Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County, the 11th largest county by area in South Carolina, was created in 1785 and remained part of the Cheraws District until 1800. With about 43,273 residents, the county stretches 799 square miles of land and has its seat of power in Chesterfield Town.
Chesterfield County courts are organized into four major courts, namely the Circuit, Family, Probate, and Summary Courts. Chesterfield County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over both civil and criminal cases. It also hears appeals from the Probate and Summary Courts. Its Civil Division, the Common Pleas Court, presides over major civil cases with claims over $7,500. The court's Criminal Division, the General Sessions Court, handles serious criminal cases like felonies. In Chesterfield County, the Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over domestic relations cases, such as divorce, division of marital property, custody, and adoption. It also handles matters related to change of name and marriage. Juvenile cases like delinquencies are handled by the Family Court's Juvenile Division/Court.
In Chesterfield County, probate proceedings, such as the administration of decedents' estates, are overseen by the Probate Court. This court has exclusive jurisdiction over cases related to breach of trust, and it shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over powers of attorney cases. Additionally, matters like marriage license issuance, as well as cases related to involuntary commitments for alcohol abuse, guardianship, and conservatorship, fall under the legal authority of the Probate Court. Chesterfield County's magistrate system comprises the Magistrate Courts and Municipal Courts, which are collectively called the Summary Courts. The Municipal Courts share jurisdiction with the Magistrate Courts on criminal cases such as misdemeanors. They also decide most traffic, fish, and game violation matters. Less severe criminal cases transferred from the General Sessions Court are also handled by both courts. The Municipal Court has no civil jurisdiction. However, the Magistrate Courts decide civil cases involving up to $7,500 claims.
Court records in Chesterfield County are documents and information gathered during the judicial processes. They include case summaries, petitions, warrants, exhibits, summons, transcripts, judgment rolls, and court orders normally maintained by the clerks of respective courts. Chesterfield County court records generated by the Circuit and Family courts are kept by the Clerk of Court. While most court records are publicly accessible in the county, some are classified as confidential and, consequently, exempted from public disclosure.
Chesterfield County's public court records include:
- Criminal Records
- Civil Records
- Probate Records
- Family Law Records
Most case information in Chesterfield County may be accessed online through the Judicial Branch's unified Case Records Search portal. Alternatively, the Circuit and Family courts' cases may be requested from the courthouse by interested individuals. Other courts' records in the county may be obtained directly from the courts where the cases were filed.
