Anderson County
Anderson County, spanning approximately 718 square miles, is located northwest of South Carolina. The county was established in 1826 and named after Robert Anderson, a Revolutionary War hero. The county seat is the City of Anderson, also known as "The Electric City" due to its early adoption of hydroelectric power.
The judicial system in Anderson County operates under South Carolina's unified court system, which includes Circuit Courts, Family Courts, Probate Courts, Magistrate Courts, and Municipal Courts. The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. It is categorized into two main divisions: the Court of Common Pleas for general civil claims exceeding $7,500 and the General Sessions Court for criminal cases, including felonies and some misdemeanors. The Family Courts are responsible for cases involving domestic relations and issues like divorce, child custody, and support. The Probate Courts deal with matters such as wills, estates, guardianships, and mental health commitments.
The Magistrate Courts address most general civil claims for less than $7,500. They conduct preliminary hearings for most criminal cases punishable by limited fines or short-term incarceration. On the other hand, Municipal Courts located in Williamston, Pendleton, and Anderson, among others, oversee municipal ordinance violations and criminal traffic cases. They may impose fines or imprisonment of up to 30 days.
Public court records in Anderson County are maintained by the County Clerk of Court's Office, which is responsible for indexing, filing, and preserving legal documents. These records are created by pleading, court hearings, judgments, and orders on civil and criminal cases, as well as documents related to family law and probate cases. They include the following:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Probate Records
- Family Records
- Traffic Records
Anderson County offers online access to court records, allowing the public to conduct a name-based search from the section dedicated to case information or online records. However, certain records are exempt from public disclosure due to privacy concerns or the sensitive nature of the information. On the other hand, the search criterion on the Anderson County Clerk of Court's website can be used to access certain court records and dockets.
