Chester County Court Records

Chester County court records are documents pertaining to legal cases and proceedings heard by courts within county limits. These records typically feature information regarding criminal cases, civil disputes, and associated legal events, as well as all filings by litigants, court orders, judgments, and transcripts. In Chester County, court records help to facilitate judicial accountability and transparency. They are useful in judicial research, education, and criminal investigation.

Are Court Records Public in Chester County?

Yes, most Chester County court records are public pursuant to the provisions of the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified in the South Carolina Code of Laws Section 30-4-10 to 30-4-165. However, the right to public access is not absolute, and certain records may be exempt from public disclosure per Section 30-4-40. Some records that are restricted from public access include:

• Unexecuted arrest warrants
• Juvenile case information
• Records sealed or expunged by court order, as well as those subject to attorney-client privilege
• Documents that divulge the identity of witnesses, jurors, and victims of crime
• Records pertaining to an ongoing criminal investigation

Chester County Court Records Search

There are several options for conducting a Chester County court records search. Some of the most frequently used include:

• Querying the office of the county court clerk - this may be done in person or via mail
• Utilizing the Chester County Sixth Judicial Circuit Public Index
• The South Carolina Judicial Branch's Case Records Search Portal
• Third-party websites.

Chester County Courts

The addresses and contact information of courts in Chester County are as follows:

Chester County Circuit Court
140 Main Street,
P.O. Box 580,
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 385-2605
Fax: (855) 946-0423 (Civil)
Fax: (855) 935-3708 (Criminal)

Chester County Family Court
126 Wylie Street,
P.O. Box 580,
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 377-7156
Fax: (855) 932-2202

Chester County Probate Court
1476 J.A. Cochran Bypass,
P.O. Box 580,
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 385-2604
Fax: (855) 932-9283

Chester County Magistrate Court
Law Enforcement Center
2740 Dawson Drive,
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 581-5136 (Traffic)
Fax: (803) 581-5552 (Traffic )
Phone: (803) 377-6170 (Criminal Domestic)
Fax: (855) 946-0443 (Criminal Domestic)

Chester Municipal Court
2740 Dawson Drive,
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 581-2133

Fort Lawn Municipal Court
510 Municipal Drive,
P.O. Box 37,
Fort Lawn, SC 29714
Phone: (803) 872-4724
Fax: (803) 872-4802

Great Falls Municipal Court
810 Dearborn Street,
P.O. Box 177,
Great Falls, SC 29055
Phone: (803) 482-2055

Chester County Criminal and Civil Records

Chester County operates multiple courts, each with jurisdiction over specific types of cases:

• Circuit Court: Handles major criminal and civil cases.
• Family Court: Oversees domestic issues, such as divorce and child custody.
• Probate Court: Manages estates, guardianships, and mental health commitments.
• Magistrate Court: Handles minor civil claims and criminal cases.
• Municipal Courts: Deal with city ordinance violations.

Chester County criminal records document an individual's involvement in the justice system, including arrests and convictions. In Chester County, they are managed by local law enforcement and are different from criminal court records, which are generated during the adjudication of criminal cases. To request criminal records, inquirers may opt for any of the following options

• Query local police departments or the Chester County Sheriff's office at:

Chester County Sheriff's Office
2740 Dawson Drive
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 581-5131
Fax: (803) 581-5552

• Use the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Citizens Access to Criminal Histories (CATCH) portal.

On the other hand, Chester county criminal and civil court records are managed by the office of the Chester county clerk of courts who is the official custodian of judicial records created by the county's courts. Inquirers may access either record category by querying the clerk's office at:

Chester County Clerk of Court
140 Main Street
P.O. Box 580
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 385-2605

Chester County Marriage Records

In Chester County, marriage records are maintained and issued by two primary authorities: the Chester County Probate Court and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). The Probate Court is responsible for issuing marriage licenses, while DHEC is the repository for marriage certificates dated from July 1950 through December 2023. This dual system ensures that individuals seeking marriage information can approach the appropriate agency depending on the age and type of record they require.

Under South Carolina Code §§ 44-63-10 et seq, only the spouses (current or former), their adult children, and legal representatives are eligible to access marriage records. Other requesters who do not meet these criteria will typically receive a verification statement, including the date of the marriage and the county where it occurred, rather than a certified certificate.

Anyone wishing to obtain a certified copy of a marriage license previously issued in Chester County should contact the Chester County Probate Court. The Probate Court maintains on-site records of marriage licenses and issues certified copies to eligible requesters. The Probate Court charges a $5.00 fee for a certified copy and an additional fee of about $6.75 if the license needs to be reissued. Inquirers may contact the court at:

Chester County Probate Court
140 Main Street
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 385-2605

Marriage certificates, which are more formal and complete legal documents confirming that a marriage occurred, can be requested from DHEC if they are dated between July 1950 and December 2023. To request a certificate, individuals must complete a DHEC Marriage/Divorce Application Form and provide the following:

• Proper Identification: A valid government, school, or employer-issued photo ID.
• Required Fees: DHEC charges $12 for a standard search and $17 for an expedited search. Each additional copy of the same certificate requested at the same time costs $3

Requests to the DHEC may be addressed to:
DHEC Vital Records Office
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 898-3630

Mail Requests:
Vital Records Section
P.O. Box 1000
West Columbia, SC 29171

Chester County Divorce Records

Chester county divorce records are managed by the county clerk's office as well as the state vital records office. Interested members of the public may obtain these records by providing the clerk's office with information regarding the divorce in order to facilitate the record search. To obtain these records at the state level, inquirers may download and complete the Vital Records Application Form and submit it to the DHEC in person or via mail. Requesters will be charged a fee of $12 for a standard search, $17 for expedited, and $3 per additional copy. They will also be required to present a valid ID to have their requests processed.

Per the South Carolina Code § 44-63-90, certified copies of divorce records are limited to:

• Either spouse of the divorced parties.
• An adult child of the divorced parties.
• A current or former spouse of either divorced party.
• A legal representative of an eligible individual.

Ineligible requesters may only receive a verification statement confirming that the divorce took place, including the county and date.

Chester County Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records for Chester County are maintained exclusively by DHEC. Under South Carolina Code §§ 44-63-80 and 44-63-84, these vital records remain confidential for a set period after issuance—100 years for birth certificates and 50 years for death certificates. After this confidential period, they become publicly available.

To be eligible to access a birth certificate, the requestor must be one of the following:

• The registrant, if aged 18 or older.
• Named parents on the birth certificate.
• A legal guardian or representative of the registrant or their immediate family members (with proof of their relationship or interest, and, if the registrant is deceased, a certified copy of the death certificate).

For death certificates, eligible requesters are:

• Immediate family members of the deceased (e.g., parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, spouse not divorced).
• Legal representatives of any eligible individual.
• Individuals who can demonstrate a direct interest in property or personal rights that depend on the death certificate (for instance, beneficiaries settling an estate).

Ineligible requesters are limited to uncertified copies or verification statements of the event.

Requests for certified birth and death records must be submitted to DHEC using the agency's official Death Application and Birth Application forms. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or via drop-off service. Fees are the same as other vital records.

Processing times vary based on the method of submission, typically 30-34 minutes in person, two days for drop-offs, and up to four weeks for mail requests.

Chester County Probate Court Records

The Chester County Probate Court oversees matters such as estate administration, guardianship appointments, and involuntary commitments. Public probate records can be requested in person from the Court Clerk's Office. Inquirers will be charged $0.50 per page plus a fee of $5 for certification. A research fee may also apply if extensive assistance is required.

Chester County Property Records

Chester County property records, including deeds, liens, and plats, are maintained by the County Register of Deeds. On the other hand, property tax appraisals and assessments are handled by the Chester County Assessor's Office. Interested members of the public may access these records by querying the appropriate office, both of which are located at:

1476 J.A. Cochran Bypass
Chester, SC 29706
Register of Deeds: (803) 385-2606
County Assessor: (803) 385-2860

Chester County Court Records Online

While some official records are not fully digitized, third-party websites like Southcarolinacourtrecords.us provide online databases where individuals can search Chester County and South Carolina court records by party name or case number. However, these platforms are not affiliated with the government, and their accuracy, completeness, or timeliness cannot be guaranteed.