Hampton County Court Records
Hampton County court records are held by the Clerk of Court at 80 Elm Street in Hampton, South Carolina. The office maintains all civil, criminal, and family court filings for the 14th Judicial Circuit. You can search Hampton County court records online through the South Carolina Public Index or visit the Clerk of Court office in person during regular business hours. This page walks you through the options for finding and accessing these records.
Hampton County Court Records Quick Facts
Hampton County Clerk of Court
Jvonndra "Punkin" Brooks-Creech began serving as Hampton County Clerk of Court on January 7, 2025. She is a native of Hampton County and a graduate of Estill High School. She studied Criminal Justice at OC-Tech in Orangeburg and served as a certified victim advocate for Hampton and Gifford Police Departments from 2018 to 2024. Her public service career began at the Hampton County Magistrate's Office in 2000, and she started her Clerk of Court career in February 2007. She is proficient in Common Pleas, Family Court, Register of Deeds, and General Sessions operations, and maintains strong working relationships with the 14th Circuit judiciary.
The Clerk of Court office is located at 80 Elm Street, Hampton, SC 29924 for in-person visits. The mailing address is PO Box 7, Hampton, SC 29924. Note that GPS navigation should use 80 Elm Street for accurate directions. Phone is (803) 914-2250. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Parking is available at the courthouse. Security screening is at the entrance. The building is ADA accessible.
The office does not provide legal advice, blank legal forms, or research of any kind. A public access terminal is available for land records filed after January 3, 2000. Pre-2000 records are in public index books kept in the office. Original Register of Deeds documents are returned 7 to 10 working days after recording.
The image below is from the Hampton County Clerk of Court official page, where you can find contact information, services, and access to public records for Hampton County.
The Hampton County Clerk of Court page on the county website lists services, contact details, and links to the public records portal for court and land record searches.
Search Hampton County Court Records Online
The SC Judicial Branch Public Index provides free online access to Hampton County court records. Search at publicindex.sccourts.org/hampton/publicindex/. The system does not require you to register or log in. Basic case information is available at no cost.
You can search Hampton County court records by party name, case number, or filing date. The index shows case summaries, party names, docket entries, case status, and scheduled hearing dates. Some documents are viewable directly. Others require an in-person visit or written request. Records are updated on a regular basis. Your browser must support cookies and JavaScript, and pop-up blockers may need exceptions for case detail pages to open correctly.
Hampton County's public records portal is also accessible from the county website at hamptoncountysc.org. This page links to various public records including 14th Judicial Court rosters, land records, property records through the Assessor and GIS site, and meeting agendas and minutes. The SC statewide case records search links to all county public indexes including Hampton.
Note: As of January 1, 2026, home address information has been removed from all Public Index results in South Carolina, including Hampton County, in line with privacy rules under Title 30 of the South Carolina Code.
Hampton County Court Records by Court Type
Hampton County is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit, which includes Hampton, Allendale, Jasper, Colleton, and Beaufort counties. Shared circuit resources and rotating judicial assignments serve all five counties.
Circuit Court in Hampton County handles both civil and criminal cases. Common Pleas covers civil disputes over $7,500. General Sessions covers criminal felonies and more serious misdemeanors. The SC Circuit Court explains how both divisions work statewide. Cases from both divisions are searchable through the Public Index. Under § 30-4-10 et seq., these are public records available to anyone.
Family Court in Hampton County handles divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence, and juvenile matters. These records are separate from Circuit Court records but are maintained by the same Clerk of Court office. Juvenile records and adoption files are sealed and not available to the public. Child support information in Hampton County is not provided by phone. You must visit the office in person with a valid photo ID or submit a written request. The SC Family Court explains how these cases are structured.
Magistrate Court in Hampton County handles small claims up to $7,500, traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal cases, and bond hearings. Magistrate Court locations are throughout the county. Preliminary hearings for felony cases are also held in Magistrate Court. Appeals go to Circuit Court for a new trial. The SC Magistrate Court page explains how this system works statewide.
Hampton County Court Records: In-Person Access
To access Hampton County court records in person, visit the Clerk of Court at 80 Elm Street in Hampton. Bring a valid photo ID. Have case numbers or party names ready if you have them. Public access terminals are available for searching records filed after January 3, 2000. For older records, index books are in the office.
Staff can assist you with using the public terminals but will not conduct research for you. They also cannot advise on legal matters or provide blank legal forms. Copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per document plus copy fees. Payment is by cash, check, or money order. Exact change is appreciated. A fee schedule is posted in the office. Copy fees must be paid before records are released.
To submit a written request for Hampton County court records, mail a letter to the Clerk of Court at PO Box 7, Hampton, SC 29924. Include the case number or party names, a description of the specific documents you need, your contact details, and payment for estimated fees. Under § 30-4-30, you have the right to inspect public court records during normal office hours. Written denials must state the legal basis for withholding records.
Hampton County Criminal Records and Background Checks
Criminal case records in Hampton County are part of the General Sessions docket in the Public Index. Search by name to find charges, case status, and dispositions for criminal cases handled in the county. For arrests that did not lead to formal charges, records may not appear in the court index at all.
For a certified South Carolina criminal history background check, use the SLED CATCH system. The fee is $25 plus a $1 processing fee. Results cover South Carolina convictions only. Online requests are processed right away. This is the official statewide tool for certified criminal history reports. The Hampton County Sheriff's Office is at 411 Cemetery Road, Varnville, SC 29944, reachable at (803) 914-2200, and can assist with warrant inquiries.
The image below is from the SC Judicial Branch clerk directory for Hampton County, listing official contact details and links for court records in this county.
The SC Judicial Branch clerk directory for Hampton County provides official contact information, public index links, and court resources for the county's 14th Circuit courts.
Statute § 14-9-150 confirms that records of court proceedings in South Carolina are public documents, accessible to anyone unless sealed by a court order. This applies to Hampton County courts as it does across the entire state.
Hampton County Probate Court and Register of Deeds
Probate Court in Hampton County handles marriage licenses, estate administration, guardianship and conservatorship appointments, and mental health commitment proceedings. Marriage licenses are valid for use anywhere in South Carolina once issued. Fees are set by state law. Both parties must appear in person with a valid ID. A 24-hour waiting period applies after the application is submitted. Probate records are maintained separately from Clerk of Court records.
The Register of Deeds function in Hampton County is handled within the Clerk of Court's office. Records include deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, plats, surveys, agreements, charters, mergers, state and federal tax liens, and mechanic's liens. Documents are checked for proper recordable form before being accepted. A schedule of fees is available on the county website. Land records can be searched online through the county website. The fee schedule and ROD documents link is at hamptoncountysc.org/14/Register-of-Deeds.
Municipal courts in Hampton County include Hampton Municipal Court, Varnville Municipal Court, and Estill Municipal Court. Each handles city ordinance violations and traffic citations within the respective town limits. Operating hours and payment options vary. Some court records from municipal courts may appear in the Public Index, while others are maintained locally by the municipality.
Note: For FOIA requests in Hampton County, submit a written request to the Clerk of Court. The county has 10 business days to respond. Search and copy fees apply. Electronic records are provided when available. Written denial must include the legal basis for refusal under § 30-4-30.
Nearby Counties
Hampton County is in the southern part of South Carolina near the coast. Use the links below to access court records for neighboring counties in the 14th Circuit and surrounding area.