Lee County Court Records
Lee County court records are kept at the Lee County Courthouse on South Main Street in Bishopville, South Carolina. The Clerk of Court maintains records for Circuit Court and Family Court cases filed in Lee County. You can search Lee County court records for free through the SC Judicial Branch Public Index, or you can visit the courthouse in person during business hours. This guide covers all the main courts in Lee County, how to request records, and what information is available online versus in person.
Lee County Court Records Quick Facts
Lee County Clerk of Court
The Honorable Teresa A. Brown serves as the Lee County Clerk of Court. She was elected November 8, 2016, and took office January 2, 2017. The Clerk of Court office also serves as the Register of Deeds for Lee County. This means one office handles both court records and real estate recording. The office processes over 5,000 civil cases and 10,000 criminal warrants in a typical year. Lee County court is held 46 weeks per year.
The Lee County Clerk of Court maintains records for Common Pleas (civil), General Sessions (criminal), and Family Court. The office handles warrants, bond paperwork, motions, and sentencing sheets. Staff can help you locate records and make copies, but they cannot provide legal advice. Photo ID is required for records requests. Written requests may be mailed to PO Box 387, Bishopville, SC 29010-0387 if you cannot visit in person.
The SC Judicial Branch clerk profile for Lee County lists the full office roster, court contacts, and details on the 3rd Judicial Circuit.
The Lee County Clerk of Court page on the SC Judicial Branch website shows all court contact information, the Public Index link, and details about civil and criminal records maintained in Bishopville.
| Office | Lee County Clerk of Court 123 S. Main Street Bishopville, SC 29010 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (803) 484-5341 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | leecountysc.org |
How to Search Lee County Court Records
The SC Judicial Branch Public Index is the main online tool for searching Lee County court records. Access is free and available without an account. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. The Public Index covers Circuit Court and Family Court records. Results show case status, charge information for criminal matters, docket entries, hearing dates, and financial information like fines and bonds.
When you know more about what you are looking for, a case number search is fastest. A name search works well when you only have a party's name. You can also filter results by court type, such as Civil, Criminal, or Family, and by date range to narrow your results. Document images are sometimes available online, but full copies of actual filings usually must be requested from the Clerk's office at 123 S. Main Street in Bishopville.
In-person records requests in Lee County require a visit during business hours. Complete a records request form and provide the case number or party name. Fees apply for copies. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. Staff will retrieve documents for you. Allow 5 to 10 business days for written mail requests. Bring payment and a return address if mailing your request.
Lee County's online land records portal provides access to Register of Deeds documents for real estate research separate from court records.
The Lee County online records portal through AvenInsights covers land records and Register of Deeds documents from 1994 to the present, separate from the court case records maintained by the Clerk of Court.
Lee County Circuit Court Records
Lee County is part of the 3rd Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court has two divisions in Lee County. Common Pleas handles civil matters including lawsuits, contract disputes, property cases, and civil appeals from Magistrate Court. General Sessions handles felony criminal charges, serious misdemeanors, and criminal appeals from lower courts.
Circuit Court judges serving Lee County include the Honorable S. B. Doby, the Honorable George M. McFaddin, Jr., and the Honorable Will Wheeler. These judges rotate through the county on a scheduled basis. Family Court judges for the 3rd Circuit include the Honorable William A. Buxton, the Honorable Ernest J. Jarrett, and the Honorable Angela R. Taylor. For current hearing schedules in Lee County Circuit or Family Court, contact the Clerk of Court or check the Public Index docket.
The filing fee to initiate a civil lawsuit in the Circuit Court is $150.00. Other circuit fees apply for motions, foreign judgments, and other filings. The current fee schedule is available from the Clerk's office at (803) 484-5341 or through the SC Judicial Branch fee schedule page. Civil cases in Lee County are retained 10 years after final disposition. Felony criminal records are kept for 15 years. Capital cases are permanent.
Lee County Family Court Records
The Family Court in Lee County handles divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, juvenile delinquency and abuse cases, and domestic violence protection orders. Family Court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at the same Bishopville courthouse address. Most Family Court records are public, though juvenile records and adoption cases are sealed.
To search Family Court records in Lee County, use the SC Public Index or visit the courthouse. To get a certified copy of a divorce decree or custody order, contact the Clerk at (803) 484-5341. Child support processed through Clerk of Court or the State Disbursement Unit. If you need help tracking a support case, call the SDU at 800-768-5858. Juvenile records and adoption files cannot be released without a court order in Lee County.
Lee County Magistrate Court Records
The Lee County Magistrate Court is located at the Judicial Center, 115 Gregg Street, Bishopville, SC 29010. The mailing address is PO Box 2, Bishopville, SC 29010-0002. Phone: (803) 484-6463. Chief Magistrate Windi King leads the court, with other magistrates including the Honorable Shirley C. Davidson and the Honorable James P. Saverance, Jr.
Magistrate Court in Lee County handles traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims up to $7,500, preliminary hearings for felony charges, and bond hearings. Trials at the Magistrate level are bench trials only. If you lose a Magistrate Court case, you may appeal to the Circuit Court for a de novo hearing. The Bond Court for Lee County is reachable at (803) 428-6762 and handles after-hours bond setting. Magistrate Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
A Master-in-Equity also serves Lee County for complex civil matters. The Honorable James P. Saverance handles those cases and can be reached at (803) 483-2000, PO Drawer 610, Bishopville.
Lee County Probate Court Records
The Lee County Probate Court is run by Judge Michael A. Davis. The court address is PO Box 24, Bishopville, SC 29010. Phone: (803) 484-5341. Fax: (803) 484-6881. The Probate Court handles estate administration, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, marriage licenses, and mental health commitment hearings.
Estate records from the Lee County Probate Court are publicly accessible. Guardianship records may have restricted access depending on the circumstances. Marriage license fees and estate-related fees are set by state law and vary by matter type. The marriage license fee in Lee County is approximately $50.00. For historical records or genealogical research, the Probate Court in Lee County can be a valuable resource for family history documents going back many generations.
Note: Probate Court records are separate from Circuit Court records. Contact the Probate Court directly rather than the Clerk of Court for estate and marriage records.
FOIA and Public Records Access in Lee County
Under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act (§ 30-4-10 et seq.), most government records in Lee County are open to the public, including court records held by the Clerk of Court. To make a request, submit a written description of the records you need to the Clerk of Court in Bishopville. The agency must respond within 10 business days. The first hour of search time is free. Research beyond one hour costs $20.00 per hour. Copy fees are $0.25 per page.
For statewide criminal history checks that go beyond Lee County court records, the SLED CATCH database provides name-based conviction information for a fee per search. SLED CATCH covers all South Carolina jurisdictions, not just Lee County. It is useful when you need a broader look at criminal history. More information on South Carolina public records law can be found at Title 30 of the SC Code.
Municipal Court in Lee County
Bishopville operates a municipal court that handles city ordinance violations and local traffic citations within the city limits. The Bishopville Municipal Court is located at 114 East Council Street, Bishopville, SC 29010. Phone: (803) 484-5309. Chief Judge Shirley C. Davidson presides. Contact the municipal court directly for current hearing times and fine payment information. Records from the Bishopville Municipal Court are maintained by that court separately from the Clerk of Court.
Nearby Counties
Lee County sits in the center of South Carolina and is surrounded by several counties, each with their own court record systems.