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How to Find Public Records in Marlboro County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in South Carolina may access a broad range of publicly available information through MarlboroRecords.us as well as through official county and state government offices. Marlboro County maintains records across multiple departments, and the categories of documents that may be available include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and tax assessment records
Vital records such as birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates
Business licenses and permits
Voting and election records
County council meeting minutes and agendas
Budget and financial documents
Law enforcement incident reports and arrest logs (where permitted)
Land use and zoning records

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by county and state agencies.

Online Access:

The Marlboro County official website provides access to county department contacts, financial documents, and tax payment portals. The county department directory lists offices responsible for specific record types, including a direct link to Probate Court records. Historical county records, including Clerk of Court documents and Commissioner of Locations petitions dating to the nineteenth century, are indexed through the South Carolina Archives county records guide. No registration is required to browse publicly available online portals.

In-Person Requests:

Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant county office. The Marlboro County Clerk of Court, located at 105 Main Street, Bennettsville, SC 29512, accepts walk-in requests during standard business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should identify the specific record sought and provide any known case numbers, parcel numbers, or party names to facilitate retrieval.

Written/Mail Requests:

Written requests may be submitted by mail to the appropriate office. The request should include the requestor's full name, mailing address, a description of the record sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under South Carolina Code § 30-4-30, public bodies are required to respond to written requests within a reasonable time, not to exceed fifteen business days.

Phone/Email:

The Marlboro County main administrative line is (843) 479-5613. Individual department contact information is available through the county department directory.

What Are Public Records in Marlboro County?

Public records in Marlboro County are defined under South Carolina law as all books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, or other documentary materials regardless of physical form or characteristics prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public body. The following record types are maintained by specific county offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court records	Clerk of Court
Probate and estate records	Probate Court
Property deeds and mortgages	Register of Deeds
Tax assessment records	County Assessor
Vital records (birth, death)	SC DHEC / Probate Court
Business licenses and permits	County Administrator
Voting and election records	Voter Registration Office
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Council / Administrator
Budget and financial documents	County Finance Department
Law enforcement records	Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Planning Department

The Marlboro County department directory identifies the office responsible for each record category and provides direct contact information. Historical records, including Clerk of Court documents and land survey petitions, are preserved and indexed by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

Is Marlboro County an Open Records County?

Marlboro County operates in full compliance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at South Carolina Code § 30-4-10 et seq. This statute establishes the public's right to inspect and copy records held by public bodies throughout the state, including county governments. As stated in the Act, "it is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner so that citizens shall be advised of the performance of public officials and of the decisions that are made by such officials on their behalf."

The Act applies to all county departments, boards, commissions, and agencies. Marlboro County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance that supersedes state law; the state FOIA governs all public records requests submitted to county offices. The county's compliance with state sunshine laws extends to public meetings, which must be noticed and open to the public except in circumstances specifically authorized by statute.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Marlboro County?

The current fee structure for public records in Marlboro County is governed by South Carolina Code § 30-4-30, which permits public bodies to charge fees not to exceed the actual cost of searching for and making copies of records. Standard fees applicable at county offices are as follows:

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Paper copies (per page)	$0.25 per page
Certification of documents	Varies by office
Electronic copies	Actual cost of duplication
Search fees	Actual staff time (where permitted)
Inspection of records	No charge

Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and money order. Some offices may accept credit or debit cards; requestors should confirm accepted payment methods with the specific office prior to submitting a request. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or for requests determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the public body.

Does Marlboro County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public at the relevant county office during regular business hours, as required by state law. No fee is charged solely for the act of inspecting a record in person. The following resources provide free access to certain records:

The Marlboro County official website provides free access to county council agendas, meeting minutes, financial documents, and tax payment information.
The South Carolina Public Sex Offender Registry, maintained by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), provides free online access to registered sex offender information. As noted on the registry, "The County Sheriff's Offices and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division update this information regularly, to assure that it is as current as possible."
The South Carolina Department of Corrections inmate search provides free public access to photographs and information on inmates currently incarcerated in state correctional facilities.
The South Carolina Archives provides free online access to the Marlboro County historical records index.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no charge, reproduction of records is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Marlboro County?

Any person may request public records in Marlboro County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, requestors are not required to be residents of the state, provide identification, or explain the reason for their request as a condition of access to non-exempt records. The Act broadly defines the right of access to apply to "any person."

Certain record types carry additional access restrictions. Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, sealed court proceedings, or records containing protected personal information may require the requestor to demonstrate a legal basis for access or to be the subject of the record. Individuals requesting their own records, such as personal criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide government-issued identification to verify identity before release.

Non-residents retain the same rights as residents under state law and may submit requests by mail, in person, or through available online portals.

What Records Are Confidential in Marlboro County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under South Carolina law. South Carolina Code § 30-4-40 enumerates the following exemptions, among others:

Sealed court records and expunged criminal records
Juvenile records and proceedings
Records of ongoing law enforcement investigations
Personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and financial account data
Medical and mental health records protected under HIPAA
Adoption records
Child welfare and protective services records
Personnel records of public employees (with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions)
Trade secrets and proprietary business information submitted to government agencies
Security plans, infrastructure vulnerability assessments, and emergency response protocols

The statute provides that "information of a personal nature where the public disclosure thereof would constitute unreasonable invasion of personal privacy" is exempt from mandatory disclosure. Public bodies may apply a balancing test to determine whether the public interest in disclosure outweighs the privacy interest of the individual named in the record.

Marlboro County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Marlboro County Clerk of Court
105 Main Street
Bennettsville, SC 29512
(843) 479-5613
Marlboro County government portal

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Marlboro County Register of Deeds
105 Main Street
Bennettsville, SC 29512
(843) 479-5613
County department directory

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Marlboro County Probate Court
105 Main Street
Bennettsville, SC 29512
(843) 479-5613
Marlboro County department directory