Named after Revolutionary War hero Peter Horry, Horry County, established in 1801, is located in the northeastern corner of South Carolina. Home to an estimated population of 365,000 South Carolinians, Horry County covers an area of 1,133 square miles. Its county seat in Conway City is home to the Coastal Carolina University and Myrtle Beach International Airport.

Courts in Horry County

Horry County courts include Circuit, Family, Probate, Magistrate, and Municipal Courts. The Horry County Circuit Court has authority over all criminal and civil cases and has two divisions. The Court of Common Pleas handles civil cases, such as civil claims for more than $7,500, while the Court of General Sessions presides over criminal cases, including felonies and misdemeanors.

The Family Court handles family-related disputes such as divorce, child support, child custody, and domestic abuse. The court also has jurisdiction over Juvenile cases, including juvenile delinquency cases and child protection cases. The Probate Court ensures the legal distribution of deceased assets and presides over wills, estates, and trusts. It also presides over guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health commitment cases.

The Magistrate Courts handle minor criminal offenses, traffic violations, and small civil claims for disputes less than $7,500. The Municipal Courts in Horry County handle cases involving city ordinances, minor criminal offenses, and traffic violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Horry County

The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains court records in Horry County and grants citizens access to view and obtain copies of public court records. The office provides electronic access to public court records using the Search for Cases web tool. Record seekers may visit the Clerk’s Office to view and copy the records. The office also accepts mail requests for public court records. Public court records from the Magistrate courts are accessible at the courthouse.

Types of Public Court Records in Horry County

The following court records are open to the public in Horry County:

• Criminal Court Records: Felonies such as drug trafficking, robberies, and assault records. Misdemeanors, including public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and petty theft records
• Civil Court Records: Personal injury claims, breach of contract, property disputes, evictions, and small claims records
• Probate Records: Estates, wills, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships
• Family Court Records: Child custody, child support, divorce, legal separation, and alimony
• Traffic Records: Parking violations, hit and run, red light violations, reckless driving, and speeding tickets

Confidential Court Records in Horry County

Confidential court records in Horry County refer to records maintained by the courts that are unavailable to the public. Confidential records contain sensitive information that may threaten the safety of the person named on the court document. Therefore, the courts seal the record, making it inaccessible. Examples of confidential court records include:

• Juvenile Court records
• Medical and mental health records
• Adoption records
• Trade secrets
• Confidential informant records

Likewise, the courts exclude personal information from public access. Disclosing personal data may expose the record holder to fraud, identity theft, and harassment. Confidential personal identifiers redacted from public court records include:

• Insurance policy numbers
• Taxpayer's identification numbers
• Biometric data
• Financial account information
• Social Security numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Horry, SC

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

In 2015, a total of 1572 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Horry County. Of that total, 80% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1263 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Horry County, SC

https://sc.gov/

County Seat:	Conway
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1801
Total Square Miles:	1,255
2019 Population:	333,268
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	1301 2Nd Ave Government & Justice Center Conway , SC 29526-5209 https://www.horrycounty.org/

Horry County, SC Courts