Public Records in Hampton County SC
Hampton County public records are held by county offices and South Carolina state agencies. Court documents, property filings, criminal records, and other official papers are all part of the public record in Hampton County. Residents and researchers can access many of these records online or by visiting the appropriate office. This guide covers the main sources of Hampton County public records and the process for requesting copies under South Carolina law.
Hampton County Quick Facts
Hampton County Court Records
The Clerk of Court in Hampton County is the official keeper of court records. This office maintains filings for Circuit Court, Family Court, and Magistrate Court cases. General Sessions Court handles criminal matters. Common Pleas handles civil cases. Family Court handles divorce, child custody, and support cases. All of these records are stored at the Hampton County Courthouse. The Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.
Hampton County court records are searchable online through the SC Judicial Branch Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org. You can search by party name or case number at no cost. The index shows case type, filing dates, hearing schedules, and case status. Certified copies of documents cost approximately $0.25 per page plus a certification fee. Probate matters are handled by the Hampton County Probate Court, which is a separate office from the Clerk of Court.
Note: Records involving juveniles and sealed cases in Hampton County are not available through public search tools.
Hampton County Property Records
The Hampton County Register of Deeds maintains all recorded real property documents. Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and UCC filings are all recorded and stored here. The office also handles marriage licenses and notary applications. Hampton County property records are public information and available for inspection during business hours. Certified copies of recorded documents can be requested in person or by mail.
The Hampton County website at hamptoncountysc.gov provides access to the Register of Deeds and other county departments. You can search for recorded documents by grantor and grantee name, document type, and recording date. Historical property records going back to earlier county records are archived at the Register of Deeds office. Staff can assist with document searches and answer questions about recording requirements. E-recording services may be available for authorized filers.
Property tax records, including ownership information, parcel data, and assessed values, are maintained by the Hampton County Assessor. This data is also accessible through the county website. You can search by owner name or parcel number to find current and historical tax information for any parcel in Hampton County.
Hampton County Criminal Records
The Hampton County Sheriff's Office runs the county detention center and manages law enforcement records. Jail roster information, including current inmates, is available through the Sheriff's section of the Hampton County website at hamptoncountysc.gov. The inmate list shows booking details, charges, and bond amounts for people held at the detention center. Incident reports and accident reports can be requested through the Records Division.
Statewide criminal history records are available through SLED CATCH at catch.sled.sc.gov. The CATCH system searches the South Carolina criminal history database. You need a full name and date of birth to run a search. Online checks cost $25 each, or $8 for qualifying charities. Mail requests go to SLED Records Dept., PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398. The SLED office phone is 803-896-1443.
Sex offenders registered in Hampton County are listed on the SLED sex offender registry at sled.sc.gov. You can search by name, address, or county. State prison inmates connected to Hampton County can also be found at the SC Department of Corrections at doc.sc.gov.
Note: Warrant information and active investigation records in Hampton County may be restricted from public disclosure.
How to Request Hampton County Public Records
Hampton County follows the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. The full text of the law is at Title 30, Chapter 4 of the SC Code. Any person may request Hampton County records in writing. You can submit a written request by hand, by mail, or by email to the agency that holds the records. No reason is required.
For records created within the last 24 months, the Hampton County agency must respond within 10 business days. For older records, the response window is 20 business days. After confirming the records are available and not exempt, the agency must produce them within 30 calendar days, or 35 days for records over 24 months old. Failure to respond on time is treated as approval of the request for non-exempt records.
Copy fees follow state standards. Paper copies are approximately $0.25 per page. There is no charge for electronic transmissions. The agency can request a deposit of up to 25% of the total cost before starting work. A civil penalty of $500 applies to agencies that arbitrarily deny valid requests. Exemptions cover active law enforcement investigations, home addresses of public employees (since January 2026), juvenile records, medical records, attorney-client documents, and trade secrets.
Hampton County Records Online
Several online tools are available to search Hampton County public records without leaving home. The SC Public Index at sccourts.org covers all 46 South Carolina counties and lets you search Hampton County court records for free. You can look up Circuit Court, Family Court, and Magistrate Court cases by name or case number. The C-Track public access portal at sccourts.org/c-track-public-access offers additional case detail.
Business registration records for Hampton County businesses are searchable at businessfilings.sc.gov. Historical documents may be found through the SC Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov. Voter records for Hampton County are at scvotes.gov. SLED's main site at sled.sc.gov handles criminal history and sex offender registry searches statewide.
The SC Privacy Protection Act at Title 30, Chapter 2 sets rules on the use of personal information found in public records. Keep these rules in mind when requesting records that contain details about other individuals in Hampton County.
Cities in Hampton County
Hampton County includes several small communities. All county-level public records for these areas are maintained by the Hampton County offices described on this page.
Nearby Counties
Hampton County is located in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina. The following nearby counties maintain their own public records offices.