Created in 1800, Colleton County is a county in South Carolina. The county, which was named after Sir John Colleton, one of the proprietors of Carolina, is the fifth largest county by land area in South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the county was estimated to have a population of 38,602 people.

Courts in Colleton County

The Colleton County judicial system consists of Circuit Courts, Family Courts, Probate Courts, Magistrate Courts, and Municipal Courts.

Circuit Courts in Colleton County are divided into two main divisions. The first division is the Court of Common Pleas Division. This division handles civil cases such as general civil claims where the amount in dispute exceeds $7,500, cases relating to damage to real or personal property, contract claims, etc. The second division, the General Sessions Division, handles criminal cases relating to felonies and some misdemeanors. 

Family Courts in Colleton County handle family cases, including marriage, adoption, child custody, child support, and paternity. 

Magistrate Courts in Colleton County have both civil and criminal jurisdiction. The court’s criminal jurisdiction handles cases of misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $500, imprisonment up to 30 days, or both. The court's civil jurisdiction extends to cases where the amount in dispute is up to $7,500.

In Colleton County, Probate Courts have jurisdiction over several legal matters. These include cases related to the administration of estates of deceased individuals, guardianship for incapacitated adults, and conservatorships managing the assets of minors and incapacitated persons.

Municipal Courts in the county have jurisdiction over all misdemeanor offenses and violations against city and state laws that occur within city limits. They also hear civil traffic cases and issue search warrants, protection orders, and anti-harassment injunctions.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Colleton County

The Colleton County Clerk of Court’s Office is responsible for providing public access to court records in the county. To access public court records, interested persons can visit the office in person and request the records.

Types of Public Court Records in Colleton County

Unless restricted by law or court orders, Colleton County provides public access to the following court records:

• Court Forms
• Criminal Court Records
• Civil Court Records
• Grand Jury Reports
• Appellate Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Colleton County

While there are public court records in Colleton County, some others are designated as confidential. Confidentiality records can only be accessed by the parties to the case and their attorneys. Some of such records include:

• Adoption Records
• Custody and Visitation Records
• Child Support Records
• Psychiatric Records
• Juvenile Delinquency Records

Juvenile Delinquency in Colleton, SC

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Colleton County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in South Carolina often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2015, a total of 216 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Colleton County. Of that total, 84% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 182 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Colleton County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Colleton County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Colleton County, SC

https://sc.gov/

County Seat:	Walterboro
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1798
Total Square Miles:	1,133
2019 Population:	37,611
Persons/Square Mile:	0.03
County Contact:	PO BOX 157 County Courthouse Walterboro , SC 29488-0002 http://www.colletoncounty.org

Colleton County, SC Courts