Georgetown County Public Records

Georgetown County public records are kept by offices at the county courthouse in Georgetown, South Carolina. The Clerk of Court handles court filings for Circuit, Family, and Magistrate Courts. The Register of Deeds maintains land and property documents. The Sheriff's Office provides inmate information and law enforcement records. Georgetown County residents and outside parties can search court cases through the SC Public Index for free. This page covers how to find, access, and request public records in Georgetown County both online and in person.

Georgetown County Court Records

The Georgetown County Clerk of Court is located at the Georgetown County Courthouse in Georgetown, SC. The office serves the county under South Carolina's statewide court system and maintains records for Circuit Court, Family Court, and Magistrate Court. Case types include civil litigation, criminal proceedings, family law matters, and probate filings. Court dockets and case tracking features are available through the SC courts system. The Clerk maintains all case documentation and provides public access during regular business hours.

Civil case files from Common Pleas Court and criminal case records from General Sessions are open to the public. Family court records include divorce, child custody, and support matters. Probate court documents and estate filings are also maintained by the Clerk. Certain records are restricted under state law. Juvenile proceedings, sealed cases, and adoption files are not publicly accessible. Copy fees apply for paper reproductions. Certified copies require an additional certification fee.

Passport services, marriage license applications, and notary public services are processed through the Clerk's office. The Clerk is compliant with SC FOIA and provides access to court records as required by law. As of January 2026, home addresses are no longer shown in SC Public Index results statewide.

Georgetown County Property Records

The Georgetown County Register of Deeds records and maintains all land instruments for the county. The office is accessible through the Georgetown County website. Documents on file include property deeds, mortgages, liens, plat maps, UCC financing statements, and powers of attorney. Marriage licenses are also issued through this office. Historical land records are preserved for public access. The Register of Deeds handles all recording, indexing, and preservation of official land documents.

Recording fees are set by state law and depend on document type and page count. Fee schedules are posted at the office and may be available on the county website. E-recording is available for qualified submitters through the county's program. Certified copies of recorded instruments are available for a fee. Public search access is available at the courthouse during regular business hours. Staff can help locate record books and index entries, but title searches must be performed by the requester or a licensed professional.

Document imaging is available for records that have been digitized. Historical archives may require in-person access for very old or pre-digital records. Property tax records and assessment data are handled by the Georgetown County Tax Assessor, which can be reached through the main county website.

Note: Property records in Georgetown County go back to the county's formation as one of South Carolina's original Georgetown District counties, making the historical archive particularly deep.

Georgetown County Criminal and Arrest Records

The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement and detention center records. An online inmate lookup tool is available through the county website for the current jail roster. Searches can be done by inmate name. Booking information includes charges filed and bond amounts. Incident reports and accident reports can be requested through the records division. Background checks, warrant searches, and concealed weapons permit applications are processed through the Sheriff's Office.

Fingerprinting services are available by appointment. Sex offender registry information for Georgetown County is maintained through the Sheriff's Office and the statewide SLED registry. Records requests follow SC FOIA procedures. The Sheriff's Office contact information is at the Georgetown County website.

The SLED CATCH program provides statewide criminal history searches for $25 per check ($8 for qualifying charities). A name and date of birth are required. The SLED number is 803-896-1443. The SLED Sex Offender Registry covers Georgetown County registrants. State prison inmates can be located through SC Department of Corrections.

How to Request Georgetown County Public Records

South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at Title 30, Chapter 4 gives anyone the right to request public records from Georgetown County offices. Written requests should go to the specific office holding the records. No particular form is required, though some offices may provide one. Requests can be mailed, emailed, or delivered in person. The County Administrator's office in Georgetown can direct general FOIA questions to the right department.

Agencies must respond within 10 business days for records two years old or less. Records more than two years old allow a 20-business-day response window. After deciding to release records, the agency has 30 days to produce them. Copy fees are typically $0.25 per page for paper documents. Electronic transmissions are generally provided without charge. For large requests, a deposit of up to 25% of estimated costs can be required before work begins.

Under SC Code Section 30-4-50, certain records are always public. These include public employee names and titles, final agency decisions, meeting minutes, crime reports, and expenditure records. Failure to respond within required timelines is treated as approval for non-exempt records. Willful violations of the FOIA can result in a $500 civil penalty. For details on what personal information is protected by state law, see Title 30, Chapter 2.

Georgetown County Online Records Search

The SC Judicial Public Index for Georgetown County is the main free online tool for court records. It covers all case types and is available around the clock. Business entity filings are searchable at SC Business Filings. Older Georgetown County records may be found at the SC Department of Archives and History. Voter and election records are at SCVotes.gov. Appellate court records are at SC C-Track.

The statewide land records portal at sclandrecords.com may provide online access to participating Georgetown County property documents. Check that portal before making an in-person trip to the Register of Deeds.

Nearby Counties

Georgetown County is on the South Carolina coast and borders several other counties with public records access options.

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