Beaufort County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Beaufort County, South Carolina, with its population of about 189,000 people, boasts a network of courts that handles its legal matters. These legal issues range from civil and family cases to criminal and probate matters. Justice is served in Beaufort County through several courts, such as the Circuit Court, Family Court, Probate Court, Magistrate Court, and Municipal Court. These courts help to maintain law and order in the County while addressing the specific legal matters arising before them.

The Beaufort Circuit Court is the main court that handles criminal cases, civil matters, family matters, and juvenile cases. The Family Courts address divorce, alimony, and child support matters within the County. The Probate Courts, with the main office at Beaufort and the satellite offices at Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, deal with cases concerning wills, estate-sharing, and guardianships. The Magistrate Courts are divided into the civil department and the traffic and criminal department and focus on small claims cases, landlord-tenant disputes, traffic violations, and minor criminal offenses. The Municipal Courts located at Port Royale, Bluffton, and Beaufort are responsible for handling misdemeanors and violations of city and state laws. This includes offenses attracting a fine of not more than $500.

Beaufort County's court system is part of the Fourteenth Circuit Judicial District of South Carolina. About 50% of reported crimes from this district are from Beaufort County. Statistics show a crime rate of about 4000 cases per year within the County. The courts treat a caseload of about 4500 cases annually, ranging from criminal to divorce and juvenile matters. Court records in Beaufort County can be easily accessed on the web page of the Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office. The records are updated regularly and are reliable, reflecting the efficiency of the judicial system. However, closed court records are not accessible by the public and can only be accessed by obtaining a special court order or permission.

In conclusion, the judicial system of Beaufort County works diligently to ensure that the small population has sufficient access to legal facilities that can address a wide range of legal issues. The Circuit Court with the Family, Probate, Magistrate, and Municipal Courts, manages the various cases that are to be handled within the County. Regularly updated court records are also accessible to the public via an easy-to-use online medium. The efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial system in Beaufort County ensures that justice is quickly served to its residents.