McCormick County Court Records

McCormick County court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at 133 South Mine Street in McCormick, South Carolina. The county was formed in 1916 from portions of Greenwood and Abbeville counties, so records begin with the county's founding. The Clerk of Court handles records for Circuit Court, Family Court, and real estate filings. You can search McCormick County court records at no cost through the SC Judicial Branch Public Index, or visit the courthouse in person during business hours.

McCormick County Clerk of Court

The Honorable Gwendolyn Dorn Chiles, known as Gwen, serves as the McCormick County Clerk of Court. She has spent nearly her entire career in county service. After starting at the McCormick County Sheriff's Department in 1989, she joined the Clerk of Court and Register of Deeds office in 1990. She was appointed by the Governor in 2011 and elected in 2012. In 2024, she received the Hardy Foundation Public Service Award. Her motto is "Service with A Smile," and she has served McCormick County citizens for over 35 years.

The Clerk of Court office handles Common Pleas (civil), General Sessions (criminal), Family Court, and real estate recording. The office also schedules jury trials, processes juror summons, collects fines and fees, appoints public defenders for qualified individuals, and answers questions about court operations. Staff cannot provide legal advice or assist with real property research. Deputy Clerk is Buffey F. Hodges. Family Court Assistant is Amanda L. Self.

The McCormick County Clerk of Court website covers all office responsibilities, from civil and criminal records to real estate recording and child support payment processing for McCormick County residents.

Searching McCormick County Court Records Online

The SC Judicial Branch Public Index provides free online access to McCormick County court records for Circuit Court and Family Court cases. Search by party name, case number, or filing date. No account is required. Results display case status, charge information for criminal cases, docket entries, hearing dates, and financial details like bond amounts and fines. Document images may be limited online, so full copies of case documents need to be requested from the Clerk's office.

McCormick County is part of the 11th Judicial Circuit, shared with Lexington, Edgefield, and Saluda Counties. This means the same circuit court judges rotate through McCormick County on a schedule. The Public Index for the 11th Circuit covers all these counties and allows you to filter your search to McCormick County specifically. When you search online, make sure you select McCormick County rather than another county in the same circuit.

For in-person searches, visit the Clerk at 133 S. Mine Street, Suite 102, McCormick, SC 29835. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for self-service research. Bring a photo ID. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard copies and $5.00 per document for certified copies. Records from 1916 to the present are held at the courthouse. Pre-1916 records for what is now McCormick County territory can be found in the parent counties of Abbeville, Edgefield, and Greenwood, or through the South Carolina Archives microfilm collection.

Note: Child support payments for McCormick County cases are processed through the State Disbursement Unit at PO Box 100302, Columbia, SC 29202. Phone: 1-800-768-5858. This system has been in place since February 4, 2019.

McCormick County Circuit Court Records

McCormick County is served by the 11th Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court handles Common Pleas for civil matters and General Sessions for criminal cases. Circuit Court judges serving McCormick County include the Honorable David S. Graham, the Honorable Debra R. McCaslin, and the Honorable Walton J. McLeod, IV. These judges also serve Lexington County, which is the largest county in the 11th Circuit. They rotate through McCormick County on a scheduled basis.

Civil cases in McCormick County Circuit Court include lawsuits, contract disputes, property matters, and appeals from lower courts. General Sessions handles felony criminal charges. The filing fee to initiate a civil action is $150.00. Recording fees for real estate documents are set per SC Code Section 8-21-310, effective August 1, 2019. Attorneys can file cases electronically through the SC E-Filing portal at sccourts.org/efiling/. Copy fees apply for all document requests.

McCormick County Family Court Records

The Family Court in McCormick County handles divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, juvenile matters, and domestic violence cases. Family Court judges serving the county include the Honorable Huntley S. Crouch, the Honorable Robert E. Newton, and the Honorable W. G. Seigler. These judges rotate through McCormick County from the 11th Circuit. Family Court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at the McCormick courthouse.

Most Family Court records in McCormick County are public, though juvenile files and adoption records are sealed. To get copies of family court orders or decrees, visit the Clerk's office with a valid photo ID and be ready to pay copy fees. Juvenile records and adoption cases cannot be released to the general public without a court order. The Clerk's office at (864) 852-2195 can tell you what to expect for your specific request before you visit.

The McCormick County Clerk page on the SC Judicial Branch website shows all court contacts, including magistrate court locations, probate court, and the 11th Circuit judges serving McCormick County.

McCormick County Magistrate Court Records

The McCormick County Magistrate Court is at 211 Augusta Street, Extension, McCormick, SC 29835. Mailing address is PO Box 1116, McCormick, SC 29835. Phone: (864) 852-2316. Fax: (864) 852-2582. Chief Magistrate Patty L. Smith and Magistrate John C. Long preside over the court. Bond Court in McCormick County is at 141 Cecil Wall Circle, McCormick, SC 29835, and can be reached at (864) 852-2316.

The Magistrate Court handles traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal charges, small civil claims up to $7,500, preliminary hearings, and bond hearings. All trials are bench trials. Appeals from Magistrate Court in McCormick County go to the Circuit Court for a de novo hearing. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Fines can be paid at the Magistrate office. Contact the court before visiting to confirm acceptable payment forms and any schedule changes.

McCormick County Probate Court Records

The McCormick County Probate Court is at 133 S. Mine Street, Room 101, McCormick, SC 29835. That is in the same courthouse building as the Clerk of Court, just one floor or suite away. Judge John H. Gray is the Probate Judge. Phone: (864) 852-2630. Fax: (864) 852-0071. The Probate Court handles estates, wills, guardianships, marriage licenses, and conservatorships.

Estate records from the McCormick County Probate Court are publicly accessible. Marriage licenses require both parties to appear with valid ID. Online records for the Probate Court may be available through the SC Probate website. Fees for Probate Court services vary by matter type and are set by state law. Pre-1916 estate or probate records for the McCormick County area would be found in the records of Abbeville or Edgefield County, depending on which territory applied.

Note: The Probate Court and the Clerk of Court are both in the same building at 133 S. Mine Street, but they are separate offices. Direct your Probate requests to Room 101 and Clerk of Court requests to Suite 102.

FOIA and Public Records Access in McCormick County

South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act (§ 30-4-10 et seq.) gives the public the right to access most McCormick County court records. Submit a written request to the Clerk of Court at 133 S. Mine Street, Suite 102. The agency must respond within 10 business days. Exempt records include sealed files, juvenile records, and attorney work product. Denial of a request must be explained in writing, and you may appeal.

Warrant searches and records requests in McCormick County can also be directed to the Sheriff's Office at (864) 465-2520. Public terminals at the courthouse are available for self-service research. For records requests governed by SC Code Ann. Section 30-4-30, written requests are the proper format. Legal authority for warrant searches falls under SC Code Ann. Section 17-13-140. For statewide criminal history, use the SLED CATCH database. The full public records law is at Title 30 of the SC Code.

Nearby Counties

McCormick County is in the western part of South Carolina near the Georgia border, surrounded by counties with their own court record systems.

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