Court records in Anderson County, South Carolina, are maintained by the Clerk of Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. AndersonCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Anderson County. Additional access points include the South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index, the Anderson County Clerk of Court office, and the Anderson County Public Records Portal.
Anderson County Court System Overview
Anderson County is part of South Carolina's Tenth Judicial Circuit, which also includes Oconee County. The Court of Common Pleas handles civil matters and the Court of General Sessions handles criminal cases at the circuit court level, with both courts operating out of the Anderson County Courthouse. Magistrate courts serve as summary courts, handling lower-level criminal cases, civil disputes under their jurisdictional limit, and preliminary hearings. A separate Family Court division hears domestic and juvenile matters. The Clerk of Court maintains official records for the circuit and family courts.
Anderson County Courthouse
Courts Serving Anderson County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Court of General Sessions (Criminal) / Court of Common Pleas (Civil) | 100 S. Main Street, Anderson, SC 29624 | (864) 260-4053 |
| Anderson County Family Court | 100 S. Main Street, Anderson, SC 29624 | (864) 260-4053 |
| Anderson County Magistrate Courts | Multiple locations throughout Anderson County | See county website for individual offices |
| U.S. District Court – Anderson Division | G. Ross Anderson, Jr. Federal Building, 315 S. McDuffie Street, Anderson, SC 29624 | (864) 434-4060 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of South Carolina | Filed through the District of South Carolina (Charleston headquarters) | (843) 676-3820 |
Several municipalities within Anderson County also operate municipal courts that handle city ordinance violations and minor offenses within their jurisdictions.
What Types of Cases Anderson County Courts Hear
Anderson County courts collectively handle a wide range of case types across multiple divisions:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, infractions, DUI, traffic violations
- Civil: Litigation above and below magistrate limits, small claims
- Family: Divorce, custody, child support, visitation, paternity, adoption, civil protection orders, termination of parental rights
- Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings, child protective cases
The sections below explain which court handles each category and how cases move through the system.
District Court Cases in Anderson County
At the circuit level, the Court of General Sessions hears all felony criminal cases in Anderson County. These cases typically arrive after a preliminary hearing or indictment by a grand jury. General Sessions also handles serious misdemeanors that exceed magistrate court jurisdiction. The Court of Common Pleas hears civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $7,500 — the magistrate court's civil jurisdictional limit. Common Pleas also handles appeals from magistrate court decisions, equity matters, and post-conviction relief proceedings. Circuit court judges rotate through the Tenth Judicial Circuit and are assigned to terms of court rather than individual cases on a permanent basis. The Clerk of Court manages all filings, docket entries, and records for both General Sessions and Common Pleas.
Magistrate Court Cases in Anderson County
Anderson County magistrate courts handle misdemeanors carrying a sentence of up to 30 days in jail or a $500 fine (or up to three years for certain offenses as authorized by statute). Magistrates also conduct felony preliminary hearings, bond hearings, and issue arrest warrants, search warrants, and bench warrants. On the civil side, magistrate courts hear cases where the amount in dispute is $7,500 or less. Small claims cases — generally for amounts up to $7,500 — are also filed in magistrate court under simplified procedures. Traffic violations, including DUI arraignments, are typically processed through the magistrate division. Anderson County has multiple magistrate court locations; contact the county magistrates page for specific office addresses and hours. You can pay traffic tickets and court fines through the SC.gov payment portal.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Anderson County
Family Law: The Anderson County Family Court is the sole forum for divorce, legal separation, annulment, custody, visitation, child support, paternity, civil protection orders, and termination of parental rights. Family Court judges are assigned to the Tenth Judicial Circuit and hear cases at the Anderson County Courthouse. The South Carolina Department of Social Services handles child support enforcement actions that may be filed through or coordinated with Family Court.
Probate: Anderson County Probate Court handles decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters. The Probate Court operates separately from the circuit courts and has its own judge and office within the county government structure.
Juvenile: Juvenile delinquency proceedings and Child Protective Act cases are heard in Family Court. Juvenile records are confidential under South Carolina law and are not available through public case search tools. The Anderson County Public Defender's office provides representation for eligible juveniles and adults in criminal proceedings.
How Cases Move Through the Anderson County Court System
- Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with an arrest or the issuance of a warrant by a magistrate. Civil cases start when a plaintiff files a complaint with the Clerk of Court. Family matters begin with a petition filed in Family Court.
- Initial Hearing: In criminal cases, the defendant appears for a bond hearing or arraignment before a magistrate. Civil cases proceed to a scheduling conference. Family Court cases are set for a temporary hearing if immediate relief is needed.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Both sides exchange discovery, file motions, and may engage in mediation or plea negotiations. In General Sessions, the Solicitor's office presents cases to the grand jury for indictment.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases are resolved by guilty plea, jury or bench trial verdict, settlement, consent order, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal defendants may be sentenced, placed on probation through the SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, or may appeal. Civil judgments can be enforced or appealed to the South Carolina Court of Appeals.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Anderson County
The Tenth Judicial Circuit is administered by a Chief Administrative Judge who oversees court scheduling and operations for Anderson and Oconee counties. The Anderson County Clerk of Court manages day-to-day record-keeping and public access to court files.
Local rules and procedures: Court rules for the Tenth Judicial Circuit and statewide rules are published through the South Carolina Judicial Branch website. Check there for current scheduling orders, administrative orders, and procedural requirements.
Public access to records: Most court records in South Carolina are open to the public under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (Title 30). Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile proceedings, certain family court matters, and records restricted by court order. You can search case records online through the Anderson County Public Index or visit the Clerk of Court's office in person to request copies.
Attending hearings: Court proceedings in Anderson County are generally open to the public. Some hearings may be conducted remotely; contact the Clerk of Court's office at (864) 260-4053 to confirm whether a specific hearing will be held in person or by video.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Anderson County
- Court case search: Use the Anderson County Public Index to search criminal, civil, and common pleas dockets online.
- Family Court case search: The Family Court Case Management System Public Index provides access to certain family court records statewide.
- Court forms and self-help: The South Carolina Courts Self-Help Center offers forms, instructions, and guidance for individuals representing themselves.
- Clerk of Court and records requests: Contact the Anderson County Clerk of Court to request certified copies of court documents or inquire about record availability.
- County public records portal: The ACPASS portal provides access to various Anderson County public records and services.
- Criminal background checks: The SLED CATCH system allows authorized users to run South Carolina criminal records checks.
- Inmate search: The SC Department of Corrections inmate locator covers state prison inmates. For individuals held at the county level, check the Anderson County Sheriff's Office weekly bookings.
- Sex offender registry: Search the Anderson County sex offender registry maintained by SLED.
- Probation and parole: The SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services provides information on supervised offenders and pardon applications.
- Federal court records: Search federal case filings through PACER for cases heard at the Anderson division of the U.S. District Court.
- Historical county records: The SC Department of Archives holds historical Anderson County records including conveyance books dating to 1828.
- Legal research: The Anderson County Library System can assist with legal research resources for self-represented individuals.