Florence County Court Records

Florence County court records are documents of events associated with proceedings and the resulting court decisions. Court clerks are responsible for maintaining these documents and processing record requests. Records at the court clerk's office are kept mainly on paper. Clerks may also maintain online repositories where images of court documents are uploaded to aid easy access by other agencies in the judicial system and interested parties.

South Carolina court records include petitions, court dockets, indictments, pleas, exhibits, orders, decrees, and warrants. Courts maintain records for documentation purposes, to establish legal precedents, and to promote accountability in the county courts. People look up court records, among other reasons, during academic research to satisfy personal curiosity, stay informed about a case of interest, identify potentially harmful individuals, and for genealogical research.

Are Court Records Public in Florence County?

Yes. Per the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), court records are categorized as public records. Provisions under this act ensure that court clerks provide reasonable means by which interested parties may view and copy court documents. However, this act exempts adoption, juvenile, sealed case records, dismissed warrants, or other documents that may reveal private information about record subjects.

Confidential details are generally redacted from records before they are placed on public databases or websites. A researcher must obtain authorization from a court judge or other competent authority to obtain copies of confidential court records. Otherwise, such records are only available to case participants, their designees, their attorneys, and authorized court staff.

Florence County Court Records Search

Court records searches may be achieved through any of the following means:

• Inspecting physical paperwork at the court clerk's office
• Using public terminals at the courthouse
• Utilizing court-operated and third-party websites.

Florence County Court Records Search by Name

Names are a general criterion for searching Florence court records. They apply to in-person, mail-in, and online search methods. However, they are insufficient for identifying specific records, as multiple court cases may exist in a person’s name or various case parties may exist with the same name. As such, researchers should possess additional details about the record of interest, such as a case number or docket number.

An inquirer is required to enter a case party’s full name in the appropriate field on a search website. On some sites, a person’s last name is sufficient information for the search. In-person requesters at a court clerk’s office are required to possess additional information, as they may have to complete a record request form. In most cases, regardless of the search method, researchers must pay certain fees to access records.

Florence County Courts

The Florence County court system comprises courts with specified jurisdiction, which depends on the case type and where the litigants live. The Florence County Circuit Court is the trial court of record; it adjudicates most case types and handles appeals from lesser courts. Other courts in the county are family courts, probate courts, magistrates courts, and municipal courts. Their addresses and contact information are listed below.

Florence County Circuit Court
City-County Complex
180 North Irby Street
Florence, SC 29501
Phone: (843) 665-3031
Fax: (843) 665-3097

Florence County Family Court
City-County Complex
180 North Irby Street
Florence, SC 29501
Phone: (843) 665-3096
Fax: (843) 662-6165

Florence County Probate Court
City-County Complex
180 North Irby Street, MSC-L
Florence, SC 29501
Phone: (843) 665-3085
Fax: (843) 665-3068

Florence County Magistrate Court - Effingham
6719 Friendfield Road
Effingham, SC 29541
Phone: (843) 665-6690
Fax: (843) 629-9970

Florence County Magistrate Court - Florence
180 North Irby Street, MSC-W
Florence, SC 29501
Phone: (843) 665-0031
Fax: (843) 661-7800

Florence County Magistrate Court - Johnsonville
114 West Broadway Street
P.O. Box 904
Johnsonville, SC 29555
Phone: (843) 380-9211
Fax: (843) 380-9411

Florence County Magistrate Court - Lake City
345 Ron McNair Boulevard
P.O. Box 39
Lake City, SC 29560
Phone: (843) 394-5461
Fax: (843) 394-3865

Florence County Magistrate Court - Olanta
220 East Main Street
P.O. Box 362
Olanta, SC 29114
Phone: (843) 396-9056
Fax: (843) 369-9406

Florence County Magistrate Court - Pamplico
124 East 3rd Avenue
P.O. Box 367
Pamplico, SC 29583
Phone: (843) 493-0072
Fax: (843) 493-5391

Florence County Magistrate Court - Timmonsville
307 East Smith Street
P.O. Box 190
Timmonsville, SC 29161
Phone: (843) 346-7472
Fax: (843) 346-0660

Coward Municipal Court
3720 US Highway 52
P.O. Box 67
Coward, SC 29530
Phone: (843) 389-2585
Fax: (843) 389-1981

Florence Municipal Court
City Center
324 West Evans Street
Florence, SC 29501
Phone: (843) 665-3148
Fax: (843) 665-3251

Johnsonville Municipal Court
111 West Broadway Street
P.O. Box 428
Johnsonville, SC 29555
Phone: (843) 386-3500
Fax: (843) 386-3423

Lake City Municipal Court
202 Kelley Street
P.O. Box 1329
Lake City, SC 29560
Phone: (843) 394-5421
Fax: (843) 394-5742

Olanta Municipal Court
365 North Magnolia Street
P.O. Box 396
Olanta, SC 29114
Phone: (843) 396-4301
Fax: (843) 396-4414

Pamplico Municipal Court
201 River Road
P.O. Box 296
Pamplico, SC 29583
Phone: (843) 493-5551
Fax: (843) 493-5013

Quinby Municipal Court
611 East Ashby Road
P.O. Box 15056
Quinby, SC 29506
Phone: (843) 669-3820
Fax: (843) 669-1004

Scranton Municipal Court
Highway 52
P.O. Box 279
Scranton, SC 29591
Phone: (843) 389-2222

Timmonsville Municipal Court
117 East Main Street
Timmonsville, SC 29161
Phone: (843) 346-7492
Fax: (843) 346-7965

Florence County Superior Court Case Search

The Florence County Circuit has superior jurisdiction and has two divisions: the Court of Common Pleas (civil court) and the Court of General Sessions (criminal court). This court also presides over appeals from the county’s probate, municipal, and magistrate courts. The court clerk maintains records for all cases filed in this court and makes record copies available to requesters at their office.

Researchers should submit a FOIA request at the clerk’s office, detailing the name, case, number, and relevant information that could aid in identifying the sought record. The court does not maintain a website for case searches. A county-wide search can be performed online using the Public Index website. Alternatively, one may use third-party websites.

Florence County District Court Records

Florence County does not have district courts. However, the United States District Court sits in Forence County. This federal court handles all criminal and civil cases related to federal law, such as class action lawsuits, intellectual property disputes, drug trafficking, immigration offences, and bank robberies. Interested parties may search, view, and retrieve records electronically using PACER. The National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) facilitates searches for records stored at the Federal Records Center via its online ordering service.

Specific requirements apply to both resources mentioned. In any case, one must pay certain fees and complete specific forms, specifying identifying details of the searched record. Additional fees are required to obtain certified copies of records. For further information, visit the courthouse at

J. L. McMillan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
401 West Evans Street
Florence, South Carolina 29501
Phone: (843) 676-3820
Fax: (843) 676-3831

Florence County Criminal Records

The Florence County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for all municipalities in the county. This office maintains all crime-related and criminal offender information for the county. These records are partially public. Public criminal records are provided by the sheriff’s office to interested parties and include Florence County arrest records, sex offender records, and incarceration information.

To obtain criminal records, use the Citizens Access to Criminal Histories (CATCH) website to perform a name-based background check. For each search costs $25.00 plus an additional $1.00 convenience fee for online requests. Payment options include money orders, checks, and credit card payments.

Florence County Criminal Court Case Lookup

In Florence County, criminal cases are handled by the county’s circuit and magistrate courts depending on the severity of the crime. The Magistrate Court presides over misdemeanors (such as traffic violations and petty theft), whereas the Circuit Court handles felonies (such as robbery, murder, and burglary) and certain serious misdemeanors. However, Florence County arrest records are maintained by the County Sheriff's Office.

To view Florence County criminal records generated in any of these courts, contact the Clerk of Court’s Office by Phone: ((843) 665-3079) or visit the courthouse where the case of interest was adjudicated.

Get Florence County Civil Court Records

Most courts in Florence county have jurisdiction over civil matters. However, all cases involving amounts greater than $7,500 are adjudicated by the county’s circuit court. General examples of civil court cases are family law matters, juvenile cases, probate matters, and personal injury lawsuits. To obtain copies of records, requesters should visit the specific courthouse that adjudicated a case of interest or utilize other methods provided by the court for this purpose.

Florence County Family Court Records

The Florence County Family Court adjudicates all family law matters, including those related to marriage dissolutions, legal separation, child support, spousal support, adoption, juvenile delinquency, guardianship, name changes, and domestic violence. All associated records are kept by the office of the county clerk of court. Interested parties may contact this office to search records for a fee.

For confidentiality reasons, most family case records are non-public and are only visible to specific individuals. To inspect non-public family records, a researcher must present proof of their involvement in the case, relationship with the litigants, or legitimate interest. In any case, one must also possess sufficient information about a case of interest to aid the retrieval of the sought records.

Florence Dissolution of Marriage Records

Marriage dissolutions are handled by the county’s family court and include divorce, property division, alimony, and legal separations. All associated records are handled by the court clerk. See the relevant header for further information.

Florence County Marriage and Divorce Records

The Florence County Family Court handles all marriage and divorce proceedings in the county. The Florence County Clerk of Court facilitates record searches at their office. The county’s probate court performs certain marriage-related functions, such as the issuance of marriage licenses. One may search Florence County marriage licenses on the probate court’s website for certain fees payable by credit card.

To find records, a researcher must possess the names of the marriage participants, the date of marriage, and a case number (if known). One may also request marriage records from the Vital Records Division of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Request methods are by mail, in-person, phone, drop-off, and online. Applicable fees range from $3.00 to $17.00 per copy. In-person and mail requests should go to

DHEC Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201.

Florence Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records in Florence County are maintained by the Vital Records Division of the state’s health department. They are generally classified as Florence County vital records. This division also facilitates public inspection of these records at their office and through other channels, including online, by mail, and phone. During a search, researchers typically have to submit specific information about the person named on the requested record, such as their full name, their parents’ name, and the date of death or death.

Certified copies of Florence County birth records are typically available to the record’s subject, their parents (named on the certificate), and a legal guardian or representative. Similarly, death certificates are typically only available to immediate family members of the deceased or their legal representative. Third-parties are not privy to death certificates, but may be provided a statement confirming a death. This statement generally includes the full name of the deceased, the day of death, and the county where the death occurred. Certain fee requirements and processing days apply.

Florence County Probate Court Records

The Florence County Probate Court presides over all probate-related matters, such as trusts, involuntary mental and chemical dependency commitments, wills, the estate of a deceased, juvenile, or incapacitated person, and the issuance of marriage licenses. Probate records are available online and at the court clerk’s office. Accepted search criteria for this site are the full name of an individual or company named in the case. Information on this website is free. Searches at the court clerk’s office, which may involve a fee, may be processed at:

Florence County Probate Court
City-County Complex
180 North Irby Street, MSC-L
Florence, SC 29501
Phone: (843) 665-3085
Fax: (843) 665-3068

Florence County Property Records

Florence County property records include various documents, e.g., deeds, liens, mortgages, notices, motions, plats, orders, and restrictions. The Register of Deeds Office maintains most property records for the county and makes a free property record search portal. Search criteria are grantor and grantee names. The offices of the County Tax Assessor and Auditor are also involved in the creation, maintenance, and public dissemination of property records.

Interested parties may also find property tax information on the Tax Inquiry website. Search criteria include company/individual name, street address, and receipt number. Besides these online resources, inquirers may contact the relevant agencies by mail or at their office for inquiries.

Florence County Treasurer
P.O. Box 100501
Florence, SC 29502-0501
Florence County Tax Assessor Office
180 North Irby Street
Florence, SC 29501.

Florence County Court Records Online

Third-party websites, such as southcarolinacourtrecords.us, exist for searching records created in every court in Florence County. They are run by independent companies alongside official court-operated websites and usually cover multiple courts and jurisdictions. These websites may display basic court case details for free but require fees (payable via bank cards) for a full record. Users are typically required to create free accounts and proceed to make paid subscriptions.

Generally accepted search criteria are case numbers and party names. Certain sites come with additional functionalities, enabling users to filter search results by filing date, search for cases using an attorney’s name, and search other kinds of public records other than court records. However, third-party websites are usually more expensive than court-operated sites and may contain information that is not complete or up-to-date. As such, requesters are advised to verify records with official sources.