Greenwood County Court Records
Greenwood County court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at 528 Monument Street in Greenwood, South Carolina. The office handles civil, criminal, and family court cases for the 8th Judicial Circuit. You can search Greenwood County court records online through the SC Public Index or visit the courthouse in person during business hours. This guide covers your options for searching, requesting, and accessing court records in Greenwood County.
Greenwood County Court Records Quick Facts
Greenwood County Clerk of Court
Chastity Copeland serves as the Greenwood County Clerk of Court, having been elected in November 2016 and begun service in January 2017. She holds an Associate Degree in Legal Administration from Piedmont Technical College and has been with the Greenwood County Clerk's office since August 1999. She started in the General Sessions department and has since led technological improvements in the office, including converting all real estate records to an online database accessible from a computer or smartphone.
The Clerk of Court office is at 528 Monument Street, Room 114, Greenwood, SC 29646. Phone is (864) 942-8546. Fax is (864) 942-8547. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Parking is available near the courthouse. Security screening is in place at the entrance. The building is ADA accessible. The mailing address is PO Box 410, Greenwood, SC 29648.
The office maintains public access terminals for searching records filed after January 3, 2000. For records from before 2000, index books are available in the office. Staff are available to help you use the equipment. The Clerk cannot provide legal advice and cannot conduct research on your behalf. The office also handles Register of Deeds functions in Greenwood County, a role that was formerly called the Register of Mesne Conveyances before it was renamed effective January 1, 1998.
The screenshot below comes from the SC Judicial Branch clerk directory page for Greenwood County, where you can find official contact information and links to the county's court resources.
The SC Judicial Branch clerk directory for Greenwood County lists official contact details, public index links, and other resources for the county's court system.
Search Greenwood County Court Records Online
The SC Judicial Branch Public Index provides free online access to Greenwood County court records. Search at publicindex.sccourts.org/greenwood/publicindex/. No registration is required.
You can search by party name, case number, or date range. Results show case summaries, party information, case status, docket entries, and hearing dates. Documents are available for viewing in some cases. Others require an in-person visit. Privacy protections are in place for sensitive data. Search results are updated regularly. Your browser must support cookies and JavaScript for the system to work.
Greenwood County also has a separate Family Court Public Portal through the Family Court Case Management System (FCCMS). This portal allows viewing of Family Court records only. Attorneys have access to an enhanced Attorney Portal with additional features, which requires registration with an ID and password. The SC statewide case records search page links to both the Public Index and Family Court portal for Greenwood County.
Note: Historical records filed before the Public Index was established may have limited online availability in Greenwood County. In-person visits or written requests may be needed to access older files.
Greenwood County Court Records: Types Covered
Greenwood County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Abbeville, Laurens, and Newberry counties. The Circuit Court in Greenwood County covers two main divisions. General Sessions handles criminal felonies and serious misdemeanors. Common Pleas handles civil cases over $7,500. The SC Circuit Court governs both divisions. Greenwood County also has a Master-in-Equity available for foreclosure and equity matters.
Family Court handles divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, and adoptions in Greenwood County. These records are maintained separately but are searchable through the FCCMS Public Portal. Juvenile records and adoptions are sealed. Child support payment verification is available around the clock at 803-914-2260. The SC Family Court system page explains how these cases work statewide. For child support payments in Greenwood County, the DSS client portal at clientportal.dss.sc.gov provides 24/7 access to case and payment information.
Magistrate Court in Greenwood County covers small claims up to $7,500, traffic violations, and misdemeanor criminal cases. Bond hearings are available for those facing criminal charges. Preliminary hearings for felony cases are also held in Magistrate Court. Appeals go to Circuit Court. Probate Court handles estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health commitments, and marriage licenses.
Under § 30-4-10 et seq., most court records in Greenwood County are public records open to anyone. Limited exceptions apply to sealed records, juvenile files, and those protected by specific court orders.
Greenwood County Court Records: In-Person Access
Visiting the Greenwood County Clerk of Court is the most direct way to access court records. The office at 528 Monument Street has public access terminals for electronic records filed after January 2000. For older records, index books are stored in the office and can be reviewed during business hours.
Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Staff cannot give information over the phone for specific cases, so an in-person visit or written request is required for case-specific information. Copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per document plus copy fees. Payment is by cash, check, or money order. Exact change is appreciated. Documents brought in after 4:00 PM are recorded on the next business day. Documents recorded in the ROD division may take up to one work week to appear online. Original ROD documents are mailed out 3 to 5 business days after recording.
For child support verification in Greenwood County, you can also contact the support line at 803-914-2260 at any time. This is a separate system from the Clerk of Court for case-specific support information.
Greenwood County Criminal Records and FOIA Requests
Criminal case records in Greenwood County are part of the General Sessions docket in the Public Index. You can search by name to find charges, case status, and dispositions for criminal cases filed in the county. This covers felonies and misdemeanors processed through the Circuit Court. Arrests not resulting in formal charges may not appear in court records.
For a full statewide criminal history background check, the official resource is the SLED CATCH system. The fee is $25 plus $1. Results are available online and cover South Carolina convictions. The Greenwood County Sheriff's Office maintains a Warrants Division reachable at (864) 943-8032 for warrant-specific inquiries. The Sheriff's Office is at 528 Edgefield Street, Greenwood, SC 29646, reachable at (864) 942-8600.
To submit a FOIA request for Greenwood County court records, write to the Clerk of Court at PO Box 410, Greenwood, SC 29648. Include specific record details, your contact information, and payment for copy fees. The county has 10 business days to respond. Copy fees are $0.50 per page. Electronic records are provided when available. Under § 30-4-30, denials must be in writing and state the legal basis for withholding information. Appeal rights are available through the courts.
The image below is from the SC Family Court system page, which describes how family court cases are processed statewide, including in Greenwood County.
The SC Family Court page covers how divorce, custody, and juvenile cases are handled throughout South Carolina, with information applicable to Greenwood County's 8th Circuit courts.
Note: The Greenwood County Clerk of Court also performs Register of Deeds functions. Records include deeds, mortgages, plats, power of attorney documents, state and federal tax liens, and mechanic's liens. The county also records UCC filings for personal property.
Greenwood County Court Fees and Statutes
Filing fees in Greenwood County match the statewide schedule. Civil cases in Circuit Court cost $150 to file. Family Court cases are also $150. A Lis Pendens costs $10 to file alone, or $150 when filed with a summons and complaint. Motions cost $25. These fees are governed by South Carolina state law and are consistent with fees listed on the SC Circuit Court fee page.
Standard copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per document plus copy fees. ROD recording fees vary by document type and are listed separately on the county website. Fee waivers may be available for indigent parties with a qualifying court order. State-mandated fees are subject to change by the legislature.
The legal framework for public access to court records in Greenwood County includes several statutes. The Freedom of Information Act at § 30-4-10 et seq. guarantees public access to government records. Section § 14-3-410 establishes that court records are public documents. Section § 30-2-330 limits what personal information appears in public copies of court records.
Nearby Counties
Greenwood County is in the western Piedmont region of South Carolina. The links below connect you to court records pages for neighboring counties.