Find Horry County Court Records Through Official Sources
Search civil, criminal, Magistrate and Family Court cases, check court dockets, locate probate files and learn how to obtain copies from the proper court.
Horry County court records are maintained across different courts and record systems. The county includes Conway, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Loris, Aynor and other communities. The location of an incident or lawsuit does not by itself establish which court has the file.
A Circuit Court criminal case, a Magistrate Court eviction case, a Family Court divorce matter and a Probate Court estate file may require different searches. Using the correct court division is the most effective way to avoid missing or confusing records.
Which Horry County Court Should You Search?
South Carolina’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit includes Horry and Georgetown counties. Horry County’s Clerk of Court handles Circuit and Family Court records, while Probate Court and municipal courts have distinct responsibilities.
Common Pleas
Handles many substantial civil lawsuits, including contract disputes, injury claims, judgments and related Circuit Court proceedings.
Starting route: South Carolina Trial Court Public Index.
General Sessions
Handles adult criminal prosecutions assigned to Circuit Court, including serious criminal charges and related proceedings.
Starting route: Trial Court Public Index and the Clerk’s General Sessions division.
Family Court
Handles divorce, custody, support and other family-related matters. Public visibility is limited for certain sensitive cases and documents.
Starting route: South Carolina Family Court Public Portal, available through the Judicial Branch or Clerk’s website.
Magistrate Court
Handles qualifying lower-level civil and criminal matters, including many small civil claims, landlord-tenant disputes and misdemeanor proceedings.
Starting route: Trial Court Public Index where available, followed by the responsible Magistrate Court.
Probate Court
Handles estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships and marriage-license records. Horry County operates a separate Probate Court Records System.
Starting route: Horry County Probate Court.
Municipal Courts
City-level ordinance, traffic and qualifying criminal matters may be handled by a municipal court, such as Myrtle Beach or Conway Municipal Court.
Starting route: Identify the issuing court from the ticket, citation or case documents.
Contact that municipal court when a case is not available through the county search route.
How to Search Horry County Court Records Online
The South Carolina Judicial Branch provides public trial-court case-search access. The interface may require a disclaimer acknowledgment and security validation before allowing a search.
- Open the official court-record search. Visit the South Carolina Judicial Branch and choose the Trial Court records search. Follow the official link to the Public Index.
- Select Horry County. Choose Horry from the county selection or use the Horry County public-index route. Read and accept the applicable disclaimer.
- Complete the security validation. If a validation image or code appears, follow the on-screen instructions and use the displayed validation control before proceeding.
- Enter a case number or party name. A complete case number is generally more precise. Otherwise, search the party’s name or business name using the fields supplied by the portal.
- Apply available filters. Use court type, court agency, case type, action type or date range when those options are provided. Start broadly if you are unsure which court handled the matter.
- Open and review the case details. Select the case-number link and examine the case type, parties, docket events, court agency and disposition. Available tabs may provide financial entries or document images.
- Verify the result and request missing records. If a document is unavailable, a name match is uncertain, or certification is required, contact the court office responsible for the case. Keep the case number and relevant filing details.
Horry County Court Records Search by Name or Case Number
Search by a person’s name
Start with the last name and first name as recorded in the court case. If the name is common, narrow the results using the court agency, filing period or type of proceeding.
Check alternative spellings, initials, suffixes and former names where relevant. Business lawsuits may appear under a company or legal entity name rather than the name of an individual owner.
Search by case number
Use the complete number from a summons, complaint, court notice or previous docket. Preserve letters, year information and other parts of the identifier when entering it. A direct case-number search reduces the chance of confusing unrelated people.
What should you verify?
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Case number | Identifies the particular court proceeding. |
| Court agency | Distinguishes Circuit, Magistrate or other court handling. |
| Party name and role | Shows who appears as plaintiff, defendant, petitioner or respondent. |
| Filing date | Helps distinguish older and newer cases. |
| Case type | Shows the category of legal matter. |
| Docket actions | Shows the recorded progression of the case. |
| Disposition or order | May establish how the court resolved an issue or proceeding. |
Criminal, Civil, Family, Probate and Traffic Records
Criminal court records
General Sessions cases include criminal matters heard in Circuit Court. Some qualifying criminal and traffic proceedings are handled in Magistrate or municipal courts. Begin with the correct case index and confirm the responsible court before requesting documentation.
Look for entries showing charges, hearings, motions, orders and final disposition. A docket entry may record a procedural event without proving an allegation. An arrest record maintained by law enforcement is not the same as a court case record.
Civil lawsuits and judgments
Common Pleas cases may include civil claims, disputes and judgments. Other civil cases, such as certain small claims or landlord-tenant disputes, may be handled in Magistrate Court.
If you need an enforceable or certified judgment, ask the appropriate Clerk whether the available online document satisfies your purpose or whether a certified copy must be ordered.
Divorce and Family Court records
Family Court maintains matters such as divorce and custody. The South Carolina Judicial Branch supplies a dedicated Family Court record-search route, but sensitive family information may be restricted from public inspection or online display.
For an official divorce decree, request guidance from the Family Court Clerk. A marriage certificate is a separate type of record handled through the applicable marriage-record custodian.
Probate and estate records
Horry County Probate Court maintains estate and other probate-related records. The county has announced an online Probate Court Records System for viewing, downloading and printing publicly available records.
The probate document portal uses monthly or annual subscription access. Do not assume it is included in the free trial-court Public Index. The Probate Court page provides account instructions and the current access route.
To open an estate in person, Horry County requires an appointment. The county also states that a will must be filed with the Probate Court within 30 days of death. Estate-opening requirements differ from simply searching for an existing record.
Probate Court records portal, instructions and contact ↗
Marriage records
The Probate Court handles marriage licenses and certified marriage records. Its published fee schedule lists $5 for a certified copy of a marriage license. A separate research fee may apply to some requests.
Marriage-license application fees differ from certified-copy fees, and the county’s schedule distinguishes Horry County residents, other South Carolina residents and out-of-state applicants.
Official Probate Court fee schedule ↗
Municipal and traffic records
For a ticket issued within a municipality, examine the citation for the court name and case or ticket number. A Myrtle Beach municipal matter may require that city’s court rather than the Horry County Circuit Court Clerk.
Confirm the issuing court before making payments or requesting documents. Court hearing dates can change, and the responsible court should be the source used for confirmation.
How to Obtain Court Documents and Certified Copies
The online index may show a case summary, docket actions and some document images. It does not guarantee that every filed document or exhibit can be accessed remotely.
| Record needed | Where to start | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Case summary or docket | Trial Court Public Index | Check court type, case number and recorded actions. |
| Civil filing or judgment | Common Pleas Clerk | Identify the document and ask about copy or certification options. |
| Criminal order or disposition | General Sessions Clerk or issuing court | Check the final record rather than only an initial charge. |
| Divorce decree | Family Court Clerk | Access may depend on the document and applicant’s authority. |
| Estate or probate document | Probate Court | Remote document access may require a subscription. |
| Certified marriage certificate | Probate Court Marriage License Division | Use its dedicated fee schedule and request process. |
| Municipal case record | Issuing municipal court | Do not assume the county Clerk holds the original file. |
Information to prepare before contacting the Clerk
- Case number, if known.
- Names of parties and approximate filing year.
- Type of case and court agency.
- Specific document requested, such as a final judgment, decree or filed order.
- Whether an ordinary or certified copy is required.
- Preferred method for receiving the document and your contact information.
Ask the records custodian about applicable per-page charges, certification charges, acceptable payment methods, turnaround times and delivery options. Charges can vary by document and court.
Published Horry County Probate Court copy fees
The county’s official Probate Court schedule provides the following charges:
| Probate Court service | Published fee |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | $5 plus $0.50 per photocopied page |
| Exemplified or authenticated copy | $20 plus $0.50 per photocopied page |
| Photocopy or microfilm copy | $0.50 |
| Research fee | $10 |
| Certified copy of marriage license | $5 |
These are published Probate Court charges, not a universal fee schedule for all Horry County courts. Confirm the applicable amount before requesting records.
Horry County Clerk of Court: Address, Phone and Hours
The Horry County Clerk of Court provides services for Circuit and Family Court. The county lists the main office in Conway and another service location at the Central Coast Complex in Myrtle Beach.
Conway — Main Clerk Office
Physical address:
1301 Second Avenue
Conway, SC 29526
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 677
Conway, SC 29526
Phone: 843-915-5080
Published hours:
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Central Coast Complex
Physical address:
332 Hinson Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
Phone: 843-915-5082
Before visiting:
Confirm that this location provides the specific records service you need.
Useful division phone numbers
| Office or division | Phone |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Court, main | 843-915-5080 |
| Family Court | 843-915-5081 |
| Common Pleas | 843-915-5083 |
| General Sessions | 843-915-5084 |
| Central Traffic Court | 843-915-5070 |
| Probate Court | 843-915-5370 |
For the latest services, closures, directions and contact details, check the official Clerk of Court page. The main Clerk’s hours do not establish identical counter hours for every specialized service.
Horry County Probate Court
Probate Court is located at 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. Its published office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. The telephone number is 843-915-5370.
Appointments are required for opening an estate in person, so check the Probate Court instructions before traveling.
Court Dockets, Rosters and Hearing Dates
A docket records case activity, while a court roster or calendar identifies scheduled matters. These sources serve different purposes: a case may appear in the public index even when it is not listed on the current hearing roster.
Horry County provides court-roster links through its Clerk’s website. The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor also publishes General Sessions information and resources.
Check the date, court division and case number on the roster. Schedules can change, so contact the issuing court to confirm an upcoming appearance instead of relying on an old PDF or search-engine snippet.
What to Do When Horry County Court Records Are Missing
| Problem | Possible explanation | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| No name match | Spelling, alternate name, selected filters or wrong jurisdiction. | Try broader criteria, check the case number and verify the court. |
| No criminal case found | The matter may remain in a lower court, have a different case number, or not be publicly accessible. | Identify the issuing or prosecuting court; ask its Clerk about public access. |
| Family case missing | Separate Family Court access or confidentiality restrictions may apply. | Use the Family Court portal and consult its Clerk. |
| Probate document unavailable | The record may be in a separate probate system or require subscription access. | Visit the official Probate Court records page. |
| Case shows but no PDF | The index may not provide that document image. | Request the specific document from the responsible court office. |
| Old case missing | Historical material may be archived or outside online coverage. | Ask the custodian about archived, microfilmed or legacy records. |
| Case detail will not open | Browser validation, cookies, pop-up restrictions or a temporary technical problem. | Follow the portal instructions, retry or contact the official support office. |
| Record is restricted | Sealing, expungement, juvenile confidentiality or a court rule may limit access. | Ask the Clerk what access, if any, is permitted. Do not attempt to bypass restrictions. |
Older court records and archives
Older files may not be represented fully in the current public portal. Ask the Clerk which office holds the case, whether it has been transferred to records storage, and what identifiers are needed to locate it.
For probate files, ask Probate Court about historical estate and marriage indexes. For municipal matters, contact the city court or its designated records custodian.
Sealed, expunged and confidential records
Public access does not extend to every court file. Certain juvenile, adoption, sealed, expunged or otherwise protected matters may be withheld or partially redacted. Authorization and court orders may be required in some situations.
If an online entry appears inaccurate, contact the issuing court to determine whether a correction or updated order exists. A third-party informational website cannot alter the official judicial record.
Records That Are Not the Same as Court Records
Several Horry County record systems can appear similar in search results but have different custodians and purposes.
- Arrest and booking records: Usually originate from law-enforcement or detention operations, not necessarily a completed court proceeding.
- Property deeds and recorded instruments: Search the Register of Deeds or county land-records system, not the court docket by default.
- Marriage certificates: Use the Probate Court’s marriage-record process.
- County administrative records: May be available through county public-information or FOIA procedures; a court filing should be requested from its judicial custodian.
- Federal court cases: Use the appropriate federal court or PACER rather than assuming they appear in South Carolina’s county trial-court index.
Horry County’s online-services directory can help visitors choose the proper system for court cases, deeds and other county records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I search Horry County court records for free?
Many trial-court case summaries can be searched without a public-index search charge. Document copies, certification and the separate probate-record subscription service can involve fees.
Where can I find Horry County criminal court records?
Begin with the South Carolina Trial Court Public Index and select Horry County. For Circuit Court criminal matters, confirm the case through General Sessions. Magistrate or municipal criminal cases may require the corresponding lower court.
How can I obtain a certified court record?
Identify the issuing court and contact its Clerk with the case number, document name and request for certification. Ask about current fees and accepted request methods.
Are Horry County divorce records available online?
South Carolina provides a Family Court records route, but public access to family-case details and documents is subject to restrictions. Contact the Horry County Family Court Clerk for an official decree or other eligible document.
Does the Public Index include probate records?
Do not rely on the trial-court index for all probate material. Horry County Probate Court operates a separate portal for publicly available probate files, with subscription access for remote document viewing.
What if I cannot find a case by name?
Try the full case number, alternative spellings or different court filters. Confirm the correct county, court level and filing period. If the search still fails, contact the court custodian.
Can I use these records for employment or tenant screening?
This article is an informational court-record access guide, not a consumer report or background-screening service. Employment, housing and other eligibility decisions can involve requirements under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other applicable laws. Use appropriate lawful processes.
Official Horry County Court Record Resources
These government and judiciary resources provide the record-access routes used in this guide. Always confirm current instructions on the responsible office’s website before paying a fee, visiting a courthouse or submitting a request.
- South Carolina Judicial Branch — statewide trial-court and Family Court records access.
- Horry County Public Index — trial-court case lookup.
- Horry County Clerk of Court — Circuit and Family Court records, office contacts and rosters.
- Horry County Probate Court — estate, probate portal and marriage-record access.
- Probate Court Fees — certified copies, document charges, probate proceedings and marriage-record fees.
- General Sessions Court — Circuit Court criminal proceedings and roster information.
- Horry County Online Services — county service and public-record navigation.