Newberry County Court Records

Newberry County court records date back to 1776, making this one of the oldest courthouse record collections in South Carolina. The Clerk of Court at 1226 College Street in Newberry keeps civil, criminal, and family court records for the county. You can search Newberry County court records at no cost through the SC Judicial Branch Public Index, or visit the courthouse during business hours. This page covers all active courts in Newberry County, how to find case records, and how to request copies of documents.

Newberry County Clerk of Court

Elizabeth P. Folk, known as Beth, is the Newberry County Clerk of Court. She was elected in November 2016 and took office on January 1, 2017. Her service to Newberry County began in October 1977. She has worked in every area of the office, from real estate to General Sessions to Family Court. She became Deputy Clerk in 1989 and was later elected Clerk. With over 45 years of service, including 8 years as Clerk of Court, she brings deep institutional knowledge to the position.

The Clerk of Court office is at 1226 College Street, Newberry, SC 29108. Mailing address is PO Drawer 10, Newberry, SC 29108. Phone: (803) 321-2110. Fax: (803) 321-2111. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Real estate recording cutoff is 4:00 PM. The Clerk also serves as Register of Deeds for Newberry County.

One important notice from the Newberry County Clerk's office: an ongoing phone scam has targeted residents. Scammers claim you missed jury duty and must pay a fine by phone to avoid arrest. The Clerk of Courts office never requests payment over the phone for jury duty fines. If you receive such a call, do not pay. Scammers use spoofed caller ID, gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, and even Bitcoin as payment demands. Report suspicious calls to law enforcement.

The Newberry County Clerk of Court website at newberrycounty.gov covers office duties, real estate recording subscriptions, court case records, and scam warnings for residents seeking court records in Newberry County.

Searching Newberry County Court Records Online

The SC Judicial Branch Public Index is the primary online tool for Newberry County court records. It is free and available 24 hours a day. You can search by party name, case number, filing date, court type, case type, and action type. The system returns case summaries, party information, hearing schedules, case status, and financial details. Court rosters for Newberry County are also available at publicindex.sccourts.org/newberry/courtrosters/.

The Newberry County Clerk of Court handles General Sessions (accepting warrants, tickets, bonds, and indictments), Common Pleas (civil case paperwork), Family Court (records maintained per Court Administration guidelines), and real estate recording (deeds, mortgages, contracts, leases, plats, and easements). The Clerk also collects alimony, child support, fines, and other court fees.

For real estate records in Newberry County, the online system is at newberrysc.avenuinsights.com. Index searches are free. Viewing, printing, or downloading images requires a subscription. A 24-hour subscription costs $5.00 and a 30-day subscription is $30.00. Payment is accepted through PayPal. Land records from July 1983 are available for research, with downloadable records from October 2003. A fraud alert service is available through the same site at no charge.

The Newberry County AvenInsights portal covers Register of Deeds land records for Newberry County, separate from court case records but maintained by the same Clerk of Court office at 1226 College Street.

Note: Public records in Newberry County are open unless sealed by a judge. Copy fees are $0.35 per page for standard copies, slightly higher than the state average.

Newberry County Circuit Court Records

Newberry County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit, which includes Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens, and Newberry Counties. The Circuit Court operates through Common Pleas for civil matters and General Sessions for criminal matters. Newberry County court records go back to 1776. The county was once part of Ninety-Six District from 1785 to 1800, and records from that district era are housed at the Abbeville County Clerk of Court.

Circuit Court judges for the 8th Circuit rotate through Newberry County. For current hearing schedules, contact the Clerk at (803) 321-2110 or check the Public Index docket. The filing fee for a new civil action is $150.00. Other fees apply for motions, expungements, and other case types. For the complete current fee schedule, see the SC Circuit Court fee schedule. Records may also be inspected for free in person at the courthouse during business hours.

Newberry County Family Court Records

The Family Court in Newberry County handles divorce, child custody and support, adoption, domestic violence, and juvenile matters. Family Court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court. Most are public unless sealed by order. Juvenile records and adoption cases are not released to the general public. If you need a certified copy of a family court order or divorce decree in Newberry County, contact the Clerk's office at (803) 321-2110.

Child support payments for Newberry County cases go through the State Disbursement Unit, which also collects alimony through the Clerk's office. Family Court judges for the 8th Circuit rotate through Newberry County as part of their circuit schedule. Contact the Clerk's office for the current Family Court hearing calendar. Forms for family court filings are available at the courthouse or through the SC Judicial Branch website.

Newberry County Magistrate Court Records

Newberry County has several Magistrate Court locations spread across the county. Chief Magistrate LaVerne K. Brock leads the court, with additional magistrates including the Honorable Ronald C. Halfacre and the Honorable Barry S. Koon. The main Magistrate address is 833 Main Street, Newberry, SC 29108. Phone: (803) 321-2144. Fax: (803) 321-2172. Bond Court is at 3239 Louis Rich Road, Newberry, SC 29108.

Additional Magistrate locations include Whitmire at 313 Main Street, PO Box 61, Whitmire, SC 29178; Little Mountain at 824 Main Street, Little Mountain, SC 29075; and Peak at 441 Church Street, Peak, SC 29122. Magistrate courts handle traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal charges, civil claims up to $7,500, bond hearings, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. All trials are bench trials, with appeals going to the Circuit Court. Contact the relevant Magistrate location for local schedules and fine payment options.

Newberry County Probate Court Records

The Newberry County Probate Court is at 1309 College Street, PO Box 442, Newberry, SC 29108. Phone: (803) 321-2118. Fax: (803) 321-2119. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, which is slightly earlier than the main courthouse closing time. Probate Judge Kelly B. Nobles oversees the court.

The Probate Court in Newberry County handles estate administration, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, marriage licenses, and mental health commitment proceedings. Marriage licenses are available with proper ID. Both parties must appear. Certified copies of marriage records are $5.25 each. Online marriage license records are available from 1986 to the present through the SC Probate Record Search. DHEC also holds marriage records from July 1950. Estate records are publicly accessible. Contact the Probate Court directly for any matters involving wills or estates, as these records are separate from the Circuit Court Public Index.

Note: The Probate Court is at 1309 College Street. The Clerk of Court is at 1226 College Street. Both are on the same street, but they are different offices with different hours and contact numbers.

FOIA and Public Records Access in Newberry County

Newberry County court records are public under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act (§ 30-4-10 et seq.). Records are available unless a judge has ordered them sealed. Exemptions include attorney work product, confidential informants, and records protected under other laws. To request records, submit a written request to the Clerk of Court at 1226 College Street or PO Drawer 10, Newberry, SC 29108. The agency must respond within 10 business days.

For warrant searches in Newberry County, contact the Sheriff's Office Warrants Division at (803) 321-2211. The Sheriff's Office is at 550 Wilson Road. Public access terminals are at the courthouse for self-service research. For statewide criminal history, use SLED CATCH. SLED provides name-based background checks for a fee and covers convictions from all South Carolina counties. For the complete text of the state public records law, visit Title 30 of the SC Code.

Municipal Courts in Newberry County

Four municipal courts operate within Newberry County. Newberry Municipal Court is at 1507 Nance Street, phone (803) 321-3720. Prosperity Municipal Court is at 116 McNeary Street, phone (803) 364-2121. Whitmire Municipal Court is at 210 Main Street, phone (803) 694-2121. Little Mountain Municipal Court is at 824 Main Street, phone (803) 945-7278. Each handles ordinance violations and traffic matters within its city limits. Contact individual courts for current hours and fine payment procedures. Appeals from municipal court in Newberry County go to the Circuit Court.

Nearby Counties

Newberry County is in the central part of South Carolina and is surrounded by counties that share the 8th Judicial Circuit or border the county directly.

View All 46 Counties