Socastee Court Records
Socastee is an unincorporated community in Horry County, South Carolina. Because it has no incorporated government, there is no separate Socastee municipal court. Court records for Socastee residents are handled by Horry County through the Circuit Court, Family Court, Probate Court, and magistrate courts. The Horry County Public Index provides free online access to county case records. In-person requests go to the Horry County Clerk of Court in Conway. This guide explains how to find Socastee court records through the county and state systems.
Socastee Quick Facts
Socastee Court Records Through Horry County
As an unincorporated community, Socastee falls entirely under Horry County's court jurisdiction. All court functions for Socastee residents are handled at the county level. Horry County is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit along with Georgetown County. The Horry County Clerk of Court maintains civil, criminal, and family court records for all unincorporated areas including Socastee.
The main Clerk of Court office is at 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. Phone: 843-915-5080. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. There is also a South Strand office in Myrtle Beach for residents who are closer to that area. The Socastee community is generally closer to the Myrtle Beach side of the county, making the South Strand office a convenient option for some residents.
The following image from the Horry County Coroner's office page shows a county resource tied to Socastee, illustrating how the county provides public services including records to unincorporated communities like Socastee.
The Horry County government website is the central hub for all public services, records access, and contact information for Socastee and other unincorporated Horry County communities.
Horry County's court system includes the Circuit Court (Court of Common Pleas and Court of General Sessions), Family Court, Probate Court, Master-in-Equity for foreclosure matters, and multiple magistrate court locations throughout the county. Socastee residents fall under the jurisdiction of the magistrate court serving that area of Horry County near Myrtle Beach.
How to Search Socastee Court Records
The Horry County Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/horry/publicindex is the primary free tool for finding court records tied to Socastee residents. Search by party name, case number, filing date, court type, or case category. The system is available 24 hours a day and is updated daily. Records from the 1990s forward are generally available online.
Circuit Court and Family Court cases are covered in the Public Index. Document images may be available for some cases. Basic case information is always free. Certified copies and full document sets require a request from the Clerk's office. For records that are not yet digitized or are older than what is available online, an in-person visit or written request to the Conway office is needed.
The SC Judicial Branch case records search also links to the Horry County system. From that state portal, you can navigate to Horry County's index and also access Family Court case information and some traffic ticket records from magistrate courts across the county.
Copy fees for Horry County records are $1.00 per page for the first 10 pages and $0.50 per page after that. Certified copies cost an additional fee per document. Photo ID is required for in-person document access. Large or complex requests may require advance notice before your visit.
Note: Magistrate court records are maintained separately from Circuit Court records in Horry County. Contact the specific magistrate office serving the Socastee area for case status on traffic or misdemeanor matters.Criminal Records for Socastee Residents
Felony criminal cases for Socastee residents are handled by the Horry County Court of General Sessions. These records are searchable through the Horry County Public Index by name or case number. The Centralized Magistrate Bond Court operates 24 hours a day at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, 4150 J. Reuben Long Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. Phone: 843-915-5145. All bond hearings for Horry County arrests including those in the Socastee area are processed here.
The SC FOIA statute, shown in the image below from the SC Statehouse website, governs how public records including criminal case files are made available to Socastee residents and all South Carolina citizens.
The South Carolina FOIA statute at SC Code Title 30, Chapter 4 is the legal foundation for how all public records, including Socastee court records held by Horry County, are made available to the public.
Horry County Sheriff's Office maintains booking and arrest records at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center. These are separate from the Clerk of Court records. FOIA requests to the Sheriff's Office can be submitted through the county's official website. The Sheriff's inmate search is also available online.
For a statewide criminal background check, the SLED CATCH portal provides name-based searches of South Carolina criminal history. The fee is $25 plus a $1 convenience charge. You must supply a full name and date of birth. CATCH covers South Carolina conviction records and pending charges but does not return records from other states. Online results are generally immediate. Mail requests to SLED Records Department, P.O. Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398. Phone: 803-737-9000.
Family Court Records for Socastee Residents
Horry County Family Court handles divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, domestic violence, and juvenile matters for all of Horry County. The court is at 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. Phone: 843-915-5081. Records are maintained by the Clerk of Court and may be searched through the Public Index for non-restricted cases.
Child support payments for Horry County family cases go through the State Disbursement Unit. For balance and payment history, call 800-768-5858 or use the online portal at clientportal.dss.sc.gov. Purge payments in Horry County must be made in cash directly at the Clerk's payment window in Conway. Do not mail cash. Horry County Probate Court also handles marriage licenses, estate matters, and guardianships. Both parties applying for a marriage license must appear in person with valid ID. There is a 24-hour waiting period after issuance.
Certain family records are not publicly accessible. These include juvenile court files and sealed adoption records. If you need access to restricted records, you must petition the court directly. The South Carolina Family Court overview explains what types of records are public and what procedures apply under state law.
Note: Adoption records are permanently sealed in South Carolina. Access requires a specific court order, not a simple public records request.FOIA Requests for Socastee Area Records
Because Socastee is unincorporated, all FOIA requests for local government records go to Horry County rather than any city office. Court case files go to the Horry County Clerk of Court. County administrative records go to the Horry County Government FOIA coordinator. South Carolina's FOIA law at SC Code Title 30, Chapter 4 covers all of these county offices.
Written requests for court records should be mailed to: Horry County Clerk of Court, 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. Include specific details about the records you need, including case name, case number if known, and the type of document. Horry County has 10 business days to respond for records under two years old and up to 20 business days for older records. Records must be produced within 30 calendar days of a positive determination.
Fees apply for search time and copies on large requests. Electronic formats are provided when available. A written denial with a legal basis must be issued if any records are withheld. You have the right to appeal any denial through the process set out in the FOIA statute. The county's FOIA portal also handles administrative records such as meeting minutes, contracts, and budget documents for all Horry County departments serving Socastee.
Probate Court Access for Socastee Residents
Horry County Probate Court serves all of Horry County including Socastee. The court handles estate administration, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, marriage licenses, and mental health commitments. Estate records are generally public. Guardianship records have restricted access in most cases. Adoption records are sealed.
Marriage license records are kept in Conway at the Probate Court. Both parties must appear with valid ID and meet state requirements. Marriage licenses are valid for use anywhere in South Carolina once issued. Probate Court fees are set by state law and vary based on the type of proceeding and the value of the estate or assets. Contact the Probate Court directly for current fee schedules and filing requirements.
Historical probate records for Horry County can be accessed at the courthouse or through the state's records archive, depending on the age of the document. For very old records, contact the Clerk's office or the South Carolina Department of Archives and History for guidance on availability.
Horry County Court Records
Socastee is an unincorporated area of Horry County. All court records for this community are held by the Horry County court system. The full Horry County court directory, Public Index access, and contact information for all court locations are on the county page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
These nearby Horry County and coastal communities also have court record resources available through the state and county systems.