Find Court Records in Aiken, SC
Aiken court records are maintained by multiple courts serving the city and Aiken County. The Aiken Municipal Court handles local ordinance and traffic matters, while the Aiken County Circuit and Family Courts hold the bulk of civil, criminal, and domestic records. Searching Aiken court records is free through the South Carolina Public Index. In-person access is also available through the Aiken County Clerk of Court. This guide covers each court, how to request records, and where to look for criminal history information in Aiken.
Aiken Quick Facts
Aiken Municipal Court Records
The Aiken Municipal Court is located at 251 Laurens Street NW, Aiken, SC 29801. Phone: 803-642-7630. The court operates Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. It handles city ordinance violations, misdemeanor traffic matters, and other minor offenses within the City of Aiken's jurisdiction.
The City of Aiken's official website at cityofaikensc.gov connects residents to the municipal court, county clerk, bond payments, and the South Carolina Public Index. The screenshot below from the city's government page shows the available resources and links for Aiken court records.
The city's official portal is a good starting point for linking to both the local municipal court and the county-level Aiken court records system.
For cases handled at the municipal level, you can also pay bond online through links available on the city's website. Defendants are encouraged to check the Public Index before appearing to confirm their case status and any scheduled hearing dates.
Aiken is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which also includes Barnwell and Edgefield counties. Municipal courts throughout the circuit operate under standard state rules for courts not of record.
The magistrate court for the City of Aiken is located at 828 Richland Avenue W, Aiken, SC 29801. Phone: 803-642-2015. This court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, bond hearings, and civil matters up to $7,500 at the county level.
Aiken County Court Records and the Clerk of Court
Robert J. Harte serves as Clerk of Court for Aiken County in the 2nd Judicial Circuit. The office is located in the Aiken County Judicial Center at 109 Park Avenue SE, Aiken, SC 29801, occupying the first, second, and third floors. Mailing address: PO Box 583, Aiken, SC 29802-0583. Phone: 803.642.1715. Fax: 803.642.1718. Email: clerkofcourt@aikencountysc.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Clerk serves as the official custodian of civil, criminal, and family court records for Aiken County. The office collects fees and fines imposed by Circuit and Family Courts, creates and maintains all court records, and manages jury selection. Both the Circuit Court and Family Court for Aiken County are located at 109 Park Avenue SE. Phone for both: 803-642-1476. The Aiken County Clerk of Court page provides access to online services and contact details.
Aiken County is designated as County Number 02 in the state court administrative system. Robert Harte also serves the 2nd Judicial Circuit that includes Barnwell and Edgefield counties. Circuit court judges rotate among the counties in the circuit throughout the year.
Copy fees at the Aiken Clerk of Court are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document plus copying fees. In-person inspection of records during business hours is free of charge.
Searching Aiken Court Records Online
The fastest way to find an Aiken court record is through the state's online Public Index. Go to the SC Judicial Branch case records search and select Aiken from the county dropdown. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. The direct URL for the Aiken County Public Index is publicindex.sccourts.org/aiken/publicindex. Basic case information is free and available around the clock.
The online system shows case summaries, docket entries, parties, and status information. Complete documents may require a request from the Clerk's office. The system covers Circuit Court and Family Court records. Magistrate and municipal records are not always included. For those, contact the individual court by phone or in person.
To search online through the Clerk of Court's own system, visit the county website, select "Court Records Search," and enter your search parameters. Document viewing may require registration in some cases. The SC Judicial Branch Aiken County page also has contact information for all judges and court staff serving the county.
The state court system also provides an expungement form for the 2nd Judicial Circuit for Aiken County through CourtReference, which is a useful resource for those seeking to clear older records.
Note: Home addresses are no longer displayed in Public Index results as of January 1, 2026. Other identifying information may be redacted to protect privacy under state law.Criminal Records in Aiken
Criminal records for Aiken residents fall into two categories. The first is cases handled at the local level by the municipal court or magistrate court. The second is felony cases and serious misdemeanors handled by the Circuit Court's Court of General Sessions. Both types can be searched through the Aiken Public Index, though municipal and magistrate records may have limited online availability.
The following image from the South Carolina Judicial Branch shows the statewide magistrate court system, which applies directly to Aiken County's network of local courts handling smaller criminal and civil matters.
Understanding how the magistrate court system works in South Carolina helps Aiken residents know which court holds the record they need and how to request it properly.
For a statewide criminal history check, use the SLED CATCH portal. The fee is $25 plus a $1 online convenience charge. Searches are name-based and require a full name and date of birth. Results include conviction records and pending charges across South Carolina. This is not a federal search and does not return records from other states.
The Aiken County Sheriff's Office is located at 420 Hampton Avenue NE, Aiken, SC 29801. Phone: 803-642-1761. The Sheriff's Office provides access to local criminal records and processes FOIA requests for arrest and booking information. An inmate search is also available online through the county's official website.
Family and Probate Court Records in Aiken
Aiken County Family Court handles divorce, child custody, support, adoption, and domestic violence matters. The court is located at 109 Park Avenue SE, Aiken, SC 29802. Phone: 803-642-1476. Records are maintained by the Clerk of Court and can be searched through the Public Index, though some family matters are sealed or restricted by state law.
The Aiken County Probate Court is located at 1930 University Parkway, Suite 2300, Aiken, SC 29801. Phone: 803-642-2136. The Probate Court handles estate administration, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and marriage licenses. Estate records are generally available to the public. Guardianship records may have restricted access. Marriage licenses from Aiken County are available through the Probate Court.
The South Carolina Probate Court overview from the Judicial Branch explains statewide rules that apply equally to Aiken County's probate proceedings.
Note: Marriage records from Aiken County are issued by the Probate Court. Divorce records are held by the Clerk of Court in the Judgment Division.FOIA and Public Records Access in Aiken
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act is codified at SC Code Title 30, Chapter 4. It gives the public the right to request and inspect records held by Aiken's government offices, including the municipal court and county agencies. Most court records are public unless sealed by order of a judge or protected by a specific exemption in state law.
To request records from the Aiken County Clerk of Court, contact the office in writing by mail to PO Box 583, Aiken, SC 29802-0583 or visit in person during business hours. The law requires a response within 10 business days for records under two years old. Older records may take up to 20 business days. Production of the records must happen within 30 calendar days of the response.
Online FOIA requests for county-level documents can also be submitted to other Aiken County departments through the county's government website. For court-specific records, the Clerk of Court office is the correct point of contact.
Aiken County Court Records
Aiken is the county seat of Aiken County. All county-level court resources, including the Circuit Court, Family Court, magistrate courts, and Probate Court, are covered in full on the Aiken County court records page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Other cities near Aiken in the Central Savannah River Area also have court record resources through Aiken County and neighboring county systems.