Lexington County
Lexington County is located in the Midlands of South Carolina and is one of the fastest-growing places in the state. Founded in 1804 and named after the battle of Lexington, the county occupies about 699 square miles of area. At least 295,000 people live in Lexington County.
The Lexington County court structure includes the Circuit Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, and Probate Court. The Circuit Court Court comprises the Court of Common Pleas, Civil Court, and Criminal Court. While it is a court of general jurisdiction, it also has limited jurisdiction over appeals from the Municipal Court, Probate Court, and Magistrate Court. The Family Court in Lexington County has exclusive jurisdiction over all matters involving family and domestic relationships. It primarily hears cases relating to divorce, custody, marriage, adoption, division of marital property, legal separation, visitation rights, alimony, and termination of parental rights.
Lexington County's Probate Court presides over cases concerning estate administration, conservatorships for minors and adults, guardianships for adults, and mental health commitments. The county's Magistrate Court tries all traffic violation cases and misdemeanor criminal offenses punishable by a $500 fine plus assessments or up to a 30-day jail sentence. The court also hears cases involving landlord/tenant disputes and small claims in which the amount in dispute does not exceed $7,500. The Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over civil cases that surpass the small claims maximum ($7,500).
Among several other duties, the Clerk of Court in Lexington County maintains all court records for the various courts in the county and makes them available on request. Interested individuals can request public court records from the clerk's office for cases such as the following:
- Criminal cases
- Probate cases
- Family law cases
- Civil cases
- Traffic violation cases
Using the South Carolina Judicial Branch's Public Access Portal, anyone can look up records of legal proceedings held in Lexington County courts. The search is easier with case numbers.
