York County, South Carolina Court Records
A York County court record is official paperwork associated with a case heard in the Circuit, Family, Probate, Magistrate, or Municipal Court. The clerk of each court maintains files for every case. The documents in a case file are connected to each other and the parent case through a unique case number.
Many documents in civil and criminal cases begin as official court forms completed and filed by the parties to the case. Examples are petitions, complaints, motions, affidavits, and financial disclosures. Other documents may be obtained from public agencies and introduced into the case as evidence. These include arrest reports, property records, tax filings, and vital records.
Are York County Court Records Public?
Yes. The courts in York County operate an open records policy. This is consistent with S.C. Const. art. I, § 9, which specifically declares courts as open to the public. Per S.C. R. Civ. P. 41.1, the state judiciary extended that open court mandate to apply to records, not just the court proceedings.
Consequently, anyone can view court records in York County without having to state a reason, prove residency, or submit credentials. This access, however, comes with certain significant caveats:
- Records sealed under S.C. R. Civ. P. 41.1 are not available for public inspection.
- Documents in certain family cases (adoption, juvenile, abuse/neglect) may be subject to restricted access.
- Personally identifying information is restricted under S.C. R. Civ. P. 41.2.
- Records of grand jury proceedings stay off the public record.
What Information is Available in York County Court Records?
The information in a court case file may vary by case, but some details are present regardless of case type. Here are some of them:
- Name of the parties involved (plaintiff/defendant or petitioner/respondent) and their legal representatives
- Case number, filing date, and the type of case (civil, criminal, probate, family, small claims, etc.)
- Case activity (hearings, trials, filing dates, docket entries, etc.)
- Charges, claims, or the nature of the case
- Case status (ongoing, pending, dismissed, settled, closed, etc.)
- Court orders, judgments, rulings, sentences, or disposition outcomes
York County Court Records Search
There are two broad ways to access York County court records: statewide online search systems or localized offline methods.
Online Access
The Circuit Court, Probate Court, and Family Court in South Carolina have separate online search platforms. A record seeker should know what type of record each court maintains to search the correct database.
- Circuit Court
The Circuit Court handles major civil and criminal cases through its Common Pleas and General Sessions divisions, respectively. The Clerk of Court maintains felony and major misdemeanor case files, as well as records of civil claims above $7,500, contract disputes, and personal injury lawsuits.
Circuit court records are accessible on the internet through the York County Public Index. Users can select Circuit Court, switch between Common Pleas and General Sessions, and conduct a search by name or case number. Clicking the case number on a search result expands the entry to reveal case parties, judgment, register of actions, financials, and associated cases. The information available varies by case.
- Family Court
The Clerk of Court also manages Family Court records, including those in adoption, paternity, divorce, and custody cases.
Case information and registers of action are available through Family Court Case Search, which can be filtered to show only York County results. Information displayed includes names and roles of the parties, hearing dates, type and judges, and a chronicle of court events.
- Probate Court
The Probate Court and its custodian deal with matters of marriage and estate administration, including processing wills, trusts, guardianships, and marriage licenses. People can view or request a copy of a marriage license or probate document on the statewide probate court database.
- Magistrate and Municipal Courts
Magistrate Courts in York County are localized by district, while Municipal Courts are localized by municipality. These courts handle criminal matters, capped at cases whose maximum punishment is 30 days in jail or a $500 fine. The Magistrate Courts additionally preside over civil claims up to $500. Interested parties can view municipal and magistrate court records by switching the court type to "Summary Court" on the York County Public Index.
In-Person Access
People who desire physical copies of a court record or are unable to locate specific information online may walk into the main courthouse at 1675 York Highway, York, SC 29745, and ask to speak with the Clerk of Court. The clerk's office maintains several windows and expects requesters to provide as many details as possible to expedite the search.
Individuals who need physical copies of probate records may visit the Probate Judge's office at the Moss Justice Center. Estate and marriage records are accessible electronically at 6 Congress Street, York, SC 29745 (Register of Deeds office).
Persons requiring magistrate or municipal court documents must visit the specific venue where the case was heard.
Mail and Phone Requests
Court record requests can be mailed to
Circuit Court
P.O. Box 649
York, SC 29745
Probate Court
PO Box 219
York, SC 29745
Family Court
1555 West Main Street
Rock Hill, SC 29732
The mail must feature a written request detailing the type of record needed and essential information, such as the party names, case number, filing date, and court of jurisdiction. It should also contain a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) and the necessary payment for the copies needed.
Inquirers are advised to contact the relevant custodian by phone about record availability and copy costs prior to mailing a request.
Fees for Court Records in York County
York County courts provide copy and certification services for record seekers and charge reasonable fees, in line with S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30(B). While the Clerk of Court does not provide a consolidated fee schedule online, this list reflects the expected range based on established state practice.
- 25 to 50 cents per page for a plain copy
- $10 to certify a document
- $15 - $25 to exemplify or authenticate a document
- $10 to record a document
York County Courthouse Locations
The Circuit, Probate, and Family Courts in York County serve the whole region, while Municipal and Magistrate courts are localized to their respective jurisdictions. Here are their addresses and contact details.
Central Courts
Moss Justice Center (Circuit & Probate Courts)
1675 York Highway
York, SC 29745
Circuit Civil Phone: (803) 684-8507
Circuit Criminal Phone: (803) 628-3036
Probate Phone: (803) 684-8513
York County Family Court
1555 West Main Street
Rock Hill, SC 29732
Phone: (803) 909-7100
Magistrate Courts
1675 York Highway
York, SC 29745
Phone: (803) 628-3095
1675 York Highway
York, SC 29745
Phone: (803) 909-7650
Centralized Fraudulent Check Magistrate
1675 York Highway
York, SC 29745
Phone: (803) 909-7585
Clover Magistrate (Bethel / Kings Mountain)
201 South Main Street
Clover, SC 29710
Phone: (803) 675-6040
120 East Elliott Street
Fort Mill, SC 29715
Phone: (803) 547-5572
Hickory Grove Magistrate (Broad River / Bullock Creek)
5800 Wiley Avenue
Hickory Grove, SC 29717
Phone: (803) 925-2815
Rock Hill Magistrate (Catawba / Ebenezer)
1070 Heckle Boulevard
Suite 2100
Rock Hill, SC 29732
Phone: (803) 909-7600
1675 York Highway
Suite 1D
York, SC 29745
Phone: (803) 628-3029
Municipal Courts
114 Bethel Street
Clover, SC 29710
Phone: (803) 222-4084
205 North White Street
Fort Mill, SC 29715
Phone: (803) 547-2022
120 East Black Street
Rock Hill, SC 29730
Phone: (803) 329-5691
7725 Tega Cay Drive
Tega Cay, SC 29708
Phone: (803) 396-0033
10 North Roosevelt Street
York, SC 29745
Phone: (803) 792-8679
Criminal Records Access in York County
An individual's overall criminal record comprises every arrest, criminal court case, incarceration, probation, and parole. The local courts do not have jurisdiction to issue a criminal history record. That authority lies with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
SLED maintains Citizens Access to Criminal History (CATCH), which provides access to standard criminal history checks for a $25 fee per search. It offers an additional fingerprint check service to authorized organizations.
People may request records of a single arrest or criminal detention event from the responsible agency. This could be the York County Sheriff's Office or a municipal police department.
The judicial aspect of criminal records most commonly includes the charges and allegations, court proceedings, and case outcomes. As previously discussed, one can search criminal case information on the York County Public Index system or through in-person or mail inquiries at the Clerk of Court.
York County Probate Records
York County probate records primarily revolve around the administration of wills and trusts, as well as guardianships and conservatorships for minors or incapacitated persons. In South Carolina, marriage licenses and involuntary commitment records also fall under probate court jurisdiction.
A judge may seal a probate record if the petitioner proves that disclosure would be inappropriate or violate access exemption laws. Otherwise, marriage licenses, financial accountings, guardianship dockets, estate inventories, and decedents' wills are considered available for public inspection.
The public can search the unified probate court system by name or case/marriage license number to view probate case information and electronic images of certain case documents. The system typically provides the following details:
- Testator's name and type of probate filing
- Case number, case status, filing date
- Details of the personal representative
- Creditor claim due
- Images of publicly available documents
Record seekers can purchase paper or electronic copies of probate records for $2 per document and certified copies of marriage licenses for $5. The probate judge's office accepts in-person requests on the second floor of the Moss Justice Center.
York County Family Court Records
Family court records in York County are official files created during domestic relations or family relationship proceedings. The Clerk of Court maintains records in cases concerning matrimony (marriage, divorce, legal separation, alimony) and dependency (child custody, support, visitation, termination of parental rights, adoption).
People who just want basic case information in a specific family law matter can find party details, filing history, and case dockets on the official FCCMS system. Individuals who wish to review case filings or duplicate them must submit a written request at the clerk's office.
Federal Court Records in York County
The Rock Hill division of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina handles federal cases involving York County residents. Matters under federal jurisdiction include crimes against federal law, constitutional cases, federal lawsuits, bankruptcy cases, and claims above $75,000 involving people from different states.
The clerk of this federal district court is the custodian of records generated during these cases. Residents may visit the courthouse to speak with the clerk or use the computer terminals to inspect or print public files in criminal and civil cases. Remote access to case information is also available through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). Users must open an account and pay the per-search fee, although usage totaling less than $30 a quarter is waived.
Note that Rock Hill Division cases and records are heard and maintained at the Mathew J. Perry Jr. Courthouse at 901 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
