Pickens County Magistrate Court cases in Pickens County, Liberty, SC
Pickens County Magistrates Court in Liberty, South Carolina, is a county-level magistrate (summary) court within the South Carolina Unified Judicial System. It has limited jurisdiction over civil cases up to $7,500, including small claims and landlord-tenant/eviction actions; hears traffic violations and county or municipal ordinance cases; and adjudicates minor criminal offenses generally punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a fine up to $500. Magistrates also issue arrest and search warrants, set bail, and conduct preliminary hearings in criminal matters that proceed to the Court of General Sessions. The court does not handle family or probate matters, which are heard in the Family Court and Probate Court, nor serious felonies, which are tried in Circuit Court.
Pickens County Magistrate Court Contact and Location Information
| Court Type: | Magistrate Court |
| County: | Pickens |
| Street Address: | 310 W. Main St. |
| City: | Liberty |
| Zip Code: | 29657 |
| Phone: | 864-898-5551 |
| Fax: | 864-843-4652 |
| Hours: | Monday - Friday 8:30AM - 4:30PM |
| Website URL: | https://www.co.pickens.sc.us/departments/magistrate_court/index.php |
| Parking: | Adequate parking is available at court where trials are held. |
| Restrictions: | No tank tops, shorts, hats, ball caps or "flip-flop" sandals are allowed. You should not bring items such as computer games. Also, you may not bring cellular phones or pagers into the courtroom. Such contraband items as guns, knives, mace, or other implements which could be used as weapons or are considered a danger to the court should be left at home. |
| Forms & Filing: | https://www.co.pickens.sc.us/i_want_to/apply_for/documents___forms/magistrate.php#outer-300 |
| Dockets / Schedule / Calendar: | https://publicindex.sccourts.org/Pickens/PublicIndex/PISearch.aspx |
| Jury Service: | https://www.co.pickens.sc.us/departments/magistrate_court/jury_service.php |
| Languages: | Multiple |
| ADA: | The Pickens County ADA Coordinator |
| ADA Phone: | 864-898-5940 |
| ADA Fax / Email: | 864-898-1873, mikeh@co.pickens.sc.us |
| About / Additional Info: | All Pickens County Magistrates are located at the Pickens County Central Magistrate Court located at the William A. McWhorter building, 310 W. Main Street Liberty South Carolina. Pickens County has four Magistrates. South Carolina Magistrates are appointed to four-year terms by the governor and have senate approval. All Magistrate courts are under the guidance of South Carolina Court Administration.Magistrates issue warrants, set bonds and hear criminal, traffic and civil cases, as well as preliminary hearings and transfer cases for Pickens County. Generally the criminal jurisdiction involves cases with a maximum fine of $500.00 and/or 30 days in jail. Assessments and court costs will be added to fines in criminal cases as provided by State law. In some specific cases punishment can be more.Civil jurisdiction is limited to matters where the relief being sought does not exceed $7,500.00 (with the exception of unpaid rent) and may include such matters as summons and complaint, landlord/tenant actions, trespass, sales of abandoned property and claim and delivery. |
Services and Case Types Handled in Pickens County Magistrate Court
Pickens County Magistrate Court serves as the public's front-line venue for routine civil and criminal matters. Main services:
- Case filings: small-claims civil actions, landlord-tenant (evictions), claim-and-delivery/replevin, related motions, and judgments.
- Criminal/traffic: processing citations and minor offenses, issuing arrest/search warrants, setting bond, and conducting preliminary hearings.
- Protective orders: accepting petitions for restraining orders in harassment/stalking cases, coordinating service, and scheduling hearings.
- Court hearings: arraignments, eviction hearings, civil and criminal bench or jury trials, continuances, and subpoenas.
- Jury services: summoning and qualifying jurors, providing reporting instructions, and administering juries for magistrate-level trials.
- Payments and records: collecting fines/fees, managing payment plans when permitted, and providing case information and certified copies.
The court provides forms, scheduling, and hearing access to facilitate timely, accessible resolution of disputes and initial criminal processes for the public.