Florence County Court Records Lookup
Florence County court records are kept by the Clerk of Court at the Florence County Courthouse on North Irby Street in Florence. The office manages civil, criminal, and family court filings for the 12th Judicial Circuit. You can search Florence County court records online through the South Carolina Public Index or visit the courthouse to request documents in person. This page covers everything you need to know about accessing these records.
Florence County Court Records Quick Facts
Florence County Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court in Florence County is Doris Poulos O'Hara, who has been with the office since 1990. She was elected in 2016 and oversees General Session, Common Pleas, Family Court, and the Register of Deeds division. The office is located at 180 North Irby Street in Florence, with the Clerk's main office in Room 707. Family Court is on the 6th floor in Room 608, and Probate Court is in Room 606.
The Clerk of Court is responsible for maintaining all court records in Florence County and providing public access to those documents. By statute, the Clerk is also in charge of the courthouse itself. Records date back to the early 1900s for court cases, with land records extending further. Staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Free parking is available in the public lot behind the courthouse, and ADA accessible entrances are in place.
The Clerk's office handles every stage of the court process, from accepting the initial filing to storing the final judgment. This makes it the central resource for anyone searching Florence County court records. Phone the office at (843) 665-3031 before visiting to confirm hours and what ID you should bring.
The image below is from the Florence County Public Index portal, the main online search tool for court records filed in Florence County.
The Public Index for Florence County is hosted by the SC Judicial Branch and offers free access to case information for both Circuit Court and Family Court.
Search Florence County Court Records Online
The South Carolina Judicial Branch hosts the Public Index system for online case searches. For Florence County, go to publicindex.sccourts.org/florence/publicindex/. Search is free and does not require you to create an account or log in.
You can search Florence County court records by party name (first and last), case number, court type, case status, date range, and case category. The system shows party names, case type, filing date, hearing schedule, judge assignments, and docket entries. Document images are available for viewing in many cases. Results are updated daily, though there may be occasional short delays. Your browser must have JavaScript and cookies enabled. Some browsers also require that you allow pop-ups for case detail windows to open correctly.
The SC statewide case records search page links to all 46 county public indexes, including Florence. The main SC Judicial Branch website also has court rosters, hearing schedules, and other resources. For attorney searches, the Public Index allows filtering by attorney name or bar number, which is helpful for tracking case assignments.
Note: Home address information was removed from all Public Index results beginning January 1, 2026, per updated state privacy rules under Title 30 of the South Carolina Code.
Florence County Court Records: Types and Coverage
Florence County court records cover several types of cases handled by different courts within the county. Knowing which court handled a case helps you find it faster.
Circuit Court in Florence County has two divisions. General Sessions handles criminal matters, including felonies and more serious misdemeanors. Common Pleas handles civil disputes where the amount at issue exceeds $7,500. The SC Circuit Court system manages both across the state. Florence County also has a Master-in-Equity who handles foreclosure and equity matters, keeping those cases off the main Circuit Court docket.
Family Court in Florence County handles divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence cases, juvenile delinquency, and adoptions. Family Court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court separately, though they are accessible through the same Public Index system. Juvenile records and adoptions are sealed. The SC Family Court page explains how these cases work in detail.
Magistrate Court covers civil disputes up to $7,500, misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and small claims. Florence County has multiple magistrate court locations, including the main location at 180 N. Irby Street. Bond court operates around the clock. Appeals from Magistrate Court decisions go to Circuit Court. The SC Magistrate Court page has more on how these cases are structured statewide.
How to Get Florence County Court Records In Person
To access Florence County court records in person, visit the Clerk of Court office at 180 N. Irby Street, Room 707, Florence, SC 29501. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Security screening is required at all entrances. Bring a valid photo ID. Language assistance is available upon request.
Public access terminals are available in the office for self-service research. Staff can guide you on how to use the terminals but cannot conduct research on your behalf. If you know the case number or party names, have them ready before you arrive. Copies cost a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more and require an extra per-document fee. Payment is by cash, money order, or certified check. Personal checks may be accepted from known parties. Exact change is appreciated.
Same-day service is available for recent records. For historical records or large volume requests, call ahead. Records from other counties must be requested from the originating court. If you need child support information, that data is handled separately through the State Disbursement Unit at 800-768-5858, not through the Clerk of Court.
To submit a mail request for Florence County court records, write to: Florence County Clerk of Court, 180 N. Irby St, Florence, SC 29501, or P.O. Box 1797, Florence, SC 29503-1797. Include the case number or party names, a description of the documents you need, your return address, and payment. Allow 5 to 10 business days for processing. Under § 30-4-30, you have the right to inspect public court records during normal business hours.
Florence County Court Records: Fees and Statutes
Court fees in Florence County follow the state schedule set by South Carolina law. Filing a civil case in Circuit Court costs $150. Filing a family court domestic case costs $150. Motions cost $25. A Lis Pendens filing alone costs $10, or $150 when filed with a summons and complaint. These fees are consistent with what SC Circuit Court fees outline statewide.
Copy fees are $0.25 per page for the first 10 pages and $0.50 per page after that. Certified copies cost $1.00 per document plus copy fees. Exemplified copies are $5.00 per document plus copy fees. If the Clerk must search records on your behalf, a search fee of $25 per name per year may apply. Credit cards may be accepted at some points, typically with a convenience fee.
Under § 30-4-10 et seq., most Florence County court records are public. You do not have to be a party to the case to request them. Court records are also governed by § 14-9-150, which affirms the public nature of court filings. Fee waivers are available for persons who qualify as indigent with a court approval order.
Florence County Probate and Municipal Court Records
Probate Court in Florence County is located in Room 606 at 180 N. Irby Street, reachable at (843) 665-3085. This court handles estate administration, probate of wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and marriage licenses. Marriage licenses are valid anywhere in South Carolina once issued. The license fee is typically $40 to $50. Both parties must appear in person with valid identification, and a 24-hour waiting period applies after the application is submitted.
Probate records are separate from Clerk of Court records but may be searched through the SC Probate Court portal. Historical probate records may hold estate inventories, letters of administration, and old wills that have significant value for genealogical research.
Florence County also has municipal courts that handle city ordinance violations and traffic citations within city limits. Florence Municipal Court is at 180 North Irby Street, reachable at (843) 665-3148. Coward Municipal Court is at 3720 U.S. 52, Coward, SC 29530, at (843) 389-2585. Timmonsville Municipal Court is at 211 E. Smith Street, Timmonsville. Operating hours vary by municipality. Some municipal court records appear in the Public Index, while others are maintained locally.
Note: For FOIA requests in Florence County, submit a written request to the County Clerk or Administrator. The county has 10 business days to respond. Search fees of $25 per hour may apply after the first hour of staff time, plus $0.25 per page for copies.
Nearby Counties
Florence County is in the northeastern part of South Carolina. The links below connect you to court records pages for neighboring counties in the region.