Find Public Records in Greenwood County
Greenwood County public records are kept by county offices and state agencies that serve this Piedmont community in South Carolina. Court filings, property documents, criminal records, and other government documents are all available as public records in Greenwood County. You can search many of these records online, or you can visit the appropriate office in person. This page explains the main sources for Greenwood County public records and how to obtain them.
Greenwood County Quick Facts
Greenwood County Court Records
The Greenwood County Clerk of Court maintains all court records for the county. This office handles Circuit Court cases in both General Sessions (criminal) and Common Pleas (civil) divisions. Family Court matters, including divorce and custody cases, are also on file here. Magistrate Court records cover small claims and minor offenses. The Greenwood County Courthouse is the main location for in-person access to court documents.
The SC Judicial Branch Public Index for Greenwood County is free and available online at publicindex.sccourts.org. You can search by party name or case number. Results show case type, filing dates, charges, and case status. Court dockets are also accessible through the index. Certified copies of court documents are available from the Clerk of Court office for a standard per-page fee. Probate records are maintained separately through the Greenwood County Probate Court.
Note: Juvenile records and sealed cases in Greenwood County are confidential and cannot be accessed through the public search portal.
Greenwood County Property Records
The Greenwood County Register of Deeds records all real property documents. Deeds, mortgages, liens, plat maps, and UCC financing statements are filed and stored here. The office also records marriage licenses and handles notary services. Property records are public documents that anyone can view. Certified copies of recorded instruments are available for a fee.
You can access Greenwood County property records through the county website at greenwoodcounty-sc.gov. The Register of Deeds section offers public search terminals and staff assistance. Historical records going back to early county formation are preserved in the office archive. E-recording is available for authorized filers. Property tax records including assessments and ownership data are managed through the Tax Assessor, also accessible via the county website.
Greenwood County Criminal Records
The Greenwood County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement and operates the county detention center. Online jail records, including the inmate roster, are accessible through the Sheriff's section of the county website at greenwoodcounty-sc.gov/sheriff. Booking details, charges, and bond amounts are listed for current inmates. The office also handles records requests for incident reports and accident reports.
For certified criminal background checks covering Greenwood County, use the SLED CATCH system at catch.sled.sc.gov. CATCH searches the statewide criminal history database using a name and date of birth. The fee is $25 per search online, or $8 for qualifying nonprofits. Mail-in requests are accepted at SLED Records Dept., PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398. Phone: 803-896-1443.
The South Carolina sex offender registry is searchable at sled.sc.gov. Greenwood County residents can search by name or location. State prison inmates from Greenwood County may also be found through the SC Department of Corrections at doc.sc.gov.
How to Request Greenwood County Public Records
Public records in Greenwood County are governed by the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act at Title 30, Chapter 4. Any person may request records from a Greenwood County agency. Requests must be in writing and submitted to the agency that holds the records. There is no requirement to give a reason for requesting records.
Greenwood County agencies must respond within 10 business days for records created within the last 24 months. The deadline extends to 20 business days for older records. After the agency confirms availability, it has 30 calendar days to produce the records, or 35 calendar days for records over 24 months old. Paper copies are charged at approximately $0.25 per page. Electronic copies carry no transmission fee. A deposit of up to 25% of the estimated cost may be required before work begins.
Exemptions under the FOIA include active criminal investigations, personal home addresses of public employees, juvenile records, attorney-client communications, medical records, and trade secrets. Agencies that refuse valid requests without cause face a $500 civil penalty. If no response comes within the allotted time, the request is considered approved for non-exempt records.
Greenwood County Records Online
Many Greenwood County public records are accessible online at no charge. The SC Public Index at sccourts.org provides free court record searches across all 46 counties, including Greenwood County. You can search Circuit, Family, and Magistrate court filings by name or case number. For more detailed case information, the C-Track system at sccourts.org/c-track-public-access offers additional access.
Business entity records are searchable through the SC Secretary of State at businessfilings.sc.gov. Historical documents from Greenwood County may be available through the SC Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov. Voter registration data for Greenwood County is available at scvotes.gov. The SLED main site at sled.sc.gov is the starting point for many statewide criminal records tools.
Cities in Greenwood County
Greenwood County is served by the county offices described above. Public records for all residents of Greenwood County are maintained at the county level.
Nearby Counties
Greenwood County neighbors several other South Carolina counties. Each county maintains its own set of public records through local offices.