What are Marlboro County Public Records?
Per Section 30-4-20 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, a public record refers to all maps, recordings, books, tapes, papers, cards, photographs, or other documentary materials owned, prepared, used, in possession of, or retained by a public body. Members of the public, excluding convicted persons, have the right to copy, receive or inspect an electronic transmission of any public record of a public agency, except as otherwise provided by the law. Notwithstanding, inmates retain the right to request evidence in their favor in criminal prosecution under the South Carolina Rules of Criminal Procedure.
The following records may be exempted from disclosure:
- Personal information where public disclosure would constitute an unreasonable invasion of a person's privacy.
- Records compiled for law enforcement purposes will not be disclosed if they:
- Would interfere with a prospective law enforcement proceeding
- Would be considered an invasion of personal privacy
- Would endanger the lives or physical safety of people
- Would deprive people of their rights to fair trials or impartial adjudications
- Would reveal the identity of a confidential source
- Records that disclose the identity of the library patron using an item from the library or other library services.
Asides from government websites, individuals can also access public records from third-party websites. These websites may offer easier and more expansive searches as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the record availability and results may vary. To find public records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The subject’s full name
- The location of the document or individual involved
- The requestor's address
- A case or file number
- The current or last known address of the registrant
Marlboro County Crime Statistics
According to the crime report submitted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, there were 902 offenses recorded in Marlboro county in 2020. Specifically, there were 5 murder cases, 13 sexual batteries, 15 robberies, 214 aggravated assaults, 126 breakings and enterings, 42 motor vehicle theft, 481 larcenies, and 6 arson cases.
Are Marlboro County Criminal Records Public?
Yes, Criminal records in Marlboro County are generally public records per the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. Thus, interested persons may request a rap sheet on any individual of interest from the Law Enforcement Division. These requests can be made online, in person, or by mail.
How to Obtain Marlboro County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
Marlboro County police reports and arrest records are available at the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office. Record seekers requesting these records would have to provide specific details like the offender’s name, incident description, incident date, and the names of officers in charge. Requesters should submit requests for Marlboro County police reports and arrest records to:
Marlboro County Sheriff's Office
105 Main Street,
P.O. Box 577,
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Phone: (843) 479-5605
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Marlboro County
Records seekers can find Marlboro County Sex offender information at the Marlboro County Sheriff's Sex Offender Registry Office. Requestors may search the sex offender registry in the following ways:
- Name search: users can search for sex offenders using first and last names.
- Geographic search: interested persons can search for sex offenders within a certain geographic area, specifically within a one (1) to three (3) mile radius of particular addresses within a specific zip code. Users can conduct geographic searches by entering an address, city, and zip code in the appropriate fields.
The following sex offender information can be accessed from the registry:
- The offender’s first and last names
- Date of birth
- Address
- Photographs
- Offender status
- Gender
- Race
- Offender classification level
- Weight
- Height
- Eye and hair color
Per S.C. Code of Law §23-3-510, individuals who misuse information obtained from the sex offender registry may face criminal or civil penalties. For instance, anyone who commits a misdemeanor offense using information from the sex offender registry will pay a fine of $1,000 and six (6) months jail term. On the other hand, felony offenses attract up to five (5) years imprisonment.
How to Find Marlboro County Inmate Records
Marlboro County inmate records are available at the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC). Interested persons can find information on a person in prison using the Incarcerated Inmate Search tool on the SCDC website. Users can search for inmates by entering their SCDC number or State Identification (SID) into the appropriate fields. If the inmates’ SCDC number and SID are unknown, the user can enter the inmate’s first, last name, or both. Alternatively, users may use the phonetic match option or call (866) 727-2846.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Marlboro County Jail?
Marlboro County jail visitation may be done in-person or virtually. Visitors are required to schedule their visits on the SCDC/GTL scheduler at least 15 hours in advance. Visitations are only available for individuals on the inmate's visitation list, and all inmates are permitted to have a maximum of 15 visitors on their list. Inmates are allowed to have just one visit per day and they must send “Request for Visiting Privileges” forms (Form 19-127) to prospective visitors. The visitors are expected to fill the Form 19-27 and return it by mail to:
Division of Visitation and Inmate Drug Testing
P.O. Box 212969,
Columbia, SC 29221
Once the application form is approved, the prospective visitor will be added to the inmate's visiting list. Inmates will send notifications to their visitors if their forms are approved. Upon arrival at the jail, the visit must provide the inmate’s name and SCDC number, which will be entered into the automated system. If the visitor is on the inmate's approved visiting list, a visitor's pass will be generated for the visitor.
To better understand how Marlboro County’s virtual jail visitations works, interested persons should carefully go through the Virtual Visitation Instructions and Frequently Asked Questions. Additionally, visitors can check the visiting rules and guidelines provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections for more information on how to visit an inmate in the Marlboro County jail.
Court Records
The court systems available in Marlboro County are circuit court, probate court, magistrate court, and municipal court. A circuit court is a court of general jurisdiction where all criminal and civil matters like juvenile and other family law cases such as divorce, custody, and child support are heard. A probate court handles cases like wills, estates, conservatorships, and guardianships. A municipal court is a court with limited jurisdiction that has authority over matters like misdemeanor crimes or petty offenses. Marlboro County courts are located at:
Marlboro County Circuit Court
105 Main Street,
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Phone: (843) 479-5613
Fax: (843) 479-5653
Marlboro County Family Court
Marlboro County Courthouse
105 Main Street,
P.O. Drawer 996
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Phone: (843) 479-5613
Fax: (843) 479-5640
Marlboro County Probate Court
105 Main Street,
P.O. Box 455,
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Phone: (843) 479-5610
Fax: (843) 479-5668
Email: mcprobate@gmail.com
Marlboro County Magistrate Court
105 Main Street,
P.O. Box 418,
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Phone: (843) 479-5620
Bennettsville Municipal Court
254 15-401 Bypass East
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Phone: (843) 479-1582
Fax: (843) 479-1585
Clio Municipal Court
110 North Main Street,
P.O. Box 387
Clio, SC 29525
Phone: (843) 586-2211
Fax: (843) 586-7733
McColl Municipal Court
210 East Gibson Avenue
McColl, SC 29570
Phone: (843) 523-5223
Fax: (843) 523-5695
Are Marlboro County Court Records Public?
Yes, Marlboro County court records are considered public records. Per the South Carolina Code of Laws, everyone in Marlboro County has a right to copy, obtain or inspect, copy, or receive an electronic transmission of any public record of a public body, except as otherwise provided by the law. However, records containing confidential or sensitive information are not available to the general public.
How to Obtain Marlboro County Civil Court Case Records
Record seekers can obtain Marlboro County civil court case records from the Marlboro County Clerk of Court. Interested parties must provide applications containing civil court case details, including names, court dates, charge information, and other civil court-related details. All requests can be submitted by mail or in-person alongside the necessary application fees to:
Marlboro County Clerk of Court
105 Main Street,
P.O. Drawer 996,
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Phone: (843) 479-5613
Fax: (843) 479-5653
How to Obtain Marlboro County Criminal Court Records
Requestors can obtain Marlboro Criminal court records from the Marlboro County Clerk of Court. Interested persons must be willing to provide specific information regarding the subject, such as names, charge details, dates, and the court’s final disposition. Although criminal court records are public records in Marlboro County, there may be some criminal court records that are unavailable to the general public for confidential or sensitive reasons. Record seekers can apply for criminal court records by mail or in-person by submitting requests with the necessary application fees to the Marlboro County Clerk of Court’s office.
What are Marlboro County Vital Records?
Marlboro County vital records are records on divorces, marriages, births, and deaths that occur in the county. Marlboro County residents can obtain vital records at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) Office of Vital Records. Requests for vital records can be made in the following ways:
- Online: Individuals can order vital records through online vendors. Record seekers must apply with a valid government, school, or employer-issued photo ID and the necessary application fees ( a non-refundable fee of $17 and $3 for additional copies). The vendors also charge additional processing fees. Online applications take about 5-7 business days to process. Fees are to be paid using debit/credit cards. Requests for vital records can be made online through the online vendors recommended by the DHEC.
- Phone: Individuals can order vital records by phone through the vendor provided by DHEC. Interested persons must pay a non-refundable searching fee of $17 and $3 for each additional copy. Also, the vendor charges $10.50 for their services, and a shipping fee may apply. The average processing time for phone orders is 5-7 business days.
- In-person: Interested persons are to submit a completed Vital Records Application Form alongside a valid school, employer, or government ID and an application fee. All in-person applicants must pay a $12 non-refundable searching fee for vital records and $3 for each additional copy. The processing time for on-site vital records is between 30 and 45 minutes. In-person applicants can pay their fees through credit or debit cards and cash.
- Mail: Records seekers must send a completed Vital Records Application Form, a valid ID, and an application fee to the DHEC vital records office. The application fee includes a $12 non-refundable searching fee for certified vital records and $3 for each additional copy. The processing time for vital records requested by mail is between 2 and 4 weeks. Mail applicants must pay their fees by money order or cashier’s check made payable to SC DHEC.
- Drop-Off: Interested persons must provide a completed Vital Records Application Form, a valid ID, and the necessary application fee. They must pay a $12 non-refundable searching fee for certified vital records and $3 for each additional copy. The processing time for vital records requested by drop-off is 2 days.
It is important to note that all mail and drop-off requests of vital records are only acceptable at the DHEC Vital Records Office in Richland County.
Before a search for a vital record is conducted, the record seeker must submit a valid/current government, school, or employer-issued photo identification document. Any request that does not contain a valid ID will be returned unprocessed and expired IDs are not allowed. Acceptable identification documents include:
- Military card
- Temporary Resident Card
- United States Passport or Foreign Passport
- The United States Citizen Identification Card
- Any United States’ DMV Office issued picture identification like driver’s license, ID card, learner’s Permit
- Refugee Travel Document
- Weapon or gun permit issued by federal, state, or municipal government
- Re-Entry Permit
- Permanent Resident Card
- Current school or employer picture identification card
Where and How to Obtain Marlboro County Divorce Records
A divorce record is a legal document that provides evidence that a married couple has legally and officially dissolved their marriage. Divorce records typically include divorce decrees and divorce reports in Marlboro County. Divorce decrees are court documents that contain information about the divorce case, including spousal and child support, custody, visitation, property division, and other information. Divorce decrees are available at the Marlboro County Clerk of Court.
On the other hand, a divorce certificate or reports does not include all the information contained in the decree but may be used as proof of divorce. Only the divorced parties, their adult children, a former or present spouse of any of the divorced parties, or their legal representative can assess certified copies of death reports. Other applicants may be provided with a statement that the divorce occurred, including the date and place of the divorce.
Interested persons can get divorce reports at the SC DHEC Vital Records Office. These records are available for divorces that took place between July 1962 and December 2019. Requests for divorce reports can be made online, by phone, mail, drop-off, or in-person. In-person, mail and drop-off applicants are to submit a completed Vital Records Marriage/Divorce Application Form alongside a valid school, employer, or government ID and an application fee to:
DHEC Vital Records Office
2600 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 898-3630
Where and How to Get Public Marlboro County Marriage Records
Interested persons can get public Marlboro County Marriage records at the SC DHEC Vital Records Office. These records are available for marriages that took place between July 1950 and December 2020. However, marriage records before or after these dates are available at the Marlboro County Probate Court. Only the couples, their adult children, former or present spouse of any of the couple, or the couple’s legal representative are entitled to obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate. Other applicants may be provided with a non-certified copy containing statements that the marriage occurred, including the date and place of the marriage. Requestors must provide information regarding the couple, like full name and date and place of marriage, to be able to apply for marriage certificates.
Requests for marriage certificates can be made online or by phone through VitalCheck, mail, drop-off, or in-person. Only the couples named on the marriage certificate, their adult children, or former or present spouse can order online. In-person, mail and drop-off applicants are to submit a completed Vital Records Marriage/Divorce Application Form alongside a valid school, employer, or government ID and an application fee to the state’s vital records office.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Marlboro County
All marriage records in Marlboro County are considered public records. Per Section 30-4-30 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, everyone in Marlboro County has a right to copy, obtain or copy, inspect or receive an electronic transmission of any public record of a public body.
Where and How to Find Marlboro County Birth Records
Record seekers can find Marlboro County birth records of births that occurred since 1915 at the SC DHEC Vital Records Office. A birth record becomes a public record 100 years after birth. This means that birth records are not available to the full public until 100 years after it was created. Although it will be available for eligible individuals like:
- The person named on the certificate which is at least 18 years
- Parents named on the certificate
- A legal guardian or representative of any of the persons mentioned above
Record seekers need to know the full name of the person named on the birth certificate, date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, and father’s full name before the first marriage. Requests for birth certificates can be made online, by phone, mail, drop-off, or in-person. Only the individuals named on the birth certificate can order through an online vendor. In-person, mail and drop-off applicants are to submit a completed Vital Records Birth Application Form alongside a valid school, employer, or government ID and an application fee to the state’s vital records office.
Where and How to Find Marlboro County Death Records
Marlboro County death records are available at the SC DHEC Vital Records Office. The office issues short and long-form death certificates and statements. Typically, Death certificates become public records 50 years after the date of death in Marlboro County. Only the decedent's immediate family members or the legal representative of an immediate family member can access a certified copy of a death certificate. However, non-certified copies in the form of death statements can be provided for other applicants. Records seekers would need to provide specific information like the decedent's full name, date and place of death, and the relationship between the requester and the decedent.
Requests for death certificates can be made online, by phone, mail, drop-off, or in-person. Only the decedent's immediate family members can order a death certificate through an online vendor. In-person, mail and drop-off applicants are to submit a completed Vital Records Death Application Form alongside a valid school, employer, or government ID and an application fee to the state’s vital records office.
