Lee County, SC Courts and Public Records
- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
The Lee County Clerk of Court keeps the court records for the Circuit and Family Courts that serve Lee County, which is part of the Third Judicial Circuit.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Name | Lee County Clerk of Court (Circuit and Family Courts, Third Judicial Circuit) |
| Main Address | PO Box 387, Bishopville, SC 29010 |
| Main Phone | (803) 484-5341 |
| Courthouse Locations | 1 (Bishopville) |
| Handles | Circuit Court and Family Court records, as kept by the Clerk of Court |
| Does NOT Handle | Probate, Magistrate, Municipal and Master-in-Equity Courts, which are separate trial courts; federal cases (the U.S. District Court for South Carolina); parking tickets (issuing agency) |
| Online Case Search | Public Index (publicindex.sccourts.org) |
| Pay Traffic Tickets Online | Online Payments and Traffic Ticket Search |
How to Search Lee County Court Records
Have the person's full name, the case number if you know it, and the approximate dates ready before you search. Lee County cases are kept by the Clerk of Court in Bishopville.
Online
Go to Public Index to search statewide court case records.
Start with the party name or case number when you have them.
Confirm details with the Clerk of Court before relying on them.
Best for: Quick lookups of case status and parties
In Person
Go to the Lee County Clerk of Court, PO Box 387, Bishopville, SC 29010.
Bring the case number and party names if you have them.
Call (803) 484-5341 to confirm what the clerk needs.
Best for: Records not available online
By Phone
Call the Lee County Clerk of Court at (803) 484-5341.
Ask which office handles your case type before you visit.
Ask how to request copies of records that are not online.
Best for: Confirming a case or request before a visit
Search by Name on SCCourtAccess.org
Go to SCCourtAccess.org and enter a full name.
Search across record types without a case number.
Confirm results with the court, since they are not official court records.
Best for: Finding leads without a case number
Lee County Court Statistics (FY 2026)
Lee County courts handled an estimated 973 new cases in FY 2026 across the case types covered here, and disposed of 386 criminal and probate cases. Criminal cases (General Sessions) and probate estate cases come from county reports; civil and family filings are estimated.
~973
Total filings in FY 2026
~960
Total dispositions in FY 2026
~973
Filings per judicial position (1 estimated positions)
~-2.4%
Change in total filings vs FY 2025
| Metric | FY 2026 | FY 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Filings | ~973 | ~997 | ~-2.4% |
| Total Dispositions | ~960 | ~984 | ~-2.4% |
| Criminal Filings | 266 | 301 | -11.6% |
| Civil Filings | ~405 | ~378 | ~+7.1% |
| Family Law Filings | ~118 | ~122 | ~-3.3% |
| Probate Filings | 184 | 196 | -6.1% |
| Mental Health Filings | ~1 | ~1 | ~-3.7% |
| Juvenile Filings | ~19 | ~20 | ~-3.7% |
| Authorized Judicial Positions | ~1 | ~1 | ~0.0% |
The largest category movement was in criminal filings.
How Have Court Filings Changed in Lee County?
Estimated total filings in Lee County moved down over the last five years; dispositions are estimated at a similar level.
| Fiscal Year | Total Filings | Total Dispositions | YoY Filing Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | ~973 | ~960 | ~-2.4% |
| FY 2025 | ~997 | ~983 | ~-3.5% |
| FY 2024 | ~1,033 | ~1,019 | ~+3.9% |
| FY 2023 | ~994 | ~981 | ~-9.5% |
| FY 2022 | ~1,098 | ~1,083 | ~-12.0% |
Estimated filings changed -11.4% between FY 2022 and FY 2026, from 1,098 to 973. The largest annual change was -9.5% in FY 2023. The latest change of -2.4% was driven mainly by criminal filings.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Lee County?
Civil cases are estimated to be the largest category in Lee County, at about 41.6% of filings in FY 2026.
| Case Type | Filings FY 2026 | Share of Total | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil | ~405 | ~41.6% | ~+7.1% |
| Criminal | 266 | ~27.3% | -11.6% |
| Probate | 184 | ~18.9% | -6.1% |
| Family law | ~118 | ~12.1% | ~-3.3% |
| Juvenile | ~19 | ~2.0% | ~-3.7% |
| Mental health | ~1 | ~0.0% | ~-3.7% |
Civil cases grew fastest and criminal cases fell fastest.
How Does Lee County Compare With South Carolina Overall?
Lee County is estimated to account for about 0.29% of the 334,712 cases filed in South Carolina courts in FY 2026.
| Metric | Lee County | South Carolina | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total filings | ~973 | 334,712 | ~0.29% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | ~-2.4% | +3.8% | Below state (estimate) |
| Filings per judicial position | ~973 | ~7,276 | Below state (estimate) |
| Dispositions per judicial position equivalent | ~960 | ~7,180 | Below state (estimate) |
| Criminal share of filings | ~27.3% | 39.2% | Below state (estimate) |
| Civil share of filings | ~41.6% | 30.0% | Above state (estimate) |
| Family law share of filings | ~12.1% | 17.1% | Below state (estimate) |
Compared with the state, Lee County has a higher share of civil filings and a lower share of criminal filings. Figures marked with ~ are estimates.
Lee County Crime Statistics (2025)
These figures are South Carolina statewide totals as reported to the FBI, not counts for Lee County. Agency reporting may be incomplete, and county crime counts are not available here. Statewide violent and property crimes combined fell 15.0% from 2024 to 2025. In 2025, reporting agencies covered about 96.4% of South Carolina's population, so year-over-year changes can partly reflect which agencies reported.
20,950
Violent crimes, South Carolina statewide, 2025
92,086
Property crimes, South Carolina statewide, 2025 (includes arson)
376.1
Violent crime rate per 100K, South Carolina statewide, 2025 (population 5,570,274)
-15.0%
Change in total violent plus property crimes, South Carolina statewide, 2025 vs 2024 (113,036 vs 133,034)
| Offense | 2025 | Rate per 100K | 2024 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 352 | 6.3 | 428 | -17.8% |
| Rape | 1,877 | 33.7 | 2,137 | -12.2% |
| Robbery | 1,527 | 27.4 | 1,942 | -21.4% |
| Aggravated assault | 17,194 | 308.7 | 19,581 | -12.2% |
| Violent crimes total | 20,950 | 376.1 | 24,088 | -13.0% |
| Burglary | 13,035 | 234.0 | 15,541 | -16.1% |
| Larceny-theft | 69,668 | 1250.7 | 80,928 | -13.9% |
| Motor vehicle theft | 8,880 | 159.4 | 11,872 | -25.2% |
| Property crimes total | 92,086 | 1653.2 | 108,946 | -15.5% |
Rates use the South Carolina 2025 population of 5,570,274. County-level rates are not published, so this section does not compare Lee County with the state. The property crimes total includes arson, so it is larger than the sum of the property offenses listed above.
Lee County Courthouse Locations
Lee County has 1 courthouse location in the official Clerk of Court directory. Check your notice or ticket for the courthouse assigned to your case before you go.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County Clerk of Court Office | PO Box 387, Bishopville, SC 29010 | (803) 484-5341 | Clerk of Court Office (Circuit and Family Court records) |
Which Court Handles Your Case in Lee County?
South Carolina trial courts include the Circuit, Family, Probate, Magistrate, Municipal and Master-in-Equity Courts. The Lee County Clerk of Court keeps the records for the Circuit and Family Courts.
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Parking ticket | The agency that issued the ticket | Parking tickets are handled outside the court system. |
| Felony | Circuit Court | Circuit Court hears felony cases, and the Clerk of Court keeps its records. |
| Divorce | Family Court | Family Court hears divorce cases, and the Clerk of Court keeps its records. |
| Child custody or support | Family Court | Family Court hears custody and support matters, and the Clerk of Court keeps its records. |
| Probate or estate | Probate Court | Probate Court is separate from the Clerk of Court's Circuit and Family Court records. |
| Appeal | Court of Appeals or Supreme Court | Appeals from trial courts go to the state appellate courts. |
Are Lee County Court Records Public?
Yes, most court records in Lee County are public, with exceptions set by South Carolina Judicial Branch court-records policy.
Public records
Most case records kept by the Clerk of Court for the Circuit and Family Courts are open to the public, subject to the exceptions in court-records policy.
Restricted or confidential records
Records that court-records policy or law restricts are not open to the public, and they do not appear in public search results.
Online access
Public Index is the Judicial Branch's statewide case search, and the case-records search page is also available. Not every document is available online, so request copies from the Clerk of Court.
In-person access
Contact the Lee County Clerk of Court at (803) 484-5341, PO Box 387, Bishopville, SC 29010, to ask about viewing or requesting records in person.
How to Search Lee County Court Records Online
South Carolina offers an online public index that may show circuit, magistrate, and some municipal court cases from Lee County.
- Identify whether your case is criminal, traffic, civil, family, probate, or juvenile.
- Open the official South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index.
- Search by county, court type, party name, or case number.
- Review the case details, parties, hearing dates, and dispositions.
- Contact the clerk or court in Lee County to request documents not available online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index | Circuit and many magistrate case records, charges, and dispositions. | Municipal coverage is partial; document copies come from the clerk. |
| Traffic | South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index | Traffic cases in magistrate and some municipal courts. | Not every municipal court is included; contact the issuing court. |
| Civil | South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index | Common Pleas and magistrate civil case information. | Filed documents are generally not provided online. |
| Small claims | South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index | Magistrate court civil case information. | Detail varies by court; confirm with the magistrate court. |
| Family law | South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index | Family Court case information may be listed. | Some family records are confidential; contact the clerk. |
| Probate | Probate records are held by each county Probate Court; check the court in Lee County. | Probate case information if offered by the county. | Probate is not part of the general public index; contact the probate court. |
| Juvenile | South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index | Little or no juvenile information is public. | Juvenile records are confidential and generally not shown online; contact the clerk. |
Use the Judicial Branch's statewide Public Index to search Lee County cases, and contact the Clerk of Court for documents that are not online.
- Identify the case type, such as Circuit Court, Family Court or traffic.
- Open Public Index or the case-records search page.
- Search by party name or case number and note the case number from the results.
- Review the case details for status and parties.
- Call the Lee County Clerk of Court at (803) 484-5341 to request documents that are not online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court (criminal and civil) | Public Index | Case records for Circuit Court matters | Not every document is available online |
| Family Court | Public Index | Case records for Family Court matters | Not every document is available online |
| Traffic | Traffic Ticket Search; pay at Online Payments | Traffic ticket lookup and payment | Payment is separate from record search |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Lee County
Court fines and traffic tickets in Lee County can be paid through the Judicial Branch's statewide online options, and the Clerk of Court can answer payment questions at (803) 484-5341.
- Online Payments: Pay court payments online at sc.gov/court-payments.
- Traffic Ticket Search: Look up a traffic ticket at sccourts.org/apps/traffic-ticket-search before you pay.
- Phone: Call the Lee County Clerk of Court at (803) 484-5341 with questions about a payment.
Parking tickets are handled by the agency that issued them, not by the court.
Lee County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Lee County court records?
Use Public Index to search statewide case records, or call the Lee County Clerk of Court at (803) 484-5341.
Are Lee County court records public?
Yes, most are, under Judicial Branch court-records policy, but records that the policy restricts are not public.
How do I find a criminal case in Lee County?
Search Public Index by party name or case number, or call the Clerk of Court at (803) 484-5341.
How do I find a court date in Lee County?
Check your notice or ticket first, then call the Clerk of Court at (803) 484-5341.
How do I pay a traffic ticket in Lee County?
Look up the ticket at Traffic Ticket Search or pay through Online Payments.
How many cases are filed in Lee County each year?
County filing counts are not published in the sources for this page. The county had 15,730 residents in 2025.
What is the most common case type in Lee County?
Case-type counts for the county are not published in the sources for this page, so no category is named.
Is crime in Lee County rising or falling?
County crime counts are not available here. Statewide, reported violent crimes fell 13.0% to 20,950 in 2025 from 24,088 in 2024, and property crimes fell 15.5% to 92,086 from 108,946, as reported to the FBI. These are South Carolina statewide figures, and reporting coverage changed between years.
Courts in the County
Lee County Magistrate Court More Info
| Address: | 115 Gregg St., Bishopville, SC, 29010 |
| Phone Number: | 803-484-6463 |
| Fax: | 803-484-5163 |
| Website: | https://www.leecountysc.org/directory/departments___elected_officials/magistrate_office.php |
Useful Links
- South Carolina Judicial Branch - Court Information The official South Carolina Judicial Branch site offers comprehensive court information, including opinions, rules, and schedules statewide.
- Lee County Government Official Website Find information about Lee County, South Carolina, including local government services, public records, and court-related information.
- Clerk of Court - Lee County Contact details and resources for the Clerk of Court in Lee County for vital records and court services inquiries.
- South Carolina Bar Association - Legal Resources Access legal resources, lawyer directories, educational services, and assistance from the South Carolina Bar Association.
- Public Index - Lee County Court Records Search Search and access Lee County Court records, case details, and filed documents through this public index tool.
- South Carolina Traffic Tickets Payments View and pay traffic tickets issued in Lee County and other areas online, ensuring a quick and secure payment process.
- SCIWAY - South Carolina Courts Guide Discover a comprehensive guide to the court system in South Carolina with focus on local resources and legal processes.
- South Carolina Department of Archives and History Access records and archives relevant to South Carolina’s history, providing context and reference for legal research.
- Family Court Case Records Search Search family court cases in South Carolina to find case numbers, party names, and case details online.
- Family History Library - Lee County Records Explore genealogical records for Lee County, including probate, court, and land records relevant for family history research.
- University of South Carolina - Court Records Resources Resources and research guides provided by the University of South Carolina for accessing and interpreting court records.
- South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice Information and services related to juvenile justice in South Carolina, including contact information for Lee County services.
- South Carolina Court Records Public Access Access various public records in South Carolina, including court cases, land records, and other legal documents.
- Supreme Court Published Opinions Browse opinions published by the South Carolina Supreme Court, offering insights into important legal judgments.
- United States Courts Official Website National-level court information and services including federal court locations, case management, and judicial appointment details.
- North Carolina Judicial Branch - Legal Resources Provides legal resources and court-related information especially for neighboring community and its interaction with South Carolina.
- South Carolina Legal Services Non-profit organization offering free legal assistance to eligible low-income residents navigating the court system in South Carolina.
- LexisNexis Community Legal Database Extensive legal research resources including court cases and legal publications beneficial for understanding court processes.
- Pro Bono Net - South Carolina Directory and resources for pro bono legal services in South Carolina, facilitating access to volunteer legal aid.
- Socrata Demo - Public Records Portal Example portal for viewing public records in a user-friendly interface, showcasing effective court record management.
Table of Contents
- Lee County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Lee County Court Records
- Lee County Court Statistics (FY 2026)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Lee County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Lee County?
- How Does Lee County Compare With South Carolina Overall?
- Lee County Crime Statistics (2025)
- Lee County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Lee County?
- Are Lee County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Lee County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Lee County
- Lee County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links