Darlington County
Established in 1785, Darlington County covers about 561 square miles of land in its home state, South Carolina. As of 2022, the county has a population of 63,025 people. The City of Hartsville is the county's most populous city, while the county seat is Darlington.
Darlington County has five trial courts: the Circuit, Family, Probate, Magistrate, and Municipal Courts. The Circuit Court, which functions within the 4th Judicial Circuit in South Carolina, handles all major criminal cases, appeals, equity lawsuits, and civil claims exceeding $7500. Domestic relations cases such as divorce, foster care, child custody, protective orders, and termination of parental rights are resolved at Darlington County Family Court. Other cases managed by the Family Court include juvenile delinquency, alimony, and adoption. Meanwhile, the Probate Court addresses estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health commitments. Darlington County's Magistrate Courts handle preliminary criminal hearings, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes. Meanwhile, the Municipal Court in Darlington City and other municipalities address ordinance violations and minor offenses within their respective municipalities.
Darlington County court records are official documents created during court trials. These documents contain transcripts, dockets, case filings, testimonies, motions, judgments, and orders. According to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, court records created in Darlington County typically promote transparency and accountability in all judicial processes. Examples of public court records in Darlington County include:
- Criminal court records
- Probate court records
- Civil court records
- Family law records
- Small claims records
To request these public court records, individuals can contact the Darlington County Clerk of Court's Office:
Darlington County Clerk of Court
110 North Main Street
Darlington, SC 29532
Phone: (843) 398-4330
Email: clerk@darcosc.net
Note that Court records such as adoption records, juvenile cases, and mental health documents are not open to the public. Individuals interested in these confidential court documents must obtain special permission from the county's trial courts. Darlington County court records are also accessible online via the SC Case Records Search. To use the online platform, requesters must provide details such as names of involved parties or case numbers.
