Sumter County Court Records

Sumter County court records comprise civil and criminal case records from the Sumter County Circuit, Family, Probate, Magistrate, and Municipal Courts. Generally, court records include:

• Petitions
• Case Numbers
• Docket Entries
• Summons
• Judgments and Orders
• Summons
• Motions and Pleadings
• Affidavits and Declarations
• Evidence and Exhibits
• Transcripts and Minutes.

Sumter County court records are a component of South Carolina court records that play a crucial role in the dispensation of Justice; they are evidence of case trials and uphold the integrity of the state and local courts. In addition, they bear witness to the judiciary’s transparency, equity, and fairness in handling judicial matters.

Are Court Records Public in Sumter County?

Yes, court records are public in Sumter County, SC. According to Section 30.4.10 of the South Carolina Code of Laws Unannotated, the public must know about the government business and its policy formation. Hence, Section 30.4.30 grants the public the right to inspect, copy, or receive an electronic transmission of public records unless the law states otherwise.

In addition, the South Carolina Judicial Department Rules and the South Carolina Code of Laws outline the guidelines, maintenance, and accessibility of Sumter County court records.

Nevertheless, the public cannot access Sumter County court records relating to

• Juvenile cases
• Sealed and Expunged Cases
• Ongoing law enforcement or judicial investigation
• Records barred by state or federal statutes.

Also, federal, state, or county inmates cannot access Sumter County court records.

Sumter County Court Records Search

There are several options for a Sumter County court records search. To search for Sumter County court records, visit the Third Judicial Circuit Public Records Search Page or search third-party online databases on records on Sumter County, SC court records.

Also, contact the Sumter County Clerk's Office through phone, fax, mail, or in-person visits. In addition, older Sumter County court records may be available through the South Carolina Archives and History Center or local libraries.

Sumter County Court Records Search by Name

One option for searching Sumter County court records is using a name. To use a name, record seekers must log in to the record's online repository and select the name option as the search criteria. Also, include the case name when requesting records through mail, email, fax, or other offline methods. Requesters should note that accessing Sumter County court records may involve proof of eligibility and fee payments.

Sumter County Courts

The Sumter County judicial system comprises the Circuit, Family, Probate, Magistrate, and Municipal Court. The Circuit Court is the apex local court, and it has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases but shares jurisdiction with the other courts over some cases. Typically, the Circuit Court handles cases beyond the authority of the lower courts.

The Sumter County Family Court oversees most domestic relations, mental health, domestic violence and juvenile cases, and some mental health cases.

The Sumter County probate court shares jurisdiction with the Circuit and Family Courts over some probate cases.

The Sumter County Magistrate Court (summary court) oversees certain criminal and civil cases. These include preliminary hearings for criminal cases punishable by short-term incarceration or limited fines, larceny-theft involving amounts less than $1,000.00, breach of peace, traffic and municipal ordinance violations, and pretense cases. The Magistrate Court also handles civil claims for amounts less than $7,500.00.

The Municipal Court has no jurisdiction over civil cases. However, it has limited jurisdiction over certain criminal cases. The Sumter County Municipal Court handles traffic and municipal code Violations and may impose a fine of up to $300.00 or 30 days imprisonment.

The list below provides the contacts of the various Sumter County courts.

Sumter County Circuit Court
Sumter County Judicial Center
215 North Harvin Street, Sumter,
SC 29150
Phone: (803) 436-2227
Fax: (803) 436-2223

Sumter County Family Court

Sumter County Judicial Center
215 North Harvin Street, Sumter,
SC 29150
Phone: (803) 436-2366
Fax: (803) 774-2814

Sumter County Probate Court

Sumter County Judicial Center
215 North Harvin Street, Sumter,
SC 29150
Phone: (803) 436-2166
Fax: (803) 436-2407

Sumter County Magistrate Court
190 East Canal Street,
P.O. Box 1428, Sumter,
SC 29151
Phone: (803) 436-2280
Fax: (803) 436-2789

Sumter County Municipal Courts

Mayesville Municipal Court
24 South Main Street, Mayesville,
SC 29104
Phone: (803) 453-5280
Fax: (803) 453-5285

Pinewood Municipal Court
16 Clark Street,
P.O. Box 236, Pinewood,
SC 29125
Phone: (803) 452-5878
Fax: (803) 452-5901

Sumter Municipal Court
109 East Canal Street, Sumter,
SC 29150
Phone: (803) 436-2280, (803) 436-2290
Fax: (803) 774-2829

Sumter County District Court Records

In Sumter County, SC, the Magistrate and Municipal Courts handle cases within the jurisdiction of the District Court in other states. Sumter County district court records encompass records on

• Preliminary hearings on felony cases
• Issuance of arrest warrants
• Small Claims cases
• Landlord-tenant disputes
• Traffic violations
• Misdemeanors.

To access Sumter County district court records, call, visit, send an email, or mail to the Sumter County Clerk of Court Office at the Sumter County Courthouse.

Sumter County Criminal Records

Sumter County criminal records refer to publicly available documents on criminal activities and their prosecutions within Sumter County, SC. Criminal records include arrest records and documents on criminal trials, convictions, and incarceration.

Law enforcement agencies create arrest records and other relevant documents to detail information about persons in their custody. Sumter County arrest records provide information for the early stages of criminal trials, so they are part of Sumter County criminal records.

Although interested persons can access Sumter County criminal records, state and federal law exempt access to criminal records relating to

• Minors
• Ongoing law enforcement or judicial investigations
• Witness or victim information
• Sealed and Expunged cases
• Safety of law enforcement agents and the public.

To access Sumter County criminal records, any of the following options will suffice:

• Log in to the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center Inmate Search Page, and use name, race, gender, and date to look for Sumter criminal records through inmates records.
• Call, mail, or visit the Sumter County Sheriff's Office at:

1281 North Main Street
P.O. Box 430,
Sumter,
SC 29153
Phone: (803) 436-2774

• Visit the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Citizens Access to Criminal History records search page, and use name, gender, and date of birth to look for Sumter County criminal records
• Call or mail a Freedom of Information Act request to the Sumter City Police Department at:

P.O. Box 1449
21 N. Main Street
Sumter, SC 29150
Phone: (803) 436-2500

• Visit local police departments and request access to Sumter County criminal records in their possession.

Sumter County Criminal Court Case Lookup

To look for Sumter County criminal case information, visit the Sumter County, call, mail, or visit the Sumter County Clerk of Court Office at:

215 N Harvin St,
Sumter,
SC 29150
Phone: (803) 436-2227

Inquirers should also search for Sumter County criminal case information online through third-party databases that have information on Sumter County criminal case prosecutions.

Get Sumter County Civil Court Records

Sumter County civil court records refer to trial documents on non-criminal case prosecutions within Sumter County's various courts. Generally, civil court records include but are not restricted to case files on:

• Family-related matter trials
• Probate cases
• Property disputes
• Business Claims
• Landlord-Tenant disputes
• Personal Injury Claims
• Small Claims.

In Sumter County, SC, the Clerk of Court Office is the custodian of civil court records. Individuals seeking access to Sumter County civil court records should call or visit the Clerk of Court Office at the Sumter County Courthouse and a FOIA request. There may be restrictions to public access to some civil court records due to privacy concerns. Also, the Court Clerk's Office may charge fees to make records available to interested persons.

Sumter County Family Court Records

Sumter County family court records refer to case files on family-matter-related trials within the Sumter County Family Court. Generally, family court records include but are not limited to documents on adoption, child custody and support, paternity, divorce, spousal support, domestic violence, divorce, and child visitation trials.

Per federal and South Carolina laws, public access to some family law records is restricted. Access is limited to the involved parties and their legal representatives, authorized government agencies, and persons with judicial orders.

Family Court records document family-related case adjudications. They also lay precedent for similar cases in the future, protect the rights of the parties involved in family law cases, and provide information for research.

To access Sumter County family court records, call or visit the Sumter County Clerk of Court Office at the Sumter County Judicial Center.

Sumter County Marriage and Divorce Records

Sumter marriage and divorce are official documents on marriages and divorces within Sumter County, SC. South Carolina marriage and divorce records are public documents. However, custodian agencies may redact some information to protect the privacy of records owners.

The following options are for accessing Sumter County marriage certificates and divorce reports.

To access a Sumter marriage certificate or divorce report

• Visit the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) Vital Records Guidance & Document Page:

  • Scroll down and click Marriage Certificates or Divorce Reports
  • Order for a Sumter County marriage certificate or divorce records through the affiliate third-party vendor link

• Download a Vital Records Marriage/Divorce Application – 0639-ENG-DPH

• Complete the application form, include a check/money order to cover search and copy fees, and mail it to:

DPH Vital Records

2100 Bull St.
Columbia,
SC 29201.

To access Sumter County divorce records

• Call, visit, or mail the Sumter County Circuit Court Clerk of Court Office and request access to Sumter County divorce records.

Sumter Birth and Death Records

Sumter County birth and death records provide information on the birth and demise of individuals within the county. According to South Carolina laws, birth and death records are private documents accessible to the immediate families of the records owners, their legal representatives, persons with subpoenas, and authorized government agencies for official use.

Nevertheless, the public can access Sumter County birth certificates 100 years from the date of birth, and death records become publicly available 50 years after the demise of the owner of the record.

Birth and death records are vital records with numerous uses and implications. These include legal identity, access to government benefits, inheritance and legal rights, data sources for disease research and prevention, population growth, health trends, and genealogical research.

To access a Sumter birth certificate or death record:

• Log in to the DPH Vital Records Form Page:
  • Download a Birth or Death Certificate Application Form
  • Complete the application form, and mail it to the DPH Vital Records Office
• Visit the DPH website and order a Sumter County birth certificate or death report through an affiliate third-party vendor.

To access Sumter County Vital Records, requestors may need to provide proof of identity, and make payments. The following criteria apply to accessing Sumter County Vital Records:

• A state-issued Identification (driver's license, passport, or military identification will suffice)
• $17.00 non-refundable search and expedited delivery fee (per document)
• $3.00 per additional copy of the same document ordered at the same time
• $15.00 amendment fee per record (if applicable).

Sourcing Sumter County birth and death records through third-party vendors may attract extra fees.

Sumter County Probate Court Records

Sumter County probate court records are official documents on cases relating to a decedent's estate. The Sumter County, SC Circuit, and Probate Courts oversee probate cases. Probate court records include documents on estate administration, probate of Wills, name change, guardianship, trust administration, and conservatorship.

To access Sumter County probate court records, call, fax, or visit the Sumter County Probate Court, and make an FOIA request for probate court records. Also, requesters can log in to the South Carolina Probate Search Page, select Sumter from the County menu, and use case number, case name, and other available criteria to look for Sumter County probate case files.

Sumter County Property Records

Property records refer to official documents that provide information on the ownership and transactions of real estate. Property records include deeds, parcel numbers, sales history, tax information, liens and encumbrances, mortgages, plats and Maps, zoning information, and building permits.

In Sumter County, the Register of Deeds Office is responsible for the county’s property records.

To search for Sumter County property records:

• Log in to the Sumter County South Carolina Register of Deeds Search Page:
  • Create a user account
  • Log in to the search portal and look for property records
• Call (803) 436-2177 or send an email request to rhcarter@sumtercountysc.gov
• Visit the Register of Deeds Office or send a mail request to access Sumter County property records to:

Sumter County Courthouse

141 N. Main St.
Sumter,
S.C. 29150.

Sumter County Court Records Online

Third-party online resources offer easy and efficient ways to access Sumter County court records. Private websites such as southcarolinacourtrecords.us have features that may aid in the search for Sumter's court records. These include user-friendly interfaces and advanced search tools to speed up the search process. However, such sites operate independently of any government agency. As such, using third-party resources to source official documents may return incomplete or outdated documents.