Lee County SC Public Records
Lee County public records are maintained by county offices and South Carolina state agencies in this small Pee Dee region county centered in Bishopville. Court documents, property filings, criminal records, and other official papers are available to the public in Lee County. A notable feature of Lee County is that the Clerk of Court and Register of Deeds functions are combined into one office, which simplifies the process for accessing both court and property records. This guide covers the key sources for Lee County public records and how to request them.
Lee County Quick Facts
Lee County Court Records
In Lee County, the Clerk of Court office is combined with the Register of Deeds, which is common in smaller South Carolina counties. Both are located at the Lee County Courthouse in Bishopville. The phone number for the combined office is 803-484-5341. The Clerk of Court maintains records for Circuit Court (General Sessions and Common Pleas), Family Court, Magistrate Court, and Probate Court. Marriage licenses and passport services are also available here.
Lee County court records are searchable for free through the SC Judicial Branch Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org. Search by party name or case number. Results include case type, filing dates, charges, hearing dates, and current status. Public access terminals are available at the Lee County Courthouse. Copy fees follow state standards at approximately $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee beyond the per-page rate.
Note: Juvenile court records and sealed cases in Lee County are confidential and will not appear through the public online search portal.
Lee County Property Records
As noted, Lee County's Clerk of Court also handles Register of Deeds functions. This combined office records all real property documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, plat maps, and UCC financing statements. The office phone is 803-484-5341. Recorded documents are public information and available for inspection and copying during office hours at the Lee County Courthouse in Bishopville.
Online property records for Lee County are available through the county portal at leesc.avenuinsights.com. This system provides access to deed recordings, mortgage filings, and other recorded instruments. You can also access the Lee County main site at leecountysc.org for contact information and office details. Historical records dating back to earlier county records are preserved at the combined office. Staff can help with name searches and historical document requests in person during business hours.
Property tax records, parcel information, and ownership data for Lee County are managed through the Tax Assessor. The Assessor handles assessments, exemptions, appeals, and tax billing. All records are accessible through the county website or in person at the courthouse.
Lee County Criminal Records
The Lee County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement and operates the county detention center. The online inmate roster is accessible through the Sheriff's section of the Lee County website at leecountysc.org. Current inmates are listed with booking records, charges, and bond amounts. The Records Division handles incident report requests, accident reports, and records inquiries. CCW permit applications and fingerprinting services are processed at the Sheriff's Office.
For certified criminal history searches covering Lee County, use the SLED CATCH system at catch.sled.sc.gov. Submit a full name and date of birth. Online checks cost $25. Qualifying charities pay $8. Mail requests to SLED Records Dept., PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398. Phone: 803-896-1443. SLED maintains the statewide criminal history database used for all formal background checks.
Sex offenders registered in Lee County are listed on the SLED registry at sled.sc.gov. Search by name or address. State prison inmates connected to Lee County are searchable at the SC Department of Corrections at doc.sc.gov.
How to Request Lee County Public Records
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act applies to all Lee County public agencies. The law is found at Title 30, Chapter 4 of the SC Code. All requests must be submitted in writing to the agency holding the records. You can send your request by mail, email, or in person. No reason is required.
For records less than 24 months old, the Lee County agency has 10 business days to respond. For older records, the window extends to 20 business days. After confirming availability, the agency must produce the records within 30 calendar days. That deadline extends to 35 days for records over 24 months old. Paper copies cost approximately $0.25 per page. Electronic delivery is free. An upfront deposit of up to 25% of the total anticipated cost may be required before work begins.
If an agency fails to respond within the required time, the request is considered approved for non-exempt records. Agencies that arbitrarily deny valid requests face a $500 civil penalty. Exemptions include active law enforcement investigations, juvenile records, personal home addresses of public employees, attorney-client communications, trade secrets, and medical records.
Lee County Records Online
The SC Public Index at sccourts.org provides free access to Lee County court records. Search Circuit, Family, and Magistrate Court cases by name or case number. The C-Track portal at sccourts.org/c-track-public-access provides more detailed access to case data. The Lee County property records portal at leesc.avenuinsights.com supports online deed and document searches specific to Lee County.
Business entity records for Lee County companies are searchable at businessfilings.sc.gov. Historical records from Lee County are preserved through the SC Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov. Voter data is at scvotes.gov. SLED at sled.sc.gov is the central hub for criminal history checks and sex offender registry searches in South Carolina.
Cities in Lee County
Bishopville is the county seat of Lee County. All Lee County public records are maintained by the combined Clerk of Court and Register of Deeds office at the Lee County Courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Lee County is surrounded by several Midlands and Pee Dee region counties. Each maintains its own public records offices.