Greenville County Court Records
Greenville County court records comprise official documents from judicial proceedings in the county’s trial-level courts, primarily the Circuit Court: the Court of Common Pleas handles civil cases and the Court of General Sessions handles criminal cases, while the Family Court handles domestic cases.
Court records generated during cases filed and adjudicated in these courts include petitions, judgments, orders, dockets, indictments, and related filings. These documents provide information on legal disputes, criminal prosecutions, family matters, and court decisions for transparency, accountability, and legal reference.
The Greenville County Clerk of Court serves as the official custodian of court records and is responsible for their collection, organization, storage, and public access. These records are created during court proceedings and maintained in accordance with South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code Ann. §30-4-10 et seq.), which designates most court documents as public records, and the state’s court rules governing administration and access. Greenville County court records are distinct from vital records managed by health departments or probate courts, arrest information often held by law enforcement, and federal case files maintained by the U.S. District Courts. However, overlaps may occur in related proceedings.
Are Greenville County Court Records Public?
Yes, Greenville County court records are generally public under the state’s FOIA S.C. Code Ann. §30-4-10 et seq., which promotes transparency in government and judicial proceedings. The public can access most records through the Greenville County Public Index online, in person at the courthouse, or via the Clerk of Court’s office, often for a small fee. Most case types in the Circuit Court, like civil and criminal cases, and many Family Court matters, are open to inspection, supporting public oversight of the justice system.
However, certain records are restricted or confidential by law or court order, including juvenile cases, adoptions, sealed cases, dismissed warrants in some instances, and specific sensitive Family Court filings. These exceptions protect privacy and comply with statutes like those in Title 63 of the South Carolina Code.
What Information is Available in Greenville County Court Records?
Typical Greenville County court records maintained by the Clerk of Court for Circuit and Family Courts provide the following information as applicable to the case type:
- Case number
- Filing date
- Case status
- Party names such as plaintiffs/defendants
- Case types such as civil, criminal, and family cases
- Complaints/petitions
- Warrants/indictments
- Judgments/orders
- Sentence sheets
- Bonds
- Dispositions
Greenville County Court Records Search
Greenville County court records may be searched and accessed through the following methods:
- Online Access: Interested persons may use the online public index for free searches by name, case number, or date. Civil cases often include full document images for viewing/printing, while criminal and family cases show basic file information only. Access varies by case type. Some sensitive records, like juvenile and adoption records, are restricted or confidential.
- In-Person Access: One may visit the Clerk of Court at the Greenville County Courthouse for public terminals, index books, and staff assistance. Non-electronic files are available for inspection and copying at $0.25 per page. Older records may require retrieval from off-site storage for an additional fee.
- Mail and Phone Requests: To request a court record, contact the Clerk’s office by phone at (864) 467-8551 for inquiries or guidance. For copies, send an email to coccriminalrecords@greenvillecounty.org or mail requests to the courthouse address. Include case details, a self-addressed stamped envelope if needed, and payment as required.
Fees for Court Records in Greenville County
In Greenville County, South Carolina, obtaining court records from the Clerk of Court for non-certified copies and printouts is charged at $0.25 per page. Certified or sealed copies cost $10 per document, which includes the certification and seal. This fee also applies to exemplified copies and Notary Certificates Under Seal. Viewing records and conducting basic searches through the free Public Index online portal requires no payment or subscription. Note that some third-party websites may list different rates. Vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates are managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and carry separate state fees, not handled by the County Clerk.
Greenville County Courthouse Locations
Below is a list of Greenville County courthouse locations, addresses, and phone numbers.
Greenville County Circuit Court
Greenville County Courthouse
305 East North Street
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 467-8551
Fax: (864) 467-8540
Greenville County Family Court
301 University Ridge
PO Box 757
Greenville, SC 29602
Phone: (864) 467-5800
Fax: (864) 467-5856
Greenville County Probate Court
301 University Ridge
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 467-7170
Fax: (864) 467-7198
Greenville County Magistrate Court - Bond Court
Law Enforcement Center
4 McGee Street, Room 116-A
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 467-2402
Greenville County Magistrate Court - Chick Springs
2801 Wade Hampton Blvd, Suite 302
Taylors, SC 29687
Phone: (864) 244-2922
Greenville County Magistrate Court - Fairview/Austin
205 North Maple Street, Suite 4
Simpsonville, SC 29681
Phone: (864) 963-3457
Greenville County Magistrate Court - Gantt
1103 White Horse Road
Greenville, SC 29605
Phone: (864) 277-4429
Greenville County Magistrate Court - Greer
100 South Main Street, Suite A
Greer, SC 29650
Phone: (864) 877-7464
Greenville County Magistrate Court - North Greenville
301 Trailblazer Drive,
Travelers Rest, SC 29690
Phone: (864) 371-1400
Fax: (864) 371-1399
Greenville County Magistrate Court - South Greenville
8150 Augusta Road
Piedmont, SC 29673
Phone: (864) 277-9555
Greenville County Magistrate Court - West Greenville
301 University Ridge, Suite 5100
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 467-4640
Fax: (864) 467-4644
Fountain Inn Municipal Court
315 North Main Street
Fountain Inn, SC 29644
Phone: (864) 409-0617
Fax: (864) 409-8363
Greenville Municipal Court
426 North Main Street
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 467-6650
Fax: (864) 467-6651
Greer Municipal Court
100 South Main Street
Greer, SC 29650
Phone: (864) 848-5374
Fax: (864) 848-5377
Mauldin Municipal Court
5 East Butler Road
PO Box 249
Mauldin, SC 29662
Phone: (864) 289-8907
Fax: (864) 297-3411
Simpsonville Municipal Court
118 NE Main Street
Simpsonville, SC 29681
Phone: (864) 228-2009
Fax: (864) 967-9530
Travelers Rest Municipal Court
6711 State Park Road
Travelers Rest, SC 29690
Phone: (864) 834-1630
Fax: (864) 834-4123
Criminal Records Access in Greenville County
Official state-level criminal history checks in South Carolina are handled by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), not county courts (which handle criminal case court records instead). SLED provides comprehensive statewide criminal records, such as arrests and convictions, via its CATCH online system or mail requests for $25 per search. SLED also accepts requests for criminal records checks by mail. To request the Criminal Records Check Form, proper payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE), may be mailed to SLED Records Department, PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398
Local criminal court case records in Greenville County, such as those from General Sessions Court, are available through the county’s Public Index online portal for searching case information. Many records can be viewed online; others require in-person inspection at the Clerk of Court’s office, where public terminals and index books are accessible during business hours. Note that county resources do not provide certified statewide background checks.
Greenville County Probate Records
Greenville County probate records handle important matters after someone passes away or when someone needs protection due to incapacity. These records may include wills, inventories, accounting reports, claims, deeds, receipts, and orders for estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health commitments. Common filings involve probating a will to validate it, opening an estate for asset distribution, establishing guardianships for minors or vulnerable adults, and setting up conservatorships to oversee financial affairs. While the county’s public access portal provides online basic case information for many recent filings, older records or more detailed files typically require an in-person visit to the Probate Court.
Certain probate matters are kept confidential or restricted under South Carolina law to safeguard personal privacy and sensitive information. This includes many guardianship and conservatorship cases, especially those involving vulnerable adults or minors, medical or financial details within estate proceedings, adoption-related filings that may intersect with probate, and any records sealed by court order. Some files may be partially redacted, viewable only by authorized parties, or completely unavailable online or to the general public without a court-approved reason.
Greenville County Family Court Records
Greenville County Family Court records cover key family law cases like divorce, child custody and visitation, adoption, child support, alimony, and domestic matters. Many records are public, but sensitive cases such as adoptions, juvenile issues, or those sealed by court order are often restricted or confidential to protect privacy. Basic case information like parties, case numbers, and statuses is available online through the Greenville County Public Index portal, which includes family court filings.
For more details or images, one may visit the Family Court office in person. Interested persons may also obtain certified copies by requesting them in person or by contacting the Clerk of Court’s Family Court division via phone at (864) 467-5800. Fees typically include $0.25 per page for copies and $10 per certified document.
Federal Court Records in Greenville County
Federal court records for Greenville County, South Carolina, fall under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, specifically the Greenville Division. This federal court handles cases involving federal laws, such as constitutional issues, federal crimes, civil rights violations, bankruptcy appeals, and disputes between parties from different states.
Public access to these records is primarily through PACER, the federal judiciary’s online system. Users must register for a PACER account with a typical fee of $0.10 per page. PACER provides dockets, filings, and documents for most cases. For in-person assistance or limited free viewing, one may contact the Clerk’s Office at the Clement F. Haynsworth Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse. Certain sensitive or sealed cases may be restricted.
