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Sumter County, South Carolina State Court Records

Sumter County arrest records are documents, case files, charge sheets, docket sheets, and other files created and maintained by the court clerk, the court records department, and the court's administrative offices. These court records are very important because they capture key details of each case, enabling court staff, defendants, petitioners, and prosecutors to track a case's proceedings and outcome. The specific content of the files that make up Sumter County court records includes law enforcement records, such as arrest and criminal records used in criminal cases, and vital records, such as marriage, divorce, and death certificates used in family law cases and probate proceedings.

Are Sumter County Court Records Public?

Under South Carolina law governing access to judicial records, court documents in Sumter County, including those in state courts, are generally public records and available to the general public. The idea that transparency encourages accountability and integrity in the legal system and that citizens should have easy access to information about government processes is the foundation of the public access to court documents principle. The public is entitled to access Sumter County Court records under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), although there are some significant restrictions and exceptions.

Examples of court documents exempt from public disclosure include juvenile court records, court records that disclose trade secrets, and documents containing personal information that, if made public, would constitute an unjustified invasion of personal property.

What Information is Available in Sumter County Court Records?

The following information is always included in Sumter County court records.

  • Case title
  • Case type (common pleas, civil, criminal, traffic, or lis pendens)
  • Case subtype
  • The date the case was filed
  • Name of defendant and plaintiff
  • Name of public defendant or attorney
  • Names of all parties involved in the case
  • Case status
  • Fines and financial penalties
  • Court judgment and judgment no.
  • Indictment no.

Sumter County Court Records Search

Anyone looking to access Sumter County court records can conveniently use the online, in-person, or mail request options provided by the Sumter County court administrative offices. Each request channel is equally effective and can be used to request any type of court document. However, these request methods differ slightly in the time taken to obtain the documents and the cost of making requests.

Online Access

The Sumter County judicial portal (SCJP) is an online tool that citizens can use to search for court records from the Sumter County circuit court and magistrate courts. Individuals can also find specific information related to family court records on the South Carolina Department of Social Services portal. The SCJP portal is a free-to-use tool that citizens can use to search for records by inputting on the portal either:

  • The case number
  • The name of a business
  • First and last names of the plaintiff and defendant

Searchers can use the portal to narrow search parameters by providing the name of the sumpter county court and the type of case. Copies of records from the online portal are uncertified court documents; the clerk's office charges a $10 fee to certify them.

In-Person Access

Persons seeking court records have the option of paying a visit to the Sumter County Court Clerk's Office to make requests for court transcripts, docket sheets, and copies of case information. The in-person request process requires individuals to complete a request form and provide information that can be used to search for court records. The clerk's office has dedicated staff who respond to in-person requests on the same day.

Mail and Phone Requests

Mail requests for court records in Sumter County by writing a letter to the Sumter County Clerk's Office, describing the requested records in detail. The letter should include information that can be used to locate court records, such as the court case number, the time period of the case, when the case was filed, and the names of the parties involved in the criminal or civil matters. Mail requests are sorted within 3-10 days after the mail has been received. Mail requests should be sent to :

Sumter County Judicial Centre, third floor

215 N. Harvin St.

Sumter, S.C. 29150

Phone: 803-436-2227

Fax: 803-436-2223

Requests must also include their phone number in the request letter so that they can be contacted on how to pay the request fee. Methods of payment are usually through check, money order or debit card.

Fees for Court Records in Sumter County

The Sumter County Clerk's Office charges a standard fee of $10 for all court record requests. The fee covers the cost of locating and certifying copies of the requested records. The clerk's office also charges a $0.10 fee for extra copies of court records.

Sumter County Courthouse Locations

The court system in Sumter County consists of 4 types of courts: one (1) circuit court, one (1) family court, one (1) probate court, and three (3) magistrate courts. The largest court in Sumter County, the circuit court has comprehensive jurisdiction over all criminal and civil matters, but it usually hears only cases beyond the authority of other courts. Below are the locations of all the courts in Sumter County.

Sumter County Circuit Court

Sumter County Judicial Centre

215 North Harvin Street, Sumter, SC 29150

Phone: 803-436-2227

Fax: 803-436-2223

Sumter County Family Court

Sumter County Judicial Centre

215 North Harvin Street, Sumter, SC 29150

Phone: 803-436-2366

Fax: 803-774-2814

Sumter County Probate Court

Sumter County Judicial Centre

215 North Harvin Street, Sumter, SC 29150

Phone: 803-436-2166

Fax: 803-436-2407

Sumter County Magistrate Court

190 East Canal Street, PO Box 1428, Sumter, SC 29151

Phone: 803-436-2280

Fax: 803-436-2789

Mayesville Municipal Court

24 South Main Street, Mayesville, SC 29104

Phone: 803-453-5280

Fax: 803-453-5285

Pinewood Municipal Court

16 Clark Street, PO Box 236, Pinewood, SC 29125

Phone: 803-452-5878

Fax: 803-452-5901

Sumter Municipal Court

109 East Canal Street, Sumter, SC 29150

Phone: 803-436-2290

Fax: 803-774-2829 (ATTN: City Court)

Criminal Records Access in Sumter County

Sumter County criminal Records are the entire cumulative original criminal history of each person detained by the sheriff's office or any other law enforcement agency for a crime. Any or all of the following information may be included in a criminal record in Sumter County:

  • Name,
  • Birthdate,
  • Physical description,
  • Address, work, marital status, education
  • Dates of arrests and releases, identifying details (fingerprints, mugshots),
  • Investigation-related facts and dispositions.

Criminal records can be requested from law enforcement offices and from the criminal department of the Sumter County Circuit Court. However, criminal records from county sources do not include information on a subject's arrests and convictions that occurred in jurisdictions outside Sumter County. Notably, the most comprehensive versions of Sumter County criminal records cannot be obtained from any local law enforcement office.

Requests for comprehensive Sumter criminal records should be made through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Persons who want to request criminal records from SLED can do so online via the division's name-based search portal, by submitting the search subjects' fingerprints to SLED through law enforcement offices in Sumter County, or by sending a mail-in request to the agency.

Name-based searches can be initiated on the portal by providing the full name of a person of interest. Researchers can then filter search results with similar names based on the individual's age and arrest dates. Fingerprint-based searches are conducted by visiting the Sumter County Sheriff's Department to request a criminal records search. Requesters will complete a records request form and submit their fingerprints if they are not already in the sheriff's database. The sheriff's office will then send the fingerprint and the request form to the SLED office.

SLED also accepts requests for criminal records checks by mail. The mail request is done by completing and submitting a Criminal Records Check Form and then sending it along with proper payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

SLED Records Department,

PO Box 21398

Columbia, SC 29221-1398

Accepted payment methods for mail requests are: business check, certified check, cashier's check, or money order. Personal checks and cash will NOT be accepted.

Sumter County Probate Records

Sumter County probate records are court documents produced by the Sumter County probate court to record information regarding probate matters such as :

  • Administration of a deceased person's will.
  • Probating a deceased person's estate.
  • Involuntary confinement of people with drug addictions and mental impairments.
  • Guardianships and conservatorships for people who are incapacitated, as well as conservatorships for children

Sumter County probate records are publicly accessible documents. However, certain probate documents, such as estate appraisal records, mental health records, and financial or real estate records, are kept confidential and may be requested only by individuals directly affected by the probate process.

Sumter County Family Court Records

The Sumter County family court is a standalone court that administers court actions on legal matters such as:

  • Divorces
  • Separations
  • Petitions for Domestic Violence
  • Abuse of Children
  • Adolescent Offences
  • Visitation, Child Support, and Paternity

Sumter family court records are files that capture all the legal details of the cases handled by the court. Sumter County family records are public records according to South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act. However, excerpts from the South Carolina family court statutes restrict access to juvenile court documents and sensitive personal information in family court records. Persons who want to obtain family court records in Sumter County can visit the Sumter County Family Court in person to submit requests. Written requests can also be mailed to the following address:

Sumter County Family Court

215 North Harvin Street

Sumter, S.C. 29150

Phone: 803-436-2366

Fax: 803-774-2814

Federal Court Records in Sumter County

Federal cases in Sumter County, South Carolina, are handled and resolved by the U.S. District Court for South Carolina. The federal district court of South Carolina maintains records of its federal cases and makes them accessible online through the Public Accessto Court Records (PACER) system. Records seekers can search for any federal documents on the PACER portal by providing the federal case number. Physical copies of these records are also preserved at the district court's 3 physical locations in Sumter County and are made available to persons who visit the courts to request them.

Sumter County Court