Union County Court Records
Union County court records are held by the Clerk of Court in Union, South Carolina. The office handles Circuit Court and Family Court filings for the county along with serving as the Register of Deeds. You can search Union County court records online for free through the South Carolina Public Index or visit the county courthouse in person. This page covers the types of court records available in Union County, how to find them online, and how to request copies from the right office.
Union County Court Records Quick Facts
Union County Clerk of Court
The Honorable Stephanie Candler Kitchens serves as the Clerk of Court for Union County. She also serves as the Register of Deeds, combining both roles into a single office. The mailing address for the Clerk of Court is PO Box 703, Union, SC 29379-0703. The phone number is (864) 429-1630 and the fax is (864) 429-1715. The county website at countyofunion.org lists contact information for all county offices.
The Clerk of Court maintains all court records for Circuit Court and Family Court cases filed in Union County. As Register of Deeds, the same office also stores property records including deeds, mortgages, and land transactions. This combined structure means one office handles two major record types for the county. For court case records specifically, the Clerk of Court division handles the filings, orders, judgments, and copies you need for legal matters.
The Union County website lists all departments including the Clerk of Court office with contact information and an overview of services provided to the public.
Search Union County Court Records Online
You can search Union County court records for free using the South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index. The statewide case records search is at sccourts.org/case-records-search, which links to each county's Public Index including Union County. You can search by party name, case number, court agency, and filing date.
Public Index results show case summaries, party and attorney names, docket entries, hearing schedules, and case disposition. This free online tool is available around the clock. Certified copies of documents are not available through the online system. For those, you must contact the Clerk of Court by mail or in person. Juvenile cases and sealed files do not appear in the Public Index. Under § 30-4-30 of the South Carolina Code, the public has a right to access non-exempt government records including court case information.
The SC Judicial Branch courthouse search page for Union County lists all courts operating in the county with judge names, contact information, and links to court rosters and case records.
Union County Circuit Court Records
Union County is part of the 16th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with York County. The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases in General Sessions and civil disputes in Common Pleas. All records from these divisions are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Union.
Circuit Court records in Union County include complaints, motions, orders, judgments, arrest warrants, indictments, sentence sheets, and plea documents. The filing fee for a new civil case is $150 based on the statewide Circuit Court fee schedule. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Under South Carolina Code § 14-3-410, Circuit Court judges rotate across circuits. Under § 14-9-150, the Clerk of Court is responsible for maintaining and providing access to these records. The SC Circuit Court page explains how the circuit system works statewide.
Note: For criminal records from General Sessions in Union County, contact the Clerk of Court at (864) 429-1630. You can also search case summaries for free through the Public Index.
Union County Family Court Records
Family Court in Union County handles divorces, child custody and support orders, adoptions, juvenile proceedings, and orders of protection. The Clerk of Court maintains all Family Court records at the Union County Courthouse. Most Family Court filings are available to the public through the Public Index. Juvenile records and sealed cases are restricted.
To search Family Court records in Union County, use the SC Judicial Branch case records search and filter by Family Court. For certified copies of divorce decrees or custody orders, contact the Clerk of Court by mail at PO Box 703, Union, SC 29379. Include a description of the case, the names of the parties, and the approximate filing year. Standard fees apply. The SC Family Court page provides detail on what types of matters fall under Family Court jurisdiction. Under § 30-2-330 of the South Carolina Code, certain personal details in court records receive protection from disclosure.
Union County Probate Court Records
The Union County Probate Court is located at the Union County Court House, 210 West Main Street, Union, SC 29379. Enter from the N. Herndon Street entrance and it is the first office on the left. The court is open by appointment only, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Call (864) 429-1625 or fax (864) 427-1198 to schedule. For record viewing, the office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM during regular business hours.
The Probate Court in Union County handles probating estates, resolving estate and trust disputes, involuntary commitments, marriage licenses, guardianships, conservatorships, and minor and wrongful death settlements. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for regular copies and $1.00 per page for archived Papervision copies. Mail request processing has a $5.00 fee. To request copies by mail, send a written request that includes the case name or decedent's name, specific documents requested, your mailing address, and phone number. The office does not issue death certificates; those come from SC DHEC. Staff cannot perform research, so you must search records yourself or hire an attorney or abstractor. The SC Probate Court page has more on probate law and what courts handle.
Union County Magistrate and Other Courts
Union County has one magistrate judge and four municipal judges. About 85% of judges in Union County are nonlawyer judges. Union County also has four municipal courts handling criminal cases within city limits. These local courts handle traffic violations, misdemeanors, and ordinance violations for the municipalities in the county.
For statewide criminal background checks, use the SLED CATCH system. The fee is $25 plus $1 for online submissions. SLED covers South Carolina records only. For local criminal case records in Union County, contact the Clerk of Court or use the Public Index. South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act under § 30-4-10 et seq. governs access to public records. Requests should be submitted to the department holding the specific records you need. The SC Magistrate Court page explains the jurisdiction and rules for magistrate courts across South Carolina.
Nearby Counties
Union County is in the upstate region of South Carolina. It shares the 16th Judicial Circuit with York County to the east. Spartanburg County borders it to the north, and Chester County borders it to the south.