Cherokee County Court Records

A Cherokee County court record is an official and legal document concerning proceedings in a court of law. A typical court record comprises different kinds of records, including motions, filings, books, maps, papers, tapes, photographs, recordings, judgments, pleadings, transcripts, and other legal documents filed with a Cherokee County court. (Section 30-4-10 (c) of South Carolina Code of Laws Unannotated).

The types of information found in a court record include the case name, case number, names of the case parties (plaintiff, defendant, witnesses, and attorneys), filings and pleadings, court judgments and orders, evidence and exhibits, minutes, court proceedings, and appeals and post-trial motions (if available), among several other details.

Government agencies hold court records for numerous reasons. These records ensure straightforward practices in the Cherokee County judicial system, enabling members of the public to see how local courts manage cases and make decisions. They are used as legal precedents for future lawsuits, which lawyers and judges can reference when making an argument or a decision.

Are Court Records Public in Cherokee County?

Yes. Cherokee County court records are considered public records. South Carolina FOIA Section 30-4-30 (A)(1) grants members of the public access to review, inspect, duplicate, or obtain an electronic version of any public record. Thus, except otherwise stated by court order or state law, members of the public may access court records from different courts, such as Superior, State, and Magistrate courts.

However, there are specific limitations or restrictions to access to certain Cherokee County records, usually based on legal mandates or privacy concerns. These restricted court records include:

• Juvenile records (child custody, child support)
• Adoption records
• Records about sensitive details or trade secrets of a case party.
• Medical records
• Expunged criminal records
• Proceedings of the grand jury.
• Court cases

Cherokee County Court Records Search

Interested parties search for a Cherokee County court record at the following locations:

• The Court clerk's office
• The courthouse where the case originated from.
• A reliable third-party search platform

Cherokee County Courts

The South Carolina trial court system is made up of five court types: Circuit Courts, Family Courts, Probate Courts, Magistrate Courts, and Municipal, which each handling unique responsibilities. The Circuit Court is the largest in the State and handles the most severe civil and criminal cases. Below are the directories of the county's seven courthouses.

Cherokee County Circuit Court
#125 E. Floyd Baker Boulevard,
P.O. Box 2289,
Gaffney, SC 29342
Phone: (864) 487-2571
Fax: (864) 487-2754

Cherokee County Family Court
125 East Floyd Baker Blvd.,
P.O. Box 2289,
Gaffney, SC 29342
Phone: (864) 487-2571
Fax: (864) 487-2754

Cherokee County Probate Court
#110 Railroad Avenue,
Gaffney, SC 29340
Phone: (864) 487-2583

Cherokee County Magistrate's Court - Blacksburg
#101 S. John Street,
Suite A, P.O. Box 427,
Blacksburg, SC 29702.
Phone: (864) 839-2492
Fax: (864) 839-3415

Cherokee County Magistrate's Court - Gaffney
#312 E. Frederick Street,
P.O. Box 336,
Blacksburg, SC 29342
Phone: (864) 487-2433
Fax: (864) 902-8425

Gaffney Municipal Court
#201 N. Limestone Street,
P.O. Box 2109,
Gaffney, SC 29342
Phone: (864) 487-8524
Fax: (864) 487-6221

Blacksburg Municipal Court
#105 S. Shelby Street,
P.O. Box 487,
Blacksburg, SC 29702
Phone: (864) 839-2332

Cherokee County Criminal Records

A Cherokee County criminal record is legal documentation of a person's interactions with the South Carolina criminal justice system. It comprises various non-civil information, including arrests, convictions, charges, and any sentence enforced. Cherokee County criminal records are maintained by certain government agencies, depending on the type of criminal record.

One may acquire a Cherokee County criminal visiting the Clerk of Court's Office, responsible for handling various court cases, including civil and criminal cases. Requesters may need to contact the Clerk of Court's office beforehand, then carry along a valid ID card and some details regarding the record (case number, defendant's name, type of charges, or date of arrest) to the address below:

Cherokee County Courthouse
#125 East Floyd Baker Boulevard,
Gaffney, SC 29342

Additionally, the Cherokee County Police Department holds certain types of criminal records, such as arrests, incidents, and interactions with law enforcement within Cherokee County. Researchers can visit the physical address of the local police station below to request access to criminal records:

Cherokee County Police Department
#201 Limestone Street,
1st Floor,
Gaffney, SC 29340.

Phone: (864) 489-8115

Alternatively, the County Sheriff's Department also handles certain kinds of criminal records regarding incidents, bookings, arrests, and investigations handled by the Sheriff's deputies. Requesters can use the online search portal provided by the Sheriff's Department to search for details of incarcerated persons within Cherokee County. To do this, follow the steps below:

• Visit the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department office.
• Scroll down and click on the "Inmate Search" button.
• Provide details for the Name, Race, and Sex, and choose the date for custody.
• Click on the "Search" button
• From the list of search options.

In-person visits can be done at:

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office
#312 East Frederick Street,
Gaffney, SC 29340

Lastly, members of the public can look up criminal records on the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) online search portal, which provides a statewide search database. To do this:

• Visit the SLED online website.
• Provide the first, last, date of birth, gender, and SSN (optional).
• From the search results, choose the case record of the defendant in question.
• Provide the fees for obtaining the record(s).
• Receive the record.

Get Cherokee County Civil Court Records

Cherokee County Civil records are legal documentations about the proceedings, judgments, filings of civil court cases. These cases are typically between organizations, individuals, or corporate entities and other non-criminal cases. Common civil cases include small claims, personal injury suits, family law, contract disputes, probate, and property disputes.

The Cherokee County Clerk of Court's Office is also responsible for collating, collecting, and maintaining access to civil court records within the county.

Individuals can request Cherokee County civil records by visiting the Clerk of County's office to request copies of a civil record. They must carry along the necessary details related to the record, a government ID card, and the nominal search costs. At the clerk's location, requesters may use the court clerk's office's search terminal, allowing individuals to search for case party names, case numbers, or filing dates. The address of the Clerk of Court's office is below.

Cherokee County Courthouse
#125 East Floyd Baker Boulevard,
Gaffney, SC 29342

Researchers can also request civil records from the Clerk of Court's Office by submitting a formal request for civil records, including case details, fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Also, the South Carolina Judicial Branch website provides an online search portal for members of the public to look up civil records across the State.

Cherokee County Marriage Records

The county's Probate Court maintains Cherokee County marriage records. Requesters can search for marriage records at the Court's physical location. The Probate Court also handles two kinds of marriage licenses: marriages before 1988 and those after 1988.

Cherokee County Probate Court
#110 Railroad Avenue (Ground Floor)
Gaffney, SC 29340

Researchers may also visit the South Carolina Probate Court online search portal, which offers a statewide database for members of the public. Below are the steps to acquire marriage certificates online:

• Visit the South Carolina Probate online search platform
• Select Cherokee County from the option "Select County"
• Provide the first and last name of the case party.
• Click on "Do Search" button.
• Select the case record from the search results.

Cherokee County Divorce Records

A divorce record (dissolution of marriage) is an official record that outlines the legal dissolution of a marriage. This record comprises essential details about the proceedings, such as court decisions, agreements made between both parties and settlements. The Cherokee County Clerk of Court's Office handles divorce records.

To access a Cherokee County Divorce record, a researcher can visit the physical location of the Cherokee County Clerk of Court's office at the address below. At the office, researchers should ensure they carry the necessary information related to the record (name of spouses, date of filing or divorce, and case number, if available) and pay the fees for access and duplication.

Researchers may also visit the South Carolina Judicial Department's Online Case Search Platform. On this statewide search portal, requesters must be sure to choose Cherokee County from the dropdown options and provide the case party names, divorce date, and/or case number, as well as the fees for access and duplication.

Cherokee County Birth and Death Records

Cherokee County birth and death records are considered vital records in South Carolina State. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) handles these records, especially via the Vital Records Office.

Requesters may access birth or death records by visiting the Cherokee County Vital Records Office to query in person at the venue below:

Cherokee County Vital Records Office
#400 South Logan Street.,
Gaffney, SC 29340

One may also obtain birth or death certificates via online government-recommended search platforms.

Cherokee County Probate Court Records

In South Carolina, the Cherokee County Probate Court handles Cherokee County probate court records. These records relate to court cases such as estate administration, conservatorship, wills, involuntary commitments, and guardianships.

Requesters should call the Probate Court's office beforehand at (864) 487-2583. Then, on the day of the appointment, they should carry along the case details and fees.

For mail-in requests, researchers can submit a formal request with essential case details, for locating the record, the fees for accessing the record, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Cherokee County Property Records

Cherokee County Property records are official documents regarding property transfers, ownership, mortgages, liens, deeds, trusts, and other case records related to real properties.

The Cherokee County Assessor's Office and the Cherokee County Register of Deeds (ROD) are responsible for handling different types of property records within the county. Requesters can visit the Register of Deeds Office at the location below during regular business hours to look up property deeds, mortgage, or liens records.

Cherokee County Register of Deeds
#110 Rail Road Avenue,
Gaffney, SC 29340
Phone: (864) 487-2575

Researchers will need to provide the property owner's name, tax map number (if available), date of transfer or transaction (if known), and property address. Staff at the office can assist in identifying the records if the information isn't complete. One may also use the public access terminals at the location of the ROD's office.

Researchers may look up tax information and property assessment details at the Cherokee County Assessor's Office. To obtain this, researchers can visit the Assessor's office at the location below and request the records.

Cherokee County Assessor's Office
#110 Rail Road Avenue,
Gaffney, SC 29340

Phone: (864) 487-2552

Cherokee County Court Records Online

Interested members of the public may look up Cherokee County court records online by utilizing the government search portals provided by the different agencies. Alternatively, certain third-party platforms like Southcarolinacourtrecords.us, managed by reputable firms that collate public records, enable researchers to search for records online.

These platforms are usually relatively easier to navigate and user-friendly, allowing anyone to search for any court record easily. They offer a more robust database to look up case records and different search options.

However, researchers spend more on third-party sites than on government-owned platforms. Their records may also be more prone to errors, so inquirers may need to confirm information retrieved from them with official sources.