Laurens County Magistrate Court cases in Laurens County, Laurens, SC
Laurens County Magistrate Court is a county-level magistrate (summary) court within the South Carolina Unified Judicial System. It handles lower-level criminal and traffic matters, including misdemeanors punishable by up to 30 days in jail or $500 fines, county/municipal ordinance violations, and most traffic tickets. On the civil side, it hears small claims and other civil actions up to $7,500, including landlord-tenant evictions, claim and delivery, and property disputes within its monetary limit. Magistrates issue arrest and search warrants, conduct bond hearings, and hold preliminary hearings in felony cases bound for General Sessions Court. Family and domestic-relations matters are handled by the Family Court, not the Magistrate Court.
Laurens County Magistrate Court Contact and Location Information
| Court Type: | Magistrate Court |
| County: | Laurens |
| Street Address: | 100 Hillcrest Sq. |
| City: | Laurens |
| Zip Code: | 29360 |
| Phone: | 864-681-5689 |
| Fax: | 864-681-0591 |
| Hours: | Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Website URL: | https://laurenscounty.us/magistrate-court/ |
| Forms & Filing: | https://www.sccourts.org/forms/searchType.cfm |
| Divisions / Services: | https://laurenscounty.us/court-legal-services/ |
| Dockets / Schedule / Calendar: | https://publicindex.sccourts.org/Laurens/PublicIndex/PISearch.aspx |
| Languages: | Multiple |
| Email: | fhaupfear@co.laurens.sc.us |
| Facebook: | https://www.facebook.com/Michelle-Simmons-Laurens-County-Clerk-of-Court-103979114976085/ |
| ADA: | Casey Bolton, HR Director |
| ADA Phone: | 864-984-3691 |
| ADA Fax / Email: | 864-984-6848, caseybolton@co.laurens.sc.us |
| About / Additional Info: | The Magistrate’s Court is the Summary Criminal Court and the Small Claims Court for South Carolina residents. It is established under the SC Unified Judicial System supervised by the Chief Justice of the SC Supreme Court through the Office of Court Administration.The Magistrates’ Court is responsible for trying all traffic cases and misdemeanor criminal offenses that carry up to a 30-day jail sentence or $500 fine. Criminal cases that have more severe consequences are referred to the General Sessions Court.The Magistrates Court also handles small claims disputes up to $7,500 in value and landlord-tenant disputes. Civil cases that exceed small claim maximum value are removed to the Court of Common Pleas. |
| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurens_County_Courthouse |
Services and Case Types Handled in Laurens County Magistrate Court
Laurens County Magistrates Court provides front-line judicial services for common civil and criminal matters. It accepts filings for small claims and other civil actions within its monetary limit, landlord-tenant (evictions, distress warrants), recovery of personal property, and bad-check cases. Criminal functions include issuing search/arrest warrants, first appearances and bond setting, preliminary hearings, and trials of minor criminal or county/traffic ordinance offenses as authorized. The court schedules and conducts hearings and bench or jury trials where available, issues subpoenas and summonses, enters default judgments, and enforces judgments. It processes or provides guidance on protective orders (e.g., restraining orders for harassment/stalking) and directs applicants to the proper court when required. Public services include jury summons and management, case information and records, payment of fines/fees, forms for self-represented litigants, accommodations, and referrals.