Beaufort County Court Docket
Beaufort County court docket records cover all cases filed in Circuit Court, Family Court, Magistrate Court, and Probate Court within the county. The Beaufort County Clerk of Court is the official custodian of these records, maintaining case files at the courthouse on Ribaut Road. Residents, attorneys, and researchers can search the Beaufort County court docket online through the South Carolina Public Index or by contacting the Clerk's office directly. This page walks you through the search tools, courthouse details, and what you can find in the Beaufort County court docket.
Beaufort County Quick Facts
Beaufort County Clerk of Court Office
The Honorable Jerri Ann Roseneau serves as Beaufort County Clerk of Court. The Clerk's office manages all civil and criminal filings for the county. For civil matters under Common Pleas, you can reach the office by phone at (843) 255-5050 or by email at jroseneau@bcgov.net. For criminal matters under General Sessions, the direct number is (843) 255-5057. The physical location is 102 Ribaut Road, Suite 208, Beaufort, SC 29902. The mailing address for most correspondence is Post Office Drawer 1128, Beaufort, SC 29901.
The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Beaufort County is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Jasper County. Beaufort County is one of the more active court systems in South Carolina given the county's rapid population growth over the past two decades. The South Carolina Courts courthouse directory for Beaufort County lists current judge assignments, magistrate court locations, and full contact details.
Additional officers of the court in Beaufort County include the Hon. Patsye M. Greene as Register of Deeds, the Hon. James J. Wegmann as Master-In-Equity, and the Hon. Heather R. Galvin as Probate Judge. Each handles a distinct portion of the overall case load in the county. Foreclosure matters routed through the Master-In-Equity can be directed to Foreclosure Clerk Jackie Grey at (843) 255-5713.
| Courthouse |
Beaufort County Courthouse 102 Ribaut Road, Suite 208 Beaufort, SC 29902 Civil: (843) 255-5050 Criminal: (843) 255-5057 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | Post Office Drawer 1128, Beaufort, SC 29901 |
| Fax | (843) 255-9412 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | beaufortcountysc.gov/clerk-of-court |
How to Search the Beaufort County Court Docket Online
The South Carolina Public Index provides free online access to Beaufort County court docket records. Search by party name or case number at publicindex.sccourts.org/beaufort/publicindex/. Results include case type, filing date, party names, judge assignments, and a full list of docket entries in chronological order. This is the most direct path to Beaufort County court docket information without visiting the courthouse.
The SC case records search at sccourts.org is another way to look up cases across all 46 counties, including Beaufort. It is especially useful when you are not sure in which South Carolina county a case was filed. Both tools pull from the same case management system.
Beaufort County docket numbers follow the South Carolina format: Year-Type-CountyCode-Number. The county code for Beaufort is 07. A civil case from 2024 would appear as 2024-CP-07-000100. Family Court cases use the prefix DR. General Sessions criminal cases use GS. The Master-In-Equity handles foreclosure and equity matters under a separate docket series. Knowing the case number before you search will save you time, especially for common names.
The Beaufort County Family Court docket is also available online. Common Pleas jury trial rosters and motions rosters are posted through the court roster system. General Sessions scheduling is handled by the Chief Judge for Administrative Purposes, not the Clerk of Court.
Beaufort County Court Docket Divisions
Beaufort County operates several court divisions. Each one generates its own docket records, and knowing the division helps you find the right case files.
Circuit Court Common Pleas covers civil cases. This includes personal injury claims, contract disputes, real property matters, and appeals from lower courts. Common Pleas Jury Trial and Motions information is available online through the Beaufort County Clerk of Court page at beaufortcountysc.gov/clerk-of-court. Master-In-Equity hearings for foreclosure and equity cases go through Judge James J. Wegmann; contact his assistant Heather McLeod at (843) 255-5710 for scheduling questions.
General Sessions handles criminal cases for the state of South Carolina in Beaufort County. These include felony and misdemeanor cases from across the county. The CDR codes at sccourts.org decode the offense codes you see on General Sessions dockets in Beaufort County.
Family Court handles divorces, child custody, child support, domestic violence protective orders, and adoptions. The Family Court docket in Beaufort County is available online. Probate Court under the Hon. Heather R. Galvin handles estate proceedings, guardianships, and conservatorships. Magistrate Courts operate in Beaufort, Bluffton, and Hilton Head Island, handling smaller civil claims and lower-level criminal matters at the local level.
Note: For child and spousal support payments in Beaufort County, all payments are made to the South Carolina State Disbursement Unit at P.O. Box 100302, Columbia, SC 29202-3302, not to the Clerk's office directly.
Beaufort County Court Rosters
Court rosters list the scheduled hearings for each court session. They are posted through the South Carolina court roster search at sccourts.org. Filter by Beaufort County and date to view which cases are calendared for a given session.
Common Pleas jury trial rosters and motions rosters are both available online for Beaufort County. Attorneys and parties can check the roster before appearing in court. The General Sessions roster is managed by the Chief Judge for Administrative Purposes. If you have a criminal case in Beaufort County and need to know your next hearing date, contact the solicitor's office or the Clerk at (843) 255-5057.
Accessing Beaufort County Court Records
Most Beaufort County court records are open to the public under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10. You do not need to be a party to a case to inspect or request copies of public court documents. Exceptions exist for sealed records, juvenile matters, and certain protected filings.
To get copies of Beaufort County court docket documents, visit the Clerk of Court at 102 Ribaut Road, Suite 208, Beaufort, SC 29902. Bring the case number or the names of the parties. Staff will pull the file and make copies at a per-page rate. You can also mail requests to Post Office Drawer 1128, Beaufort, SC 29901. For civil matters call (843) 255-5050 and for criminal matters call (843) 255-5057 before your visit to confirm what you need to bring.
The Beaufort County government portal at beaufortcountysc.gov also provides information on county services, including the Register of Deeds, Probate Court, and other offices that may hold records relevant to your search. The Register of Deeds is a separate office from the Clerk of Court in Beaufort County.
Cities in Beaufort County
Beaufort County includes several cities and communities. Cases involving residents of these cities are filed at the Beaufort County Courthouse in Beaufort. Magistrate Courts also operate in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island for local matters.
Nearby Counties
Beaufort County is in the southern coastal region of South Carolina. Cases may be filed in a neighboring county if that is where the parties live or the events took place.