Find Public Records in Dorchester County

Dorchester County public records are available through multiple offices serving Summerville, St. George, and the surrounding area. The Clerk of Court in St. George maintains court filings for Circuit and Family Courts. The Register of Deeds in Summerville records property documents. The Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement records and inmate searches. Dorchester County has an online FOIA portal for records requests. This guide covers how to search and obtain Dorchester County public records both online and through county offices.

Dorchester County Court Records

The Dorchester County Clerk of Court is located at 5200 East Jim Bilton Boulevard, St. George, SC 29477. Phone: 843-563-0181. The office serves the county seat and maintains records for Circuit Court and Family Court proceedings. Case types include civil suits, criminal matters, family law, probate, and traffic cases. Court records are searchable through the SC Judicial Public Index. The office also handles jury duty administration and business license registration.

The SC Judicial Public Index for Dorchester County provides free online access to court case records across all case types. Searches by name or case number return case status, party information, charges, and hearing dates. No account is required for basic searches.

Passport application services and notary public services are available through the Clerk's office. Marriage license applications are processed here. Small claims court procedures and restraining order processing are also handled by the Clerk. Certain records are restricted from public access, including juvenile proceedings, sealed cases, and adoption files. Copy fees and certification charges apply for official copies. The full list of services is available at the Dorchester County Clerk of Court page.

Note: As of January 2026, home addresses are no longer displayed in SC Public Index results statewide.

Dorchester County Property Records

The Dorchester County Register of Deeds office is at 500 N. Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The office records and maintains real property records including deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, powers of attorney, and UCC filings. Mobile home records are also maintained here. GIS mapping integration is available for property boundary research.

E-recording is available for qualified submitters. Certified copies of recorded instruments are available for a fee. Historical records are maintained back to the county's formation. Recording fees vary by document type and page count. The county Assessor's Office handles property valuations and can be reached at the Dorchester County Assessor page. Property searches by owner name, address, or TMS (Tax Map System) number are available through the Assessor's portal.

Dorchester County Criminal and Arrest Records

The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office Records Division is at 212 Deming Way, Summerville, SC 29483. Phone: (843) 832-0300. The Records Division handles all public records requests from the Sheriff's Office under SC FOIA. Response times follow the standard SC FOIA schedule: 10 business days for records two years old or less, and 20 business days for older records.

An inmate search is available on the county website for current detention center inmates. The search shows booking information, charges, and bond amounts. Incident reports and accident reports can be requested in writing from the Records Division. Background check services and fingerprinting are available at the Sheriff's Office. Concealed weapons permit applications are processed here. The sex offender registry is also maintained through the Sheriff's Office. More information is at the Dorchester County Sheriff records requests page.

Statewide criminal history checks are available through the SLED CATCH program at $25 per search ($8 for charities). Call SLED at 803-896-1443. The SLED Sex Offender Registry covers Dorchester County. State prison inmates can be found through SC Department of Corrections.

How to Request Dorchester County Records

Dorchester County has a dedicated online FOIA portal at dorchestercountysc.nextrequest.com. Requests can also be mailed to: Dorchester County, Attn: FOIA Coordinator/County Attorney's Office, 500 N. Main St., Summerville, SC 29483. Online submission is preferred. The full FOIA request process is explained at the Dorchester County FOIA page.

Copy fees in Dorchester County are specific. Black and white 8.5x11 copies cost $0.20 per page. Color 8.5x11 copies are $0.60. Legal size (8.5x14) copies are $0.22 black and white or $0.83 color. Ledger size (11x17) copies are $0.28 black and white or $0.89 color. Front and back sides each count as a separate page. Requesters are responsible for all fulfillment costs. Property records requests require a TMS number to verify jurisdiction.

South Carolina's FOIA law at Title 30, Chapter 4 sets the framework for all requests. Response time is 10 business days for recent records and 20 business days for records over two years old. Weekends and observed holidays are not counted. Note that SC Code 30-2-50 prohibits using public records for commercial solicitation purposes.

Dorchester County Online Public Records

The SC Judicial Public Index for Dorchester County is free and available around the clock for court records. The Register of Deeds and Assessor portals through the county website handle property and tax records. Business filings are searchable at SC Business Filings. Historical documents may be found at the SC Department of Archives and History. Appellate cases are at SC C-Track. Voter records are at SCVotes.gov.

Cities in Dorchester County

Summerville is the largest city in Dorchester County and a major population center in the Charleston metro area. Public records for Summerville may also involve Charleston County depending on location.

Nearby Counties

Dorchester County borders several South Carolina counties, each with its own records offices and online tools.

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