Colleton County Court Records

Colleton County court records are documents containing information about court cases and their outcomes. While the information found in a case will vary, court records typically include summonses, affidavits, subpoenas, bonds, receipts, depositions, declarations, decrees, jury lists, indictments, warrants, verdicts, dismissals, and court transcripts.

Access to Colleton County court records is important to keep the public abreast of the county's judicial process. Furthermore, obtaining court records makes it easy for members of the public to review decisions of the county's court system, thus promoting fairness and transparency.

Are Court Records Public in Colleton County?

Yes. Court records are considered part of Colleton County Public Records under the South Carolina Code of Law. According to Section 30-4-30 (A)(1), a person has a right to inspect, copy, or receive an electronic transmission of court records, except otherwise stated by the law. In other words, certain court information is not open to the public by law or court order (Section 30-4-40), including:

• Personal information where public disclosure may cause an unreasonable invasion of privacy
• Records, video, or audio recordings compiled for law enforcement purposes if disclosure can interfere with a law enforcement case
• Documents that disclose current procedures for law enforcement investigations
• Details that may reveal the identity of any individual who, in good faith, makes a complaint that alleges a violation of law or regulation.

Colleton County Court Records Search

Individuals may access Colleton County Court Records via the following means:

• Colleton County Courthouse
• Colleton County Court Clerk's Office
• South Carolina Judicial Branch
• Third-party resources.

Colleton County Courts

The Colleton County court system comprises Circuit Courts, Family Courts, Probate Courts, Magistrates Courts, and Municipal Courts. Below are various court locations in Colleton County, South Carolina:

Colleton County Circuit Court
101 Hampton Street
P.O. Box 620
Walterboro, SC 29488
Phone: (843) 549-5791
Fax: (843) 549-2875

Colleton County Family Court
101 Hampton Street
P.O. Box 620
Walterboro, SC 29488
Phone: (843) 549-2870
Fax: (843) 549-7740

Colleton County Probate Court
239 North Jefferies Boulevard
P.O. Box 1036
Walterboro, SC 29488
Phone: (843) 549-7216
Fax: (843) 549-5571

Colleton County Magistrate Court
Jessie D. Padgett Building
40 Klein Street
P.O. Box 1732
Walterboro, SC 29488
Phone: (843) 549-1122
Fax: (843) 549-9010

Cottageville Municipal Court
72 Salley Ackerman Road
P.O. Box 57
Cottageville, SC 29435
Phone: (843) 835-8655 ext. 1
Fax: (843) 835-8531

Edisto Beach Municipal Court
2414 Murray Street
Edisto Beach, SC 29438
Phone: (843) 869-2505 ext. 206
Fax: (843) 869-3855

Walterboro Municipal Court
248 Hampton Street
P.O. Box 709
Walterboro, SC 29488
Phone: (843) 782-1057
Fax: (843) 549-7725

Colleton County Criminal and Civil Records

Under the South Carolina Code of Law, Colleton County criminal court records are public records. They may include information on legal counsels, the judges, hearing type and dates, court location, and others. These records may also include criminal information such as Colleton County arrest records, inmate information, and warrants (Section 30-4-30 (D)(3). The court provides access to civil case records, including bond issues, tenancy cases, breach of contract, unlawful termination, and related cases.

Individuals may request to inspect or obtain copies of criminal or civil court records in person at the office of the Colleton County Court Clerk. Alternatively, the South Carolina Judicial Branch provides members of the public with online access to Colleton County court records through the Case Records Search database.

Generally, persons looking to obtain these records will need to provide the necessary details to facilitate a search, e.g., the subject's name, case number, filing date, etc. The requester may also need to provide photo identification and pay copying fees.

Colleton County Courthouse
101 Hampton Street
P.O. Box 620
Walterboro, SC 29488
Phone: (843) 549-5791
Fax: (843) 549-2875

Colleton County Marriage Records

Colleton County's vital records include documents pertaining to births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, and dissolution of marriages. Under South Carolina law, certified copies of Colleton County marriage records are only issued to the couples, their adult children, a present or former spouse of either party married, and their respective legal representative (Section 44-63-86).

Individuals may obtain copies of Colleton County marriage records from before July 1950 and after December 2023 at the Colleton County Probate Office, where the original marriage license was issued. Each copy of marriage records at the office will cost a $5 fee.

Colleton County Probate Court
239 North Jefferies Boulevard
P.O. Box 1036
Walterboro, SC 29488
Phone: (843) 549-7216
Fax: (843) 549-5571

Alternatively, eligible persons may obtain certified copies of marriage records from July 1950 to December 2023 from the Vital Records Office in South Carolina in person, online, by mail, or drop off. Each copy will cost a $17 non-refundable expedited searching fee and a $3 for each additional copy.

DPH State Vital Records Office
2600 Bull Street
P.O. Box 2046
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 898-3630

Eligible applicants should submit a completed application form (DHEC 0639) as well as a copy of their valid photo ID. All mail requests should include a money order for the non-refundable $12 search fee.

Colleton County Divorce Records

The South Carolina law makes certified copies of Colleton County divorce records accessible to the divorced parties, their adult children, a present or former spouse of either party divorced, and their respective legal representatives.

The Colleton County Clerk's Office is the custodian of divorce records and makes copies available to eligible individuals upon request. To obtain divorce records, visit the Clerk's Office during business hours. There, requestors will need to provide administrative staff with the necessary details to facilitate record retrieval, i.e., subjects' names, case numbers, and decree dates.

Colleton County Courthouse
101 Hampton Street
P.O. Box 620
Walterboro, SC 29488
Phone: (843) 549-5791
Fax: (843) 549-2875

The County Clerk also runs an online Family Court Public Access portal for individuals searching for records on divorce, annulment, marital dissolution, registration of Foreign Divorce Decree (with or without support/custody), and others.

Certified copies of the county's Report of Divorce are also available from the Vital Records office for divorces decreed between July 1962 and December 2023. Whether requests are made in person, by mail, or via Dropbox, a copy will cost a $17 non-refundable fee and $3 for each additional copy.

Colleton County Birth Records

Colleton County birth records or certificates are official documents pertaining to births within county limits. They are used as legal proof of identity and are required for passport applications, bank account registration, and institution enrollment. The South Carolina Vital Records offices issue Colleton County birth certificates for births that occurred within county limits since 1915. Those eligible to access these records include:

• Persons named on the certificate.
• The parent(s) named on the birth certificate.
• The legal guardian.
• A legal representative.

Whether in person, online, by mail, or drop off, a copy will cost a $17 non-refundable fee and $3 for each additional copy. To obtain birth records, complete and submit the record application form (D-2595). Requestors will also need to provide a copy of their valid photo ID.

Colleton County Death Records

Colleton County death records or certificates serve as legal documentation of someone's passing. They are indispensable for various lawful activities and administrative tasks in the county, such as settling estates and processing benefit claims.

According to South Carolina law, copies of Colleton County death certificates may be issued to members of the deceased's family or their respective legal representatives (Section 44-63-84). Other applicants may be provided a statement of the death's occurrence, including the date and county of death.

Individuals may obtain death records in person, online, by mail, or drop off at a $17 non-refundable expedited searching fee and a $3 for each additional copy. Only an immediate family member of the decedent may order a death certificate through an online vendor. Eligible applicants will need to submit a completed application form (DPH-2594) and a valid photo ID to process their request.

Colleton County Probate Court Records

The Probate Court has jurisdiction over marriage licenses, estates of deceased persons, guardianships of incapacitated adults, conservatorships of the estates of minors and incapacitated persons, settlements of $25,000 or less, and involuntary commitments of mentally ill or chemically dependent persons.

Individuals can access Colleton County Probate Court records through a statewide probate search tool using case number or any combination of last name, first name, and middle name. According to the schedule fee, retrieving a certified copy of probate court records will cost $5.

Colleton County Property Records

The Colleton County Register of Deeds Office (ROD) maintains all land records in the county and makes them available for the public to view. Documents in records include deeds, mortgages, easements, satisfactions, Power of Attorneys, liens, plats, uniform commercial code filings, and other real property transactions. The ROD staff maintains public computers for document lookup. For more information, contact:

Colleton County Register of Deeds
31 Klein Street
Harrelson Building, Room 115
P.O. Box 157
Walterboro, SC 29488
Phone: (843) 542-2745
Fax: (843) 542-2749
Email: rod@colletoncounty.org.

Meanwhile, the Colleton County real estate lookup tool allows individuals to search for land records online using criteria such as grantor or grantee name, date, book type, book/page, and map number. There is also a list of document fees for individuals who want to obtain copies of records available.

Colleton County Court Records Online

Third-party websites such as southcarolinacourtrecords.us provide individuals with access to Colleton County civil court records. These sites are great online resources for requesters who cannot retrieve or submit requests for documents in person. Using these sites, a person may find Colleton County court records by the subject's name and location. However, third-party websites are not affiliated with the county or state government. Hence, the information obtained from these sources may vary in accuracy and completeness.