Sumter County Public Records Search
Sumter County public records are maintained by the Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds, and Sheriff's Office in Sumter, South Carolina. Court filings, property deeds, and criminal records each fall under different offices. Many Sumter County public records are now accessible online through upgraded portals including the SC Public Index and the Sumter County Clerk's official records system. This guide explains where to find records, which offices to contact, and how to submit a public records request under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act.
Sumter County Quick Facts
Sumter County Court Records
The Sumter County Clerk of Court office is at the Sumter County Courthouse, 141 N. Main Street, Sumter, SC 29150, phone 803-436-2217. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The Sumter County Clerk serves the Third Judicial Circuit and maintains records for Circuit Court civil cases from Common Pleas, criminal proceedings from General Sessions, and Family Court matters including domestic, juvenile, and child support cases. Probate Court records, marriage licenses, and passport services are also handled through this office.
The SC Judicial Public Index for Sumter County provides free online access to court records for Circuit, Family, and Magistrate Court cases.
The Public Index allows name and case number searches and shows case status, charges, and scheduled hearing dates from any internet-connected device.
Sumter County also launched a new official records inquiry portal for property and court records. This updated interface is more user-friendly and includes an AI-based redaction system that automatically removes personal identification information such as Social Security numbers and bank account numbers. Records prior to April 1, 2024, are being reprocessed for security. New documents are processed automatically after certification. Older records can be added to the processing queue by emailing a request to support@sumterclerk.com.
Court records in Sumter County include petitions, case numbers, docket entries, summons, judgments, orders, motions, pleadings, affidavits, and evidence logs. Records are public unless sealed or expunged. Certified copies are available at the Clerk's office. Notary services are also handled here.
Note: As of January 2026, home addresses no longer appear on the SC Public Index to protect resident privacy.
Sumter County Property Records
The Sumter County Register of Deeds is also at the Sumter County Courthouse, 141 N. Main Street, Sumter, SC 29150, phone 803-436-2160. The office records and maintains all real estate documents for the county. Records on file include mortgages, deeds, plats, easements, rights of way, state and federal tax liens, powers of attorney, and UCC filings. Recording fees in Sumter County start at $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page. Plats and exhibits larger than 8.5 by 14 inches cost $30.00 for the first page and $15.00 for additional pages.
The Sumter County official website provides access to the Register of Deeds and other county department contacts and services.
The county website is your starting point for connecting with the Register of Deeds and finding current recording requirements and fee schedules.
Documentary stamps on deeds are $0.70 per $100 or fraction of value. Documentary stamps on stocks, bonds, and mortgages are $0.35 per $100 of face value. Intangible tax is calculated at 2 mills per dollar. Copies of official records cost $1.00 per page. Indexing fees for each additional name over four parties run $1.00. E-recording is available for qualifying submissions. In-person access to records is available at the Register of Deeds office during business hours.
Note: Property tax records and assessment values are handled separately by the Sumter County Tax Assessor through the main county website.
Sumter County Criminal Records
The Sumter County Sheriff's Office maintains law enforcement records and operates the county detention center. Inmate search is available online for current detainees. Booking information, charges, and bond amounts can be obtained through the Sheriff's Office. The Sumter County Sheriff's website includes a judicial records search and Public Index access link. Written FOIA requests are accepted for incident reports, accident reports, and other law enforcement documents. CCW permits and fingerprinting services are available through the Sheriff's Office.
Sumter County Sheriff's Office records are accessible online and include a judicial records search portal for court and arrest information.
The Sheriff's Office handles FOIA requests for incident reports, arrest records, and other public safety documents for Sumter County.
For statewide criminal background checks, the SLED CATCH system charges $25 per search and $8 for qualifying charities. A full name and date of birth are required. The SLED records line is 803-896-1443. Sex offender registry information for Sumter County is available at the SLED Sex Offender Registry. For state prison inmates, the SC Department of Corrections has an online inmate search tool.
How to Request Sumter County Public Records
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act governs all public records requests in Sumter County. The law is at Title 30, Chapter 4 of the SC Code. Any person may submit a written FOIA request to the appropriate county office. No specific form is required. Requests can be mailed, emailed, or delivered in person to the department holding the records.
Agencies must respond within 10 business days for records two years old or less. Records older than 24 months require a 20-business-day response. After deciding to release records, production must happen within 30 days. Standard paper copy fees are $0.25 per page. Electronic records may be sent at no charge. A deposit of up to 25% of estimated total fees may be required before work begins. Search and retrieval time is typically offered for the first hour at no charge.
Under SC Code Section 30-4-50, certain records are always public. These include public employee names and titles, final agency opinions, meeting minutes, crime reports, and fund expenditure records. Failure to respond within the required window is treated as approval to release non-exempt records. A $500 civil penalty can be imposed for willful or arbitrary violations.
Sumter County Online Records Search
The main tool for Sumter County court records is the SC Judicial Public Index. This free statewide system covers Circuit, Family, and Magistrate Court cases for all 46 counties. No registration is needed and the system is available 24 hours a day. The Sumter County Clerk also operates an official records portal that provides streamlined access to recorded documents with AI-based personal information redaction.
Business entity filings are searchable through the SC Secretary of State Business Filings portal. Historical records for Sumter County can be found at the SC Department of Archives and History. Voter registration and election data are at SCVotes.gov. The SC Law Enforcement Division hosts portals for criminal history checks and sex offender registration. Appellate court records are searchable through SC C-Track Public Access.
Driver and traffic records are available through the SC Department of Public Safety. The Sumter County Sheriff's website also provides a direct link to the judicial records search portal. These resources together give broad access to Sumter County public records from any connected device.
Cities in Sumter County
The City of Sumter is the county seat and the largest city in Sumter County. City-level records including municipal court cases use county judicial services.
Nearby Counties
Sumter County is in the central region of South Carolina. Bordering counties each maintain their own records offices and online tools for public access.