Horry County Magistrate Court cases in Horry County, Conway, SC
Horry County Magistrates Court in Conway, South Carolina, is a county magistrate (summary) court. It serves as a first-level trial court that handles civil claims up to $7,500 (including small claims, landlord-tenant evictions, and claim-and-delivery actions), criminal misdemeanors within magistrate jurisdiction (typically offenses punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $500 fine, unless otherwise authorized by statute), and most traffic offenses. Magistrates also issue arrest and search warrants, set bail, conduct bond proceedings, and hold preliminary hearings in criminal cases that may proceed to the Court of General Sessions. Family-law matters (divorce, custody, child support) are handled by the separate Family Court, not the magistrate court.
Horry County Magistrate Court Contact and Location Information
| Court Type: | Magistrate Court |
| County: | Horry |
| Street Address: | 1201 3rd Ave. |
| City: | Conway |
| Zip Code: | 29526 |
| Phone: | 843-915-5145 |
| Hours: | Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 6:00PM |
| Website URL: | https://www.horrycounty.org/Departments/Sheriff/Detention/magistratescourt |
| Restrictions: | Do not bring weapons inside the Courthouse or the Government and Judicial Center. If you bring a weapon into the Government and Judicial Center, it will be taken for safekeeping until your visit is complete. If you are attending a County Council Meeting in the Courthouse, weapons are not allowed. |
| Forms & Filing: | https://www.sccourts.org/forms/searchType.cfm |
| Dockets / Schedule / Calendar: | https://publicindex.sccourts.org/Horry/PublicIndex/PISearch.aspx |
| Languages: | Multiple |
| Facebook: | https://www.facebook.com/HorryCountyClerkofCourt/ |
| Linkedin: | https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-elvis-4a4a4941/ |
| ADA: | Human Resources Department |
| ADA Phone: | 843-915-7354 |
| ADA Fax / Email: | 843-915-6230, smith.jackie@horrycounty.org |
| About / Additional Info: | Magistrate court judges can only take guilty pleas for crimes that do not exceed a 30-day sentence.Magistrate court judges cannot set bonds on individuals charged with murder, accessory before the fact of murder, and criminal sexual conduct with a minor. The Solicitor's Office schedules those hearings and the bond is set by a Circuit Court Judge in General Sessions Court. |
Services and Case Types Handled in Horry County Magistrate Court
Horry County Magistrates Court serves the public by:
- Criminal/traffic: handles traffic tickets, county/municipal ordinance violations, and minor criminal offenses (typically up to 30 days jail/$500 fine); issues arrest/search warrants; conducts bond hearings; holds preliminary hearings for certain General Sessions cases.
- Civil/small claims: hears monetary disputes up to $7,500; landlord-tenant matters (evictions/ejectments, rent/possession, distress warrants); claim and delivery (recover personal property); accepts filings, counterclaims, and motions; issues subpoenas.
- Protective orders: processes restraining orders for harassment/stalking; domestic violence Orders of Protection are filed in Family Court.
- Jury services: summons and qualifies jurors, grants excuses/deferrals, and conducts 6-person jury trials in eligible civil and criminal cases.
- Court hearings and public access: schedules and conducts bench/jury trials and traffic dockets; provides case information, records, and payment of fines/fees.