Find Court Records in Aiken County
Aiken County court records are kept by the Clerk of Court at the Judicial Center in Aiken. The office manages records for Circuit Court and Family Court cases filed in the county. You can search case information online through the Aiken County Public Index at no cost. The Clerk serves as the official record custodian for all criminal, civil, and family court proceedings. This page covers how to find Aiken court records and what resources are available.
Aiken Court Records Quick Facts
Aiken County Clerk of Court Office
The Honorable Robert J. Harte serves as Clerk of Court for Aiken County. He is the elected official responsible for providing support for Circuit and Family Courts. The office is at the Judicial Center, 109 Park Avenue SE, Aiken, SC 29801, occupying the first, second, and third floors. The mailing address is PO Box 583, Aiken, SC 29802.
You can reach the Clerk's office by phone at 803.642.1715 or 803.642.1718. Email inquiries go to clerkofcourt@aikencountysc.gov. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The office collects all fees, fines, and court costs and also administers the jury selection process for Aiken County.
The Aiken County Public Index provides free online access to court case information for Circuit and Family Court matters filed in Aiken County. Visit publicindex.sccourts.org/aiken/publicindex to search by name, case number, or filing date.
The Public Index displays party names, case types, hearing schedules, and docket entries for cases filed in Aiken County Circuit and Family Court.
How to Access Aiken County Court Records
The quickest path to Aiken County court records is through the online Public Index. The SC Public Index case records search at sccourts.org lets you look up cases by name, case number, or date range. No sign-up is required, and viewing basic case information is free of charge.
In-person requests are accepted Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM at the Judicial Center. Mail requests are accepted with a written request and payment enclosed. Standard processing time under state law is 10 business days. Public access terminals in the Clerk's office let you search case information at no cost, with printouts available for the copy fee.
Note: Obtaining copies of actual court documents requires contacting the Clerk's office. Online searches show case summaries and docket entries, not the full documents.
Aiken County Circuit Court Records
Aiken County belongs to the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which includes Aiken, Barnwell, and Edgefield counties. Circuit judges rotate among these three counties for court sessions. Aiken is designated as County Number 02 in the state court system.
Circuit Court handles two main case types. General Sessions covers felony criminal cases and serious misdemeanors. Common Pleas handles civil disputes where the amount at issue exceeds $7,500. Filing a new civil case costs $150. Court rosters showing upcoming cases, hearing dates, and assigned judges are posted regularly online.
Criminal records in the Circuit Court system document arrests, charges, proceedings, and outcomes for serious offenses. These records are searchable through the Public Index and are generally open to the public under South Carolina law. Access to Circuit Court fees and filing procedures is available on the SC Judicial Branch website.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch maintains a clerk directory page for Aiken County at sccourts.org/clerksCourt/clerk.cfm?countyno=2 with official contact details for the Clerk's office.
The Judicial Branch clerk directory page lists the official mailing address, phone, and fax numbers for the Aiken County Clerk of Court.
Aiken Family Court Records
The Family Court in Aiken handles divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, and juvenile matters. Filing a divorce or custody case costs $150. Family Court judges for the 2nd Circuit specialize in domestic relations and bring focused expertise to these sensitive cases.
Divorce records are held in the Clerk's Judgment Division. Marriage records are kept at the Probate Court, located at 1930 University Parkway, Suite 2300, Aiken, SC 29801. The Probate Court phone is (803) 642-2136. Marriage records go back to 1911. Certified copies of marriage licenses serve as legal proof for name changes, insurance, and immigration purposes.
Mail requests for divorce records require valid government-issued identification and specific case information including names and approximate dates. Many Family Court records are sealed, including adoption files and juvenile proceedings. Under SC law, these records are not accessible through standard public searches. The Family Court fee schedule applies to all domestic relations filings.
Aiken County Magistrate Court
Aiken County has multiple magistrate offices spread across the county to serve all communities. The Magistrate Court handles criminal offenses where fines do not top $500 or jail time stays under 30 days. Civil disputes up to $7,500 also fall under magistrate jurisdiction.
Traffic violations, including speeding and DUI charges, are primarily handled by the Magistrate Court. The court also conducts bond hearings, preliminary hearings in felony cases, and trials for misdemeanors. Some Aiken magistrate offices hold evening sessions for traffic court. Appeals from magistrate decisions go to Circuit Court and result in de novo trials.
Magistrate court records are kept separately from those at the Clerk of Court's office. Access these records through the individual magistrate offices around the county.
Criminal Record Searches in Aiken County
The SLED CATCH portal provides statewide criminal background checks for $25 plus convenience fees. This system covers name-based searches of South Carolina criminal history. Results are immediate when searched online. SLED CATCH is run by the SC Law Enforcement Division and is the most reliable source for statewide criminal history data.
Arrest records for Aiken County are maintained by the Aiken County Sheriff's Office at 420 Hampton Avenue NE. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (803) 642-1761. Local background checks for county incidents may be requested through the Sheriff's Records Division. Fingerprint-based checks are also available and are more accurate for identification than name-based searches.
Juvenile records are restricted under SC law and are not available for public inspection without a court order. Expunged records are also removed from public access per South Carolina expungement orders.
Register of Deeds and Real Property Records
The Register of Mesne Conveyance (RMC) records deeds, mortgages, plats, and other real property documents in Aiken County. The RMC office is at 1930 University Parkway, Suite 2100, Aiken, SC 29801. Phone: 803.642.2072. Email: rmc@aikencountysc.gov.
The RMC also records UCC Finance Statements and federal tax liens affecting real property. Electronic images of recorded documents are available for viewing and copying. E-recording services may be available for attorneys and title companies who need to file documents electronically. Title companies and attorneys rely on RMC records to establish property ownership and identify liens in real estate transactions.
Public Records Access and FOIA in Aiken County
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, codified at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq., gives citizens the right to inspect and copy public records held by government offices. Aiken court records are generally open to the public, except where the law requires confidentiality. See Title 30 of the SC Code for the full statutory framework on public records.
The SC Judicial Branch website lists procedures, forms, and contact information for all courts statewide. Records requests that require searching physical files may take longer than the standard 10 business days. Inquire about processing times when you submit your request.
Nearby Counties
Aiken County is in the 2nd Judicial Circuit. These nearby counties have their own court records systems accessible through the Public Index.