filter.

For state prison records, the SC Department of Corrections hosts a name-based inmate lookup covering individuals in state facilities. This is separate from the Aiken County Detention Center roster maintained by the Sheriff's Office. The SC Department of Public Safety handles accident reports and Highway Patrol records for Aiken County roads.

Election information for Aiken County voters is available through SC Votes. You can verify your registration, look up polling locations, and review election results. The SC Department of Archives and History provides access to historical records with digital collections useful for genealogy research tied to Aiken County.

Note: Appellate court decisions involving Aiken County cases can be found through the SC Appellate Court C-Track system, which covers Supreme Court and Court of Appeals records from May 2012 forward.

Cities in Aiken County

Aiken County includes two cities from our directory. City-level records may be maintained by municipal offices in addition to county departments.

Nearby Counties

Aiken County borders Edgefield, Saluda, Lexington, Barnwell, and Allendale counties. Use the links below to search records in neighboring areas.

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