Anderson County Court Records Lookup
Anderson County court records are kept by the Clerk of Court at 100 South Main Street in Anderson. The office handles civil, criminal, and family court filings for the county. You can search case information online through the Anderson County Public Index without any cost. The Clerk maintains records for the 10th Judicial Circuit and serves as the official record keeper for all court proceedings. This page covers how to search Anderson court records, who to contact, and what types of cases you can find.
Anderson Court Records Quick Facts
Anderson County Clerk of Court
The Honorable C. Reena Thomason is Clerk of Court for Anderson County. She was appointed in December 2022 to complete an unexpired term. She joined the Clerk's office in 2005 and served as Chief Deputy Clerk from 2014 until her appointment. Her years of direct experience in every area of the office make her well suited to lead court record operations in Anderson County.
The office is at 100 South Main Street, Anderson, SC 29624. The mailing address is PO Box 8002, Anderson, SC 29622. Phone: 864-260-4053. Email: cthomason@andersoncountysc.org. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The Clerk collects all fees and fines imposed by the Circuit Court, manages the Grand Jury process, and coordinates jury selection for court proceedings.
The official Anderson County Clerk of Court website is andersoncountycourts.org/clerk-of-court. It provides details about the Clerk's role, office services, and links to court records resources for Anderson County.
The Clerk of Court's office in Anderson manages the permanent record for all civil, criminal, and family cases filed in the 10th Judicial Circuit.
Anderson County also has a Register of Deeds, Cynthia D. Radford, who handles real property records separately from the Clerk of Court. The Register of Deeds can be reached at 864-260-4054.
Anderson County Court Records Search
The 10th Judicial Circuit records for Anderson County are indexed online. You can search through the SC Public Index case records search by court type, agency, case number, party names, or date range. Results show party information, associated cases, addresses, and case numbers. Some notices of electronic filings are directly viewable through the portal.
For copy requests by mail, provide your name, phone number, return address, and specific case information. Certified records are available and are stamped as true copies for use in legal proceedings. Public access terminals in the Clerk's office let you search at no charge during business hours.
Note: For records requests involving older cases stored off-site, allow extra processing time when contacting the Clerk's office.
Anderson County Circuit Court Records
Anderson County is part of the 10th Judicial Circuit, which includes Anderson and Oconee counties. Anderson County is designated as County Number 04 in the state court system. Circuit judges rotate between the two counties, ensuring consistent legal standards and efficient case management.
Circuit Court in Anderson handles General Sessions criminal cases and Common Pleas civil matters. General Sessions covers felonies and serious misdemeanors. Common Pleas handles civil disputes above $7,500. The Circuit Court filing fee is $150 for new civil cases. The Clerk manages the Grand Jury process and prepares indictments for criminal cases going to trial.
Court rosters for Anderson County are available online, showing scheduled cases, hearing dates, and assigned judges for upcoming sessions. The SC Judicial Branch website provides comprehensive contact information for all judges serving Anderson County through the sccourts.org directory.
Anderson Family Court Records
The Family Court in Anderson County handles divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and abuse or neglect cases. The filing fee for divorce and custody cases is $150. Family Court judges for the 10th Circuit specialize in domestic relations and juvenile matters, bringing focused legal experience to these proceedings.
Docket entries, hearing dates, and final judgments in Family Court cases are searchable through the online case search portal. Records are available by name, case number, or filing date. Certified copies for legal use can be requested through the portal or directly from the Clerk. Keep in mind that many family court records are sealed, including juvenile cases and adoption files. These records are not available through standard public searches.
The Family Court fee schedule covers all domestic filings. Child support information is available through the State Disbursement Unit at 800-768-5858 rather than through the local Clerk's office.
Anderson County Probate Court
Anderson County's Probate Court is on the second floor of the courthouse at PO Box 8002, Anderson, SC 29622-8002. Phone: 864-260-4049. Fax: 864-260-4811. The court handles estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, marriage licenses, and involuntary commitments.
Will ledger images are available for viewing, providing access to recorded wills and estate planning documents. Marriage licenses are issued by the Probate Court, with records from 1911 to present. Estate proceedings cover both probate of wills and administration of estates where no will exists. Guardianship and conservatorship cases protect the interests of minors and incapacitated adults. Probate Court fees are set by state law based on the type of proceeding and the value of assets involved.
Note: Probate Court records are separate from those held by the Clerk of Court, and requests must be submitted directly to the Probate Court at the courthouse.
Anderson County Magistrate Court Records
Anderson County has multiple magistrate offices across the county to provide accessible court services in all communities. The Magistrate Court handles criminal offenses punishable by fines up to $500 or imprisonment up to 30 days. Civil matters up to $7,500 also fall under magistrate jurisdiction.
Magistrate courts conduct bond hearings, preliminary hearings in felony cases, and trials for misdemeanors and traffic violations. The chief magistrate assigns cases and sets court schedules, with some evening sessions available for traffic court. Magistrate court records are separate from Circuit Court records. Access those records through the individual magistrate offices around Anderson County. Appeals go to the Circuit Court and result in de novo trials.
Public Records Requests and FOIA in Anderson County
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq., gives citizens the right to inspect and copy most government records. Court records in Anderson County are generally available to the public, subject to legal exceptions for sealed and confidential materials. See Title 30 of the SC Code for the full public records framework.
Records requests can be made in person at 100 South Main Street, by mail to PO Box 8002, Anderson, SC 29622, by phone at 864-260-4053, or by email at cthomason@andersoncountysc.org. The Public Information Office at 864-260-1047 can also assist with general questions about county records. The Clerk has 10 business days to respond to FOIA requests under state law.
Criminal Background Checks in Anderson County
The SLED CATCH portal provides name-based statewide criminal history searches for $25 plus convenience fees. Results come immediately when ordered online. This is the most reliable source for South Carolina criminal history data and is widely used for background screening purposes.
Arrest records and incident reports for Anderson County are available through the Anderson County Sheriff's Office. The Records Division provides copies upon request with proper identification. Active warrant information may be available through the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement purposes. The Sheriff's Office coordinates with the Clerk of Court on all criminal case processing in the county.
Nearby Counties
Anderson County is in the 10th Judicial Circuit. These neighboring counties each maintain their own court records through the Public Index.