Spartanburg County is the fifth most populous county in South Carolina. As of the 2020 Census, it had a population of 327,997 and a median household income of $57,755. Its county seat is Spartanburg City. 

Courts in Spartanburg County

The Spartanburg County Circuit Court is the trial court with the widest jurisdiction over matters arising from the county. It has two divisions: the Court of Common Pleas which hears civil matters, and the Court of General Session, which adjudicates criminal cases. The civil jurisdiction of the court covers all civil matters involving over $7,500, though it may also hear certain lesser claims. The court has criminal jurisdiction encompassing felony cases and certain misdemeanors. It also hears appeals of limited cases from the Probate, Magistrate, and Municipal Courts.

The Spartanburg County Family Court has jurisdiction over domestic and family matters, including cases on marriage, divorce, custody, adoption, and change of name. The court also handles juvenile matters like delinquency and dependency.

The Spartanburg County Probate Court hears cases relating to trusts and wills, the estate of deceased persons, guardianships and conservatorships, and involuntary commitments of mentally ill or chemically dependent persons. The court also handles minor settlements under $10,000.

The Spartanburg County Magistrates Court hears criminal cases punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of 30 days or less. It also hears civil cases in which the plaintiff claims an amount not exceeding $7,500.

Cities in Spartanburg County have Municipal Courts with similar criminal jurisdictions to the Magistrates' Courts. However, municipal courts do not have civil jurisdiction and only hear cases arising from the city in which they operate.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Spartanburg County

The Spartanburg County Clerk of Court is responsible for maintaining records of the Circuit, Family, Probate, and Magistrates Courts. Interested persons can contact the Clerk’s office to obtain copies of these records. Civil case records are also available online on the South Carolina Public Index Search. To obtain records of the Municipal Courts, contact the relevant courthouse which handled the case.

Types of Public Court Records in Spartanburg County

Public court records are information and documents relating to court cases that are accessible to the general public. They include:

• Civil case records
• Small claims records
• Felony case records
• Misdemeanor and traffic violation records
• Probate case records

Confidential Court Records in Spartanburg County

Spartanburg County court records may be made confidential by law or court order. Once declared confidential, the court record becomes inaccessible to the general public. Some examples of confidential court records are:

• Juvenile delinquency records
• Adoption records
• Records relating to abuse and neglect cases
• Records relating to terminated parental rights cases

Juvenile Delinquency in Spartanburg, SC

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Spartanburg 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 423 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Spartanburg County. Of that total, 95% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 403 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Spartanburg County, SC

https://sc.gov/

County Seat:	Spartanburg
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1785
Total Square Miles:	819
2019 Population:	306,854
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	366 N Church St Main Level Ste.1100 County Courthouse Spartanburg , SC 29303-3637 https://www.spartanburgcounty.org/

Spartanburg County, SC Courts