Greenville County Court Records

Court records in Greenville 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. GreenvilleCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Greenville County. You can also search records through the Public Index Search hosted by the South Carolina Judicial Department, visit the Greenville County Clerk of Court's Office, or request documents directly from county and state government offices.

Greenville County Court System Overview

Greenville County is part of South Carolina's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, which serves Greenville County and Pickens County. The Circuit Court functions as the state's trial court of general jurisdiction, hearing major civil and criminal matters. Criminal cases tried at the circuit level are heard in the Court of General Sessions, while civil cases are heard in the Court of Common Pleas — both divisions operate under Circuit Court judges who are qualified to preside over either type of case. Below the Circuit Court, Magistrate Courts (also called Summary Courts) handle lower-level criminal offenses, civil disputes within their jurisdictional limits, and preliminary hearings. A separate Family Court division handles domestic and juvenile matters. The Greenville County Courthouse is located at:

Courts Serving Greenville County

What Types of Cases Greenville County Courts Hear

Courts in Greenville County handle a wide range of case types across multiple divisions:

• Criminal: Felonies (General Sessions), misdemeanors, infractions, DUI
• Civil: Lawsuits, contract disputes, personal injury, small claims
• Family law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protection orders, termination of parental rights
• Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships
• Juvenile: Delinquency, child protective proceedings, status offenses
• Traffic: Moving violations, license suspensions
• Federal: Federal criminal cases, civil rights claims, bankruptcy filings

District Court Cases in Greenville County

The Circuit Court in Greenville County — operating through the Court of General Sessions (criminal) and the Court of Common Pleas (civil) — serves as the trial court of general jurisdiction. Felony criminal cases typically begin with an arrest or warrant, proceed through a preliminary hearing at the Magistrate Court level, and are then presented to a grand jury for indictment before being scheduled in General Sessions. Civil cases involving amounts above the Magistrate Court's jurisdictional limit are filed directly in the Court of Common Pleas. Circuit Court judges are assigned to cases on a rotating basis. Appeals from Magistrate Court decisions are also heard at the Circuit Court level. The Clerk of Court's criminal records office manages warrants, indictments, and disposition records for General Sessions cases.

Magistrate Court Cases in Greenville County

Greenville County Magistrate Courts have countywide jurisdiction and handle a significant volume of cases. Under South Carolina law, Magistrate Courts hear:

• Criminal misdemeanors punishable by a fine up to $500 or imprisonment up to 30 days (or both)
• Preliminary hearings for felony charges
• Civil cases involving amounts up to $7,500
• Small claims (Magistrate Court's civil division)
• Traffic violations and DUI arraignments
• Restraining orders and certain emergency hearings

The small claims jurisdictional limit in South Carolina Magistrate Court is $7,500. Magistrate judges in Greenville County operate from multiple court locations throughout the county, and some judges may be assigned to specific courtrooms or case types based on caseload volume.

Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Greenville County

Family Law: The Greenville County Family Court handles divorce, custody, child support, visitation, paternity, civil protection orders, and termination of parental rights. Family Court is a separate division of the Circuit Court in South Carolina, with its own judges and docket. Cases are filed through the Clerk of Court.

Probate: The Greenville County Probate Court manages decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters. The Probate Court operates independently from the Circuit Court and is located at the county's administrative campus.

Juvenile: Juvenile delinquency cases and Child Protective Act proceedings are handled through the Family Court. Juvenile court records are confidential under South Carolina law and are not available through public search portals. The South Carolina Department of Social Services (Greenville office) is involved in child protective matters.

How Cases Move Through the Greenville County Court System

1. Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with an arrest, warrant, or citation. Civil cases start with the filing of a complaint or petition with the Clerk of Court. Family law matters are initiated by petition in Family Court.
2. Assignment: Cases are assigned to a judge. Circuit Court judges rotate, while Magistrate and Family Court judges may be assigned based on location or case type.
3. Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment or bond hearing. Civil parties attend a scheduling or status conference.
4. Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may negotiate plea agreements (criminal) or settlements (civil). The Solicitor's Office publishes docket information for criminal cases.
5. Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to bench or jury trial, or are resolved through plea, settlement, dismissal, or default judgment.
6. Post-Judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing and potential appeal. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Expungement of eligible criminal records may be pursued after resolution.

Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Greenville County

The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit is overseen by a Chief Administrative Judge who manages judicial assignments and court operations for Greenville and Pickens counties. The Clerk of Court's Office provides administrative support for case filings, records management, and courtroom scheduling.

• Local rules: Court rules and administrative orders for the Thirteenth Circuit are available through the South Carolina Judicial Branch website, which publishes statewide and circuit-specific rules.
• Public access: Most court records in South Carolina are public under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (Title 30). Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile records, certain Family Court files, and records subject to court-ordered confidentiality. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for in-person searches.
• Attending hearings: Hearings are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted remotely; contact the Clerk of Court or check the SC Judicial Branch for current electronic hearing procedures.

Court Records and Related Court Resources in Greenville County

• Court docket and case search: Use the Public Index Search to look up case details, docket entries, and hearing dates for Greenville County courts.
• Criminal record checks: The Clerk of Court offers background searches covering five, ten, or fifteen years of General Sessions records.
• Copies of court records: Request certified or non-certified copies through the Clerk of Court's copies page. Fees apply for certified documents.
• Court forms and self-help: The SC Judicial Branch court forms library provides downloadable forms for Circuit, Family, and Probate Court. The SC Courts Self-Help Center offers guidance for self-represented litigants.
• Warrant information: Contact the Greenville County Sheriff's Office Warrant Services Division for questions about active warrants.
• Inmate search: Search for individuals currently held at the Greenville County Detention Center. For state prison inmates, use the SC Department of Corrections inmate search.
• Sex offender registry: The Greenville County sex offender registry allows geographic and name-based searches.
• Probation and parole: The SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services offender search provides information on supervised individuals.
• Property and deed records: The Register of Deeds search tool covers recorded property documents, while Real Property Services handles assessments and valuations.
• Law library resources: The Greenville County Library System provides access to legal research tools, including Westlaw at library locations.