Find Court Docket Records in Clarendon County
Clarendon County court docket records are kept by the Clerk of Court at the Clarendon County Courthouse at 102 South Mill Street in Manning, South Carolina. The court docket covers all civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in Clarendon County. You can search Clarendon County court docket records through the South Carolina Public Index online or request records directly from the Clerk of Court in Manning. This page explains the search process, what the docket includes, and how to access documents from Clarendon County court files.
Clarendon County Quick Facts
Clarendon County Clerk of Court
The Clarendon County Clerk of Court is The Honorable Shanita Brangman. She was elected on November 5, 2024 and began service on January 6, 2025. Clerk Brangman holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Limestone College, where she graduated with honors, and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from South University, also with honors.
Clerk Brangman began her career in public service with Clarendon County in 2006 in the Register of Deeds office. She was promoted to Common Pleas Clerk and ADR Coordinator in 2008, then became Office Administrator and Deputy Clerk of Court in 2012. Her tenure includes a key milestone for the county: in 2016, Clarendon County was selected as a test county for the South Carolina e-filing pilot program. She successfully launched the county's first electronic filing system and served as the e-filing administrator from 2016 through 2024. That experience gives Clerk Brangman a unique technical background in managing and providing access to Clarendon County court docket records.
The South Carolina Courts directory at sccourts.org/courts/courthouse-search/clarendon provides the full listing for the Clarendon County Courthouse including all judge and office contact information.
| Courthouse |
Clarendon County Courthouse 102 South Mill Street Manning, SC 29102 Phone: (803) 435-4443 Fax: (803) 435-4844 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | PO Box 136, Manning, SC 29102-0136 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| County Website | clarendoncountysc.org |
Searching Clarendon County Court Docket Records
The South Carolina Public Index is the primary tool for finding Clarendon County court docket records online. Search by party name or case number for free. Access the Clarendon County section directly at publicindex.sccourts.org/clarendon.
The statewide SC Courts case records search also covers Clarendon County. Use it when you want to search across multiple South Carolina counties at once. If you already know the case is in Clarendon County, the county-specific Public Index link is faster and more direct. The court roster search at sccourts.org/court-roster-search lists pending cases and hearing schedules for judges assigned to the 3rd Judicial Circuit, which includes Clarendon County.
Clarendon County was among the first South Carolina counties to implement electronic filing for court cases. As a result, more recent Clarendon County court docket records are likely to be available online through the Public Index, while older records may require an in-person visit to the Clerk of Court office in Manning.
For in-person access, the Clerk of Court is open Monday through Friday at 102 South Mill Street in Manning. Staff can search the court docket and provide copies of case documents. Bring a photo ID. Certified copies are available for a fee set by the court.
Note: Clarendon County Magistrate Court records for minor civil and traffic matters may not appear in the main Public Index. Contact the Clerk of Court to request magistrate-level case records in Clarendon County.
Clarendon County Court Divisions
Clarendon County is part of the 3rd Judicial Circuit of South Carolina. The circuit court system handles both civil and criminal matters, while separate courts manage family and probate matters for Clarendon County residents.
The Circuit Court divides into Common Pleas for civil cases and General Sessions for criminal prosecutions. Common Pleas handles civil disputes, contract claims, and other non-criminal matters above the magistrate threshold. General Sessions handles felony charges and serious criminal cases in Clarendon County. Circuit Court Judges serving Clarendon County include Hon. S. B. Doby, Hon. George M. McFaddin Jr., and Hon. Will Wheeler.
The Family Court handles domestic relations and juvenile matters for Clarendon County. Cases include divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, and juvenile delinquency proceedings. Family Court Judges assigned to Clarendon County include Hon. William A. Buxton, Hon. Ernest J. Jarrett, and Hon. Angela R. Taylor. Their docket entries are searchable through the Family Court section of the Clarendon County Public Index.
The Master-in-Equity for Clarendon County is The Hon. Joseph K. Coffey, located at PO Box 1292 in Manning. The Master-in-Equity handles complex civil matters referred from the Circuit Court. The Probate Court, led by The Hon. Margaret J. Sorrell at 411 Sunset Drive in Manning, handles wills, estates, guardianship, and conservatorship for Clarendon County residents.
All of these courts generate records that are part of the Clarendon County public docket under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10.
Clarendon County Court Record Resources
Clarendon County is located in the Midlands region of South Carolina. Manning is the county seat and serves as the center for all court docket filings and public record requests in Clarendon County.
The Register of Deeds for Clarendon County is The Hon. Rebecca Massey, located at 411 Sunset Drive in Manning, reachable at (843) 435-4444. Property records kept by the Register of Deeds may be relevant when researching cases that involve real estate disputes in Clarendon County court filings.
CDR case disposition codes appear in Clarendon County court docket entries to describe how each case was resolved. The full code reference is available at sccourts.org/cdr-codes. Common codes you will encounter in the Clarendon County docket include entries for dismissals, default judgments, guilty pleas, bench verdicts, and jury verdicts.
Clarendon County court docket records follow the same public records rules as all South Carolina counties. Most case filings are available to the public without restriction. If a record does not appear in the public search system, it may be sealed by court order. The Clerk of Court can confirm whether a specific Clarendon County case file is restricted or available for public inspection.
Nearby Counties
Clarendon County borders several other South Carolina counties in the Midlands region. Each county has its own Clerk of Court and its own section of the Public Index for court docket records.