Calhoun County Public Records
Calhoun County public records are maintained by the Clerk of Court, which also serves as the combined Register of Deeds for the county, along with the Sheriff's Office. The county seat is St. Matthews. Most Calhoun County court records are searchable online through the SC Judicial Branch Public Index. Property data is accessible through the county GIS system. This guide explains what types of public records exist in Calhoun County, which offices hold them, and how to search or request documents through official channels.
Calhoun County Quick Facts
Calhoun County Court Records
The Calhoun County Clerk of Court and Comptroller is Robin "Cissy" Barfield. The office is at 102 Courthouse Drive, St. Matthews, SC 29135, and can be reached by phone at 803-874-2520. The Clerk's office provides comprehensive record keeping for the judicial system and handles financial management for county government. The office has offered online payment options and appointment scheduling. Family Court records became available online in March 2021 through the SC Judicial Public Index integration. The Clerk handles General Sessions criminal cases, Common Pleas civil matters, and Family Court filings.
Court records are freely searchable through the Calhoun County Public Index. You can search by party name or case number across Circuit Court, Family Court, and Magistrate Court filings. Results show case status, charges, court dates, and dispositions. As of January 2026, residential addresses are no longer visible in Public Index results. Copy fees follow standard SC rates. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for in-person research.
Appellate decisions can be found through the SC Appellate Court C-Track for Supreme Court and Court of Appeals records from May 2012 forward. The statewide SC Judicial Branch Case Records Search also covers Calhoun County alongside all other South Carolina counties.
The Calhoun County Public Index connects to the statewide SC Judicial Branch system for free access to civil, criminal, and family court records. Online payment and appointment options are also available through the Clerk's portal.
Calhoun County Property Records
Calhoun County uses a combined Clerk of Court and Register of Deeds structure. The same office at 102 Courthouse Drive, St. Matthews, SC 29135 (phone 803-874-2520) handles both court records and land instruments. Deeds, mortgages, liens, plat maps, UCC filings, and other documents affecting real property are recorded here. The office provides certified copies of recorded instruments, and staff assistance is available during regular business hours.
For online property data, Calhoun County maintains a GIS mapping system at calhounscmaps.com. You can search by owner name, tax ID number, or parcel map number. The parcel viewer provides property boundaries, ownership information, and assessment values. Tax records and payment portal are at calhountreasurer.qpaybill.com. Building permits and code enforcement records are also maintained by the county.
Historical land records for Calhoun County are preserved on file at the Courthouse. For older records that may not be digitized, in-person visits to the Clerk's office are the most direct option. Recording fees are set by state statute and vary by document type. E-recording may be available through approved vendors.
Note: Under SC Code § 30-5-10, documents affecting real property must be recorded to provide constructive notice to third parties. Unrecorded instruments may not be effective against subsequent purchasers who lack actual notice.
Calhoun County Criminal Records
The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office maintains the county Detention Center and law enforcement records. Inmate inquiries can be made by phone to the Sheriff's Office. Online roster availability is limited for this smaller county. Direct contact with the Detention Center is typically the fastest way to confirm current inmate status. The Sheriff's Office handles arrests, bookings, incident reports, and warrant information for Calhoun County.
For statewide criminal background checks, the SLED CATCH system is the official resource. Online checks cost $25 per search. Charitable organizations may qualify for a reduced $8 rate. You need the subject's full name and date of birth. Mail requests go to SLED Records Department, PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398. Results are name-based. Fingerprint-based checks may be needed for higher-certainty identity confirmation.
SLED serves as the state law enforcement agency responsible for criminal history checks, the sex offender registry, and law enforcement coordination across all South Carolina counties including Calhoun County.
The SLED Sex Offender Registry includes Calhoun County entries searchable by name, address, county, or zip code. Email alerts notify you when a registered offender changes address within a selected area. For state prison inmates, the SC Department of Corrections provides a name-based inmate lookup at no cost.
How to Request Calhoun County Public Records
South Carolina's FOIA statute (Title 30, Chapter 4) governs all public records requests in Calhoun County. All requests must be in writing. Submit requests to the Clerk of Court for court-related documents or to County Administration for other county records. Some records are available through the Clerk's online portal without a formal FOIA request. The Clerk's portal also enables online appointment scheduling and payment, streamlining access for many common requests.
For records less than 24 months old, the agency has 10 business days to respond. Records older than 24 months allow a 20-business-day response window. Once the agency decides to produce the records, it has 30 calendar days to deliver them. If no response is provided within the required period, the request is deemed approved. A civil penalty of $500 applies to arbitrary violations of the FOIA. Electronic transmissions are provided at no charge under state law.
Information that is always public under § 30-4-50 includes the names, titles, and employment dates of public employees; final agency opinions; public fund expenditures; meeting minutes; and crime reports. These cannot be withheld without a valid legal exemption. The SC Privacy Protection Act protects Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and financial account numbers from commercial exploitation.
Calhoun County Online Records Resources
Several statewide tools help with Calhoun County research. Business entities are searchable through the Secretary of State Business Filing portal by name. Voter registration information and election results are available at SC Votes. For historical records covering Calhoun County, the SC Department of Archives and History at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia holds government records from colonial times through present day. The SC Department of Public Safety handles accident reports and Highway Patrol records for Calhoun County roads.
Nearby Counties
Calhoun County borders Orangeburg, Lexington, Richland, Clarendon, and Sumter counties. Use the links below to search public records in neighboring areas.