Greenville County Public Records
Greenville County public records are maintained by several county and state offices across the largest county in South Carolina. Residents, researchers, and legal professionals can search public records covering court cases, property deeds, criminal history, and more. Most Greenville County public records are available online or through the appropriate county office. This guide explains where to find Greenville County records and how to request copies when needed.
Greenville County Quick Facts
Greenville County Court Records
The Clerk of Court in Greenville County is the primary keeper of court records. This office maintains filings for Circuit Court, Family Court, and Magistrate Court. Greenville County is the largest court system in South Carolina, with a high volume of civil, criminal, and family cases handled each year. The courthouse is located in downtown Greenville. Staff can assist with case lookups, certified copies, and document requests.
Court records in Greenville County cover a wide range. General Sessions handles felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. Common Pleas handles civil matters including contracts and personal injury. Family Court handles divorce, custody, and support cases. Magistrate Court handles smaller civil disputes and minor criminal charges. All of these case types are searchable through the SC Judicial Branch Public Index. You can search by party name or case number at no cost.
The Public Index for Greenville County is available at publicindex.sccourts.org. Records include case type, parties, hearing dates, charges, and judge assignments. Real-time docket updates let you track pending cases. Copy fees are approximately $0.25 per page for paper copies. Certified documents carry an additional fee. For help locating older files, visit the Greenville County Courthouse in person during regular business hours.
Note: Juvenile records and certain sealed cases in Greenville County are restricted from public access and will not appear in the Public Index.
Greenville County Property Records
The Greenville County Register of Deeds records and stores all real property documents. This office handles deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, UCC financing statements, and marriage licenses. Greenville County has one of the highest volumes of recorded documents in South Carolina due to its size and growth. The Register of Deeds provides public access terminals at the office and online search capabilities for convenience.
Property records in Greenville County are available through the Register of Deeds online portal at greenvillecounty.org/rod. You can search by grantor, grantee, document type, and date range. The office maintains historical records dating back to early county records. E-recording services are available for title companies and attorneys who file documents regularly. Certified copies of recorded documents can be obtained in person or by mail.
The Greenville County Assessor's office tracks property tax records and ownership data at greenvillecounty.org/tax. You can search by parcel number, owner name, or property address. Tax records show assessment values, taxable values, and payment history. The GIS mapping tool links parcel data with aerial imagery and boundary lines. Delinquent tax information and tax sale listings are also available online.
Greenville County Criminal Records
The Greenville County Sheriff's Office operates the county detention center and maintains arrest and booking records. You can search for current inmates through the online inmate lookup at Greenville County Inmate Search. The search returns booking details, charges, bond amounts, and mugshots for current detainees. The system is updated regularly and is accessible 24 hours a day.
For official criminal background checks in Greenville County, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) operates the CATCH system. CATCH stands for Criminal History Assessment Through the Courts and Hands. You can submit a check online at catch.sled.sc.gov for $25 per search. Nonprofit organizations pay $8. You need the person's full name and date of birth. Mailed requests go to SLED Records Dept., PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398. Call SLED at 803-896-1443 for questions.
The sex offender registry for Greenville County is searchable through SLED at sled.sc.gov. You can search by name or address to locate registered offenders in any Greenville neighborhood. The Sheriff's Office also accepts incident report requests and accident report copies through the records division at greenvillecounty.org/sheriff. CCW permit applications and fingerprinting services are also handled there.
How to Request Greenville County Public Records
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act governs public records requests in Greenville County. The law is found at Title 30, Chapter 4 of the SC Code. Any person may request records from any Greenville County agency by submitting a written request. You can deliver the request in person, by mail, or by email. You do not need to explain why you want the records.
Once a Greenville County agency receives your written request, it must respond within 10 business days for records less than 24 months old. For older records, the response window extends to 20 business days. After confirming that the records are available and non-exempt, the agency has 30 calendar days to produce them. That window extends to 35 calendar days for records older than 24 months. If the agency fails to respond at all, the request is deemed approved for non-exempt records.
Copy fees in Greenville County follow state guidelines. Paper copies cost approximately $0.25 per page. Electronic records can be provided at no charge for transmission costs. The agency may require a deposit of up to 25% of the estimated total cost before beginning to produce records. Agencies that arbitrarily refuse to comply with valid requests face a civil penalty of $500 under state law. Certain records are exempt, including active law enforcement investigations, personal home addresses of public employees, juvenile records, attorney-client materials, and medical records.
Note: Submitting your request directly to the department that holds the records speeds up response time in Greenville County.
Greenville County Records Online
Several online tools make it easy to access Greenville County public records without visiting a courthouse. The SC Public Index at sccourts.org covers all 46 counties including Greenville County. You can search Circuit Court, Family Court, and Magistrate Court records free of charge. The system shows case status, parties, and event history. Use the C-Track system at sccourts.org/c-track-public-access for additional case details.
State-level online records tools also serve Greenville County residents. Business entity filings are searchable at businessfilings.sc.gov. The SC Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov holds historical records for Greenville County. Voter registration records are searchable at scvotes.gov. The SC Department of Corrections inmate locator at doc.sc.gov covers state prison inmates from Greenville County.
Cities in Greenville County
Greenville County is home to several cities and communities. Public records for residents of these cities are filed with the Greenville County offices described above.
Nearby Counties
Greenville County borders several other South Carolina counties. Public records for nearby areas are held by the respective county offices listed below.