Clarendon County
Clarendon County, South Carolina, was established in 1785 and named after the first Earl of Clarendon, Edward Hyde. according to the 2020 US census, 31,144 people live within its boundaries. It has a land area of 607 square miles. Manning is its county seat and largest municipality.
The Clarendon County court system comprises the following:
- The Clarendon County Circuit Court - handles cases beyond other courts' jurisdiction. It hears criminal and civil cases without financial limits
- The Clarendon County Family Court - has exclusive jurisdiction over family law and juvenile issues, including divorce, annulments, legal separation, child custody, child support, spousal support, termination of parental rights, adoption, emancipation, juvenile delinquency, and paternity cases
- The Clarendon County Magistrate Court - handles preliminary felony hearings, landlord-tenant disputes, misdemeanors with a maximum penalty of $500 or 30 days in jail, restraining orders, and civil claims under $7,500
- The Clarendon County Probate Court - handles the management of estates and trusts, the appointment of guardianships, and the admission of wills
- The Clarendon County municipal courts - handle minor misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and municipal ordinance violations. The following cities are home to the county's municipal courts: Manning, Turbeville, and Summerton
Per the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, the public can access court records except those restricted by law or court orders. Public records in Clarendon County are documents and files containing information about court cases handled by the county courts. These records include court schedules, court filings, writs, warrants, transcripts, depositions, and court rulings. The Clarendon County Clerk of Court maintains the records for the county courts, while clerks of municipal courts keep their records in compliance with county and state rules. Clarendon County makes the following types of court records available:
- Criminal records
- Traffic records
- Probate records
- Civil records
- Family law records
Record seekers can view public court records from the county through the South Carolina Judicial Branch's Case Records Search platform. Alternatively, they can view or request Clarendon's public court records at the Clerk of Court's office at:
Clarendon County Clerk of Court
3 West Keith Street
P.O. Box 136
Manning, SC 29102
Phone: (803) 435-4443
