Horry County SC Court Records Search

Independent Horry County court-record guide

Horry County SC Court Records Search: Public Index, Dockets, Clerk Copies, Probate & Federal Routes

Use this guide to search Horry County South Carolina court records through official sources, choose the correct court, avoid name-match mistakes, request copies, and separate court records from deeds, jail bookings, Family Court, Probate Court, municipal tickets, appeals, bankruptcy, and federal PACER records.

Judicial Circuit 15 Clerk: Renee Norris Elvis Conway main courthouse Federal cases use PACER
Read first

Public-Court-Records.us is independent. This website is not Horry County Government, the Horry County Clerk of Court, the South Carolina Judicial Branch, Horry County Probate Court, the Horry County Register of Deeds, a sheriff’s office, a law firm, PACER, or a Consumer Reporting Agency. This page is general court-record navigation information only and is not legal advice.

Responsible-use warning: a matching name does not prove identity. A charge, arrest, citation, complaint, indictment, warrant, petition, lawsuit, docket entry, or court date does not prove guilt or liability. Do not use this guide for employment, tenant, credit, insurance, licensing, or other FCRA-regulated screening decisions.

Quick navigation

Use this menu if you already know which Horry County record type you need.

Start here

Horry County court records are split across several official systems

The South Carolina Judicial Branch lists Horry County in Judicial Circuit 15, with the Horry County Courthouse at 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. The Horry County Clerk of Court provides Circuit and Family Court services, while Probate Court, Magistrate Courts, Municipal Courts, the Register of Deeds, the Sheriff, appellate courts, federal district court, and bankruptcy court each handle different records.

The most common search mistake is treating the Public Index as one complete database for every Horry County record. The Public Index is the best official starting point for many trial and summary court case records, but it does not replace the Family Court Public Portal, Probate Court, Register of Deeds, municipal courts, sheriff bookings, C-Track appeals, or PACER.

15th Judicial Circuit

Horry County is listed by the South Carolina Judicial Branch as part of Judicial Circuit 15.

1301 Second Avenue

The main courthouse and several public offices are located in Conway at 1301 Second Avenue.

2 Clerk service locations

The Clerk lists a Conway main office and a South Strand office on Scipio Lane in Myrtle Beach.

4 Federal division

Federal District Court case-number guidance places Horry County in Division 4, Florence.

Local distinction: Circuit Court, Family Court, Probate Court, Magistrate Court, Municipal Court, Master-in-Equity, Register of Deeds, Sheriff bookings, C-Track appeals, federal district records, and bankruptcy records are not the same system.
Interactive helper

Horry County SC court-record route finder

Select the record type. This helper runs only in your browser and does not ask for names, case numbers, citation numbers, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, emails, or other personal information.

Use the Horry County Trial Court Public Index first for many trial and summary court records.

Enable cookies and JavaScript, accept the official disclaimer, then search by case number when available. If searching by name, compare the court, case number, filing date, party role, docket activity, and disposition.

Use the official court or clerk domain first. Never rely on a name match alone. Request certified copies from the custodian.
Routing table

Which Horry County court-record system should you use?

Use this table before searching. It prevents the common mistake of sending every Horry County query to one database even when the record belongs to another court or agency.

Horry County South Carolina court-record routing guide
Need Correct official route What to do first
Common Pleas civil lawsuit, judgment, foreclosure-related civil case, tort, contract, or major civil docket Horry County Public Index / Horry County Clerk of Court / Common Pleas Search by case number or party name, then verify the division, docket entries, judgment status, and whether the case moved to Master-in-Equity or appeal.
General Sessions felony or serious criminal case Horry County Public Index / Clerk of Court General Sessions / Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Search the Public Index, then verify disposition, indictment, plea, sentence, expungement status, or certified copy needs with the Clerk or Solicitor as appropriate.
Family Court, divorce, custody, support, adoption, or domestic matter South Carolina Family Court Public Portal / Horry County Clerk of Court Family Court Use the family portal or Family Court division, but expect privacy limits for children, support, adoption, and sensitive family documents.
Probate, estate, will, trust, guardianship, conservatorship, marriage license, or marriage certificate Horry County Probate Court Use Probate Court, not the ordinary trial Public Index alone. Estates opened in person require appointments, and wills must be filed within 30 days from date of death if there is a will.
Magistrate small claim, landlord-tenant, traffic, misdemeanor, preliminary, bond, or summary court matter Horry County Public Index / correct Horry County Magistrate Court Identify the specific magistrate court such as Conway, Myrtle Beach, Little River, Loris, Surfside Beach, Aynor, Green Sea, Domestic Violence Court, or Bond Court.
Municipal ticket, city ordinance, local traffic, or city court case Correct municipal court, such as Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, Surfside Beach, Loris, Atlantic Beach, Briarcliffe Acres, or Aynor Use the city named on the ticket or notice. Municipal cases may not be handled by the Horry County Clerk in the same way as Circuit Court records.
Foreclosure, partition, equity, or Master-in-Equity matter Horry County Master-in-Equity / Common Pleas route Search the Public Index and contact Master-in-Equity at 843-915-5310 when the case is assigned there or involves foreclosure-related processing.
Deed, mortgage, plat, land record, or recorded instrument Horry County Register of Deeds / Acclaim Official Records Search Use name, book/page, legal description, document type, consideration, or record-date searching in the Register of Deeds system. Do not treat deeds as court case dockets.
Current custody, jail booking, inmate location, or release status Horry County Sheriff / J. Reuben Long Detention Center bookings and releases Use jail tools for custody only. Verify court dates, charges, dispositions, bond, or certified criminal records with the court clerk.
State appeal from Horry County South Carolina C-Track Public Access / Supreme Court or Court of Appeals Search by appellate case number or party, then compare the appellate case to the lower Horry County court case number.
Federal civil, criminal, or bankruptcy case PACER / U.S. District Court District of South Carolina / U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of South Carolina Use PACER Case Locator if the federal court is unknown. Horry County federal district cases are in the Florence division, while bankruptcy case assignment places Horry County in the Charleston Division.
Copies and certification

How to request Horry County court copies or certified copies

A Public Index screen, docket printout, or downloaded image is not always a certified court record. Certified copies must come from the office that maintains the original court file or record.

Horry County copy and certified-copy routing
Record type Custodian Copy-fee guidance
Circuit Court Common Pleas or General Sessions court file Horry County Clerk of Court The reviewed Clerk page did not publish one ordinary court-copy fee table for every record type. Call the correct Clerk division before mailing payment or visiting.
Family Court record or divorce case file Horry County Clerk of Court / Family Court Verify access and copy eligibility first because family records may contain confidential or restricted information.
Probate record, estate, guardianship, conservatorship, or marriage certificate Horry County Probate Court Probate fees list photocopy and microfilm copies at $0.50 per page, certified copy issuance at $5.00 plus photocopy pages, and certified marriage certificate fees separately.
Certified marriage certificate Horry County Probate Court Marriage License Division The marriage page lists $5.00 per certified copy for 1994 to current records, and a $10.00 research fee plus $5.00 per certified copy for records prior to 1994.
Magistrate or Municipal Court record The specific magistrate or municipal court that handled the case Call the court named on the ticket, summons, or docket before ordering copies because court locations and fee procedures differ.
Federal District Court record U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina / PACER The District of South Carolina records page lists public-terminal printing at $0.10 per page, Clerk copy work at $0.50 per page, and a $34.00 Clerk-performed name search fee payable in advance.
Federal PACER docket or document PACER / federal court PACER pricing verified September 7, 2026: $0.10 per page, $3.00 cap for many case-specific documents and reports, and $30 quarterly waiver threshold. A temporary increase to $0.12 per page and $40 quarterly waiver threshold starts January 1, 2027.
Best request format: include the court name, division, case number if known, party names, filing year, exact document title, whether you need certification, delivery preference, and your contact information. Ask the office for the current fee before sending payment.
Do not mix systems

Court records, deeds, jail bookings, police reports, and vital records are different

Horry County has several public-facing records systems, but they do not all answer the same question. Use the correct source before concluding that a record is missing.

Use court routes for
  • Civil lawsuits and judgments
  • General Sessions criminal cases
  • Family Court and divorce cases
  • Magistrate and municipal tickets
  • Probate, estate, will, and guardianship files
  • Appeals and federal cases through separate systems
Use non-court routes for
  • Current jail custody and bookings through the Sheriff
  • Deeds, mortgages, plats, and land records through Register of Deeds
  • Police incident reports through the police or sheriff agency that created them
  • Marriage certificates through Probate Court
  • Federal dockets through PACER
  • Administrative county records through the proper FOIA/public records office
Custody vs court warning: a jail booking is not a conviction. Use the Sheriff or detention center for custody status and the proper court clerk for charges, docket, disposition, bond verification, certified copies, or expungement records.
Locations and contacts

Horry County courthouse and records-office locations

Many searches can start online, but certified copies, older records, sealed-record questions, family access issues, probate matters, and court-date verification may require the correct office. Call before visiting to confirm the room, hours, payment method, document availability, and whether the office can issue the record you need.

Horry County Clerk of Court – Conway Main

1301 Second Avenue
Conway, SC 29526

Phone: 843-915-5080
Fax: 843-915-6081
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Directory numbers include Family Court 843-915-5081, Common Pleas 843-915-5083, General Sessions 843-915-5084, Central Traffic Court 843-915-5070.

Clerk of Court – South Strand Office

9630 Scipio Lane
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588

Phone: 843-915-5082
Fax: 843-915-6081
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Confirm whether your request can be handled at South Strand before visiting.

Horry County Probate Court

1301 Second Avenue
Conway, SC 29526

Phone: 843-915-5370
Fax: 843-915-6371
Email: hcg.ProbateCourt@horrycountysc.gov

Mailing: P.O. Box 288, Conway, SC 29528. Appointments are required to open an estate in person.

Horry County Register of Deeds

1301 Second Avenue
Conway, SC 29526

Phone: 843-915-5430
Fax: 843-915-6430
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:45 p.m.

Use this office for deeds, mortgages, plats, and land records, not ordinary court dockets.

Conway Magistrate / Central Traffic Court

1201 Third Avenue
Conway, SC 29526

Office: 843-915-5070
Fax: 843-915-6070

Use this route for many central traffic and magistrate matters. Check the court named on the ticket or summons.

J. Reuben Long Detention Center

4150 J. Reuben Long Avenue
Conway, SC 29526

Detention Center: 843-915-5140
Booking: 843-915-6911

Use detention resources for current custody information. Use court clerks for official dispositions and certified records.

Map shown for Horry County Courthouse at 1301 Second Avenue in Conway. Before visiting, confirm the correct court, department, room, hours, security rules, payment method, and whether your record is available online, by mail, or in person only.
Appeals, federal, and bankruptcy

Where Horry County appeals, federal cases, and bankruptcy records go

A Horry County case may leave the local trial-court record path if it is appealed or if it belongs to federal court. Use the proper statewide or federal record system before assuming the Horry County Public Index is incomplete.

State appellate cases

Use South Carolina C-Track Public Access for Supreme Court of South Carolina and South Carolina Court of Appeals case information. C-Track generally covers cases pending or filed on or after May 1, 2012, with older events and documents more limited.

Federal district cases

Federal civil and criminal cases from Horry County use the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina and PACER. Federal case-number guidance places Horry County in Division 4, Florence.

Bankruptcy cases

Bankruptcy is federal, not a county civil case. Use the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina and PACER. The bankruptcy court lists Horry County in the Charleston Division assignment.

PACER pricing verified September 7, 2026: PACER lists $0.10 per page, a $3.00 cap for many case-specific documents and reports, and a $30 quarterly waiver threshold. A temporary increase to $0.12 per page and a $40 quarterly waiver threshold starts January 1, 2027.
Troubleshooting

What to do if a Horry County court-record search returns no result

Check search mistakes
  • Wrong court: Circuit, Family, Probate, Magistrate, Municipal, Master-in-Equity, appellate, federal, or bankruptcy.
  • Wrong portal: Public Index used for Probate, Register of Deeds, sheriff bookings, or federal records.
  • Wrong spelling, maiden name, suffix, business punctuation, LLC/Inc. variation, or attorney name.
  • Wrong filing year, agency, case type, date range, or court roster.
  • Searching a city ticket in a county court route.
Check access limits
  • Sealed, expunged, juvenile, confidential, or restricted record.
  • Family Court document with privacy limits.
  • Record exists only in an office file, older archive, or separate court system.
  • Online data is delayed or not the official final record of action.
  • Federal or bankruptcy matter must be searched through PACER.
Best next step: contact the correct custodian with the court name, case number if known, party names, filing year, document title, docket date, and whether you need a plain copy, certified copy, final disposition, roster confirmation, redaction, sealing, expungement, or archive retrieval.
Sealing and expungement

Horry County sealed, expunged, juvenile, and restricted records

Do not try to bypass sealed, expunged, juvenile, or confidential record restrictions. If a case is missing from a public search, it may be sealed, expunged, restricted, in a different court, delayed, or not available through online public access.

For General Sessions expungement
  • Use the Solicitor’s Office in the circuit where the offense occurred.
  • South Carolina’s General Sessions process lists separate certified checks or money orders for solicitor, SLED, and Clerk filing fees when applicable.
  • Some dismissed, discharged, or nolle prossed charges may be exempt from the solicitor administrative fee depending on the rule and case history.
  • Do not assume every conviction can be expunged.
For Magistrate or Municipal Court expungement
  • Use the summary court route when the case was disposed in Magistrate or Municipal Court.
  • South Carolina courts explain special procedures for not guilty, dismissed, or nolle prossed summary-court cases.
  • Traffic convictions generally cannot be expunged except limited exceptions identified by official sources.
  • Contact the specific court or Horry County Solicitor if the route is unclear.
Juvenile privacy rule: do not republish minor names, addresses, school information, medical details, victim information, family details, or confidential juvenile records. Contact the court only if you are an authorized party.
Legal and privacy safety

Use Horry County court records carefully

Identity-matching rules
  • Do not identify a person from a common name alone.
  • Compare case number, court, agency, party role, filing date, docket entries, attorney, disposition, and lawful identifiers.
  • Do not assume a charge, warrant, complaint, indictment, or citation is a conviction.
  • Do not assume a civil judgment shows current payment, satisfaction, appeal, or collection status.
Responsible publishing rules
  • Do not harass, threaten, shame, or retaliate against anyone.
  • Do not republish Social Security numbers, driver-license numbers, financial account numbers, children’s details, addresses, or sensitive personal information.
  • Do not scrape, automate, sell, or misuse public-index data.
  • Use official custodians for corrections, certified copies, redaction, sealing, expungement, or formal verification.
Filing does not equal proof: a complaint, petition, indictment, citation, warrant, roster listing, motion, arrest, booking, or lawsuit filing must be read in context. Verify the official final disposition before making any conclusion.
Docket meaning

How to read Horry County docket results without over-interpreting them

A docket is a record of case activity. It may show filings, hearings, motions, orders, judgments, warrants, indictments, continuances, dismissals, pleas, sentences, financial entries, or court events. It may not explain the full legal meaning of each entry.

Party roles

Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, appellant, appellee, prosecutor, debtor, creditor, decedent, personal representative, guardian, conservator, and ward are roles. A role does not automatically mean wrongdoing.

Criminal terms

Arrest, booking, charge, indictment, plea, conviction, acquittal, dismissal, nolle prosequi, expungement, and sentence are different events. Do not merge them into one conclusion.

Civil judgment caution

A judgment entry may not show whether the judgment was paid, satisfied, appealed, vacated, stayed, discharged, or recorded elsewhere. Check later docket entries and official records.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Horry County court records

What is the official way to search Horry County SC court records?

Start with the South Carolina Judicial Branch Horry County Public Index for many trial court and summary court records. Use the Horry County Clerk of Court for Circuit and Family Court records, the Family Court Public Portal for family matters, Probate Court for estates and marriage records, Magistrate or Municipal Court for many summary matters, and PACER for federal records.

Is Horry County part of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit?

Yes. The South Carolina Judicial Branch lists Horry County in Judicial Circuit 15. The Horry County Courthouse is located at 1301 Second Avenue in Conway, South Carolina.

Can I search Horry County court records by name?

Yes, the public index and some court systems support party-name or business-name searching. A name match alone does not prove identity, so compare the court, case number, case type, party role, filing date, docket entries, and final disposition before relying on a result.

Which office handles Horry County Circuit Court and Family Court records?

The Horry County Clerk of Court handles Circuit Court and Family Court services. The main Conway office is at 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526, and the general Clerk number is 843-915-5080.

Where do I search Horry County probate or marriage records?

Use Horry County Probate Court for estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, involuntary commitments, marriage licenses, and certified marriage certificates. Probate Court is located at 1301 Second Avenue in Conway and can be reached at 843-915-5370.

Are Horry County deeds and land records the same as court records?

No. Court records are case records, dockets, judgments, filings, and related court documents. Deeds, mortgages, plats, and land records are handled by the Horry County Register of Deeds and the official Acclaim records search.

How do I find Horry County court rosters or hearing dates?

Use the Horry County Court Rosters link or the South Carolina Judicial Branch Court Roster Search. Rosters can change, so verify urgent hearing dates with the correct Clerk division or court office.

How much do Horry County court copies or certified copies cost?

The reviewed Clerk of Court page did not publish one ordinary court-copy fee table for every court record type, so verify copy and certification costs with the correct Clerk division before ordering. Probate Court separately lists certified marriage certificates at $5.00 for 1994 to current records and a $10.00 research fee plus $5.00 certified copy fee for records prior to 1994.

Why might a Horry County court case not appear online?

The case may be in the wrong court, too new, older than the online index, sealed, expunged, juvenile, confidential, restricted, in Family Court, Probate Court, Municipal Court, federal court, bankruptcy court, or listed only on a roster rather than a searchable docket. Contact the correct record custodian when the official record matters.

Where do I search Horry County federal or bankruptcy cases?

Use PACER and the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina for federal district cases. Federal District Court case-number guidance places Horry County in Division 4, Florence. Bankruptcy matters use the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina, and Horry County bankruptcy cases are assigned to the Charleston Division.

Source review

Official-source review checklist

This guide was reviewed against the Horry County Clerk of Court page, Horry County Online Services, South Carolina Judicial Branch Horry County courthouse page, Horry County Public Index, Horry County court rosters, South Carolina Family Court Public Portal, Horry County Probate Court, Probate Court fees, marriage license and certificate instructions, Horry County Register of Deeds, Acclaim Official Records Search, South Carolina Magistrate Court list, South Carolina Municipal Court list, Horry County Sheriff bookings and releases, J. Reuben Long Detention Center information, Horry County Solicitor expungement resources, South Carolina Judicial Branch expungement process, C-Track Public Access, U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, District of South Carolina records pages, Florence federal courthouse, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina, PACER Find a Case, and PACER pricing resources. Review date: September 7, 2026.

Before relying on time-sensitive details: verify current case status, hearing date, public-index availability, copy fees, certification fees, court office hours, court rosters, family-access rules, Probate Court procedures, Register of Deeds document availability, sheriff custody data, expungement requirements, federal division assignment, bankruptcy assignment, and PACER pricing with the official custodian.

Leave a Comment