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Beaufort County, South Carolina public records

In Beaufort County, deeds are recorded by the Beaufort County Register of Deeds; property values come from the Beaufort County Assessor; court files are divided among the Beaufort County Clerk of Court, the Beaufort County Family Court and the Beaufort County Probate Court.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Voter records
  12. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Beaufort County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Records that are not online: public records requests
  16. Questions people ask
  17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  18. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsBeaufort County Register of Deeds3Search deeds2$.50 per page; mailing at current postage2
Property values and ownersBeaufort County Assessor's Office4Property search5—
Property tax billsBeaufort County Treasurer4Tax bill search6—
Court casesBeaufort County Clerk of Court4
Beaufort County Family Court3
Beaufort County Probate Court3		Circuit Court: Court of Common Pleas7
Circuit Court: Court of General Sessions7
Family Court8
Probate Court9		Certified copies: Clerk of Court $3.00 per copy; Family Court $5.00 per copy; Magistrate $0.50 per page (county FOIA fee table)10
Marriage recordsBeaufort County Probate Court3Search marriage records9Certified copy fee: $5.00; mail requests need a certified bank check or money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope; personal checks not accepted11
Divorce recordsBeaufort County Family Court3—Certified copy fee: $5.00 per copy10
Birth certificatesSC DPH Vital Records, Beaufort County office13—$12 search including one certified copy; $17 expedited; $3 per additional copy12
Death certificatesSC DPH Vital Records, Beaufort County office13—$12 search including one certified copy; $3 per additional copy14
Probate and willsBeaufort County Probate Court3Search probate cases9$.50 per page made by staff; $.30 per page made by the public11

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Beaufort County are recorded by the Beaufort County Register of Deeds.3

About this search
Current; (legacy)2
Who runs it
Neumo (current search); New Vision (legacy search)2
Copy fee
$.50 per page; mailing at current postage2
Certified copy fee
$10.00 to certify a document2
How to order
Email the request with any pertinent information to [email protected]; requests are processed in the order received. The office does not perform official searches.2
No official searches
The office does not perform official searches2
Recording fees
As of August 1, 2019: deed $15.00 flat plus $1.85 per each $500 of consideration; mortgage, lease, easement, right of way $25.00 flat; plats $25.00 per page; see county table for others15

How deeds work in South Carolina

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Beaufort County Assessor's Office sets property values4; the Beaufort County Treasurer bills and collects the tax4.

Auditor: address
100 Ribaut Road, Suite 160, Beaufort, SC 29902; also 4819 Bluffton Parkway, 3rd Floor, Bluffton, SC 2991016
Auditor: phone
(843) 255-250017
Auditor: hours
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 8:30am - 4:30pm; Wednesday Beaufort 9:00am-4:30pm, Bluffton 10am-4:30pm16
Property search
sc-beaufort.publicaccessnow.com (Public Access; search by owner name, address, PIN, AIN or legal description)5
Tax bill search
beaufortcountytreasurer.com/… (original bills and receipts); pay at mybeaufortcounty.com6
Appealing a value
Written objection to the Assessor within 90 days after the assessment notice is mailed; in years with no notice, appeal in writing at any time (before January 15 applies to that tax year). Then protest, then the Board of Assessment Appeals, then the Administrative Law Court.19
Who does what
The Assessor does not calculate bills, take payments or value vehicles and boats; those go to the Auditor and Treasurer20

How property tax works in South Carolina

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Circuit Court: Court of Common PleasCivilBeaufort County Clerk of Court (Common Pleas)publicindex.sccourts.org/…7
Circuit Court: Court of General SessionsCriminalBeaufort County Clerk of Court (General Sessions)publicindex.sccourts.org/…7
Family CourtDivorce, child support, alimony, custody, adoption, juvenileBeaufort County Family Courtportal.fccms.dss.sc.gov Public Portal, linked by Family Court8
Probate CourtEstates, marriage licenses, guardianships, conservatorships, involuntary commitmentBeaufort County Probate Courtgovcloud2.hostedbyspartan.com/…9
Magistrate Court (Beaufort and Bluffton)Magistrate-level civil, traffic and criminal——
Fees
Certified copies: Clerk of Court $3.00 per copy; Family Court $5.00 per copy; Magistrate $0.50 per page (county FOIA fee table)10

Criminal records and background checks

Which court
General Sessions cases are kept by the Clerk of Court and searched in the Public Index; the Clerk does not schedule General Sessions court dates7
Sheriff records
Sheriff records go through the Sheriff, not county FOIA Services: bcso.net/foia3
State check
SLED CATCH: $25.00 name-based South Carolina check21

How South Carolina courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by: Probate Court3

Certified copy fee
$5.00; mail requests need a certified bank check or money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope; personal checks not accepted11
How to order
By mail to Beaufort County Probate Court, P. O. Box 1083, Beaufort, SC 29901, or in person at Beaufort or Hilton Head Island; applicant names and marriage date required22
Marriage license fee
$50.00 if either applicant lives in Beaufort County; $75.00 if neither does but one lives in South Carolina; $95.00 if both live outside South Carolina; cash in exact amount11

South Carolina marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Kept by: Beaufort County Family Court, (843) 255-56603

Certified copy fee
$5.00 per copy10
State report
SC DPH issues only a Report of Divorce, for decrees July 1962 to December 202323

South Carolina divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

State only: SC DPH Vital Records; births since 191524

Fee
$12 search including one certified copy; $17 expedited; $3 per additional copy12
Who may order
The person named if 18 or older, parents named, legal guardian or legal representative; immediate family if the registrant is deceased, with a certified death record24

Ordering a South Carolina birth certificate

Death certificates

State: SC DPH Vital Records; any office can issue for any county14

Fee
$12 search including one certified copy; $3 per additional copy14
Also recorded at ROD
Death certificates are among the documents the Register of Deeds records, when filed there2

Ordering a South Carolina death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Beaufort County Probate Court.3

Certified copy fee
$5.00; exemplified or authenticated copy $20.0011
Copy fee
$.50 per page made by staff; $.30 per page made by the public11
Filing a will
Will filed and indexed: $10.0011
Payment
Cash in exact change; debit and credit cards not accepted11
Old will books
Will Books (Devise/Descent) are linked from the Register of Deeds page2

Finding a will or probate case in South Carolina

Business names (DBA)

State
Corporations, LLCs and partnerships are filed with the Secretary of State25
County
The Register of Deeds records notices of formation or dissolution of partnerships2

Voter records

Kept by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County.4

Public or restricted
Voter lists are sold only to registered South Carolina voters26
Check your registration
vrems.scvotes.sc.gov/Voter/Login27

Historical records

Kept by the Beaufort County Register of Deeds.3

Old deeds
Old Deed Books, Old Indexes, Old Plats (New Scans) and Will Books are reached through the disclaimer page at beaufortcountysc.gov/…; scanning is ongoing28
Old indexes
Handwritten grantor/grantee index books: use the Document Type search and select INDEX29
Old plats
Plat Book A and books 3 through 76 from microfilm; books 1, 2, 27, 47 and 77 are not on the site; a Post-Civil War plats set is linked separately30
State archives
SC Department of Archives and History Research Room31

Good to know about Beaufort County records

  • The Register of Deeds moved to a new search system in February 2026: legacy data runs through 2/19/2026 and converted/current data starts 2/23/2026, so older searches may need either site2
  • Subscribers to the old property fraud alert must re-register under the new system; the county says emails from [email protected] about this are legitimate2
  • Deeds in Hilton Head Island tax districts in the 500 range, except 501, carry a transfer fee of.0025 times the consideration15
  • Tax sale records are requested through county FOIA Services5
  • A Post-Civil War plats set is published separately from the main old plat books30
  • Charter Book Indexes are published as a county PDF2
  • The county warns of a jury duty phone scam and says court officials will not ask for money over the phone7

Office addresses, phones and hours

Beaufort County Register of Deeds

Address
100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, SC 299022
Mail
PO Drawer 1197, Beaufort, SC 299012
Hours
8:00AM - 5:00PM Monday - Friday2

Beaufort County Assessor's Office

Address
100 Ribaut Road, County Admin Bldg, Rm# 210, Beaufort, SC 2990220
Mail
P.O. Drawer 1228, Beaufort, SC 2990120

Beaufort County Treasurer

Address
100 Ribaut Road, Suite 165, Beaufort, SC 29902; also 4819 Bluffton Parkway, Beaufort County Government Center, 3rd Floor, Bluffton, SC 2991032
Mail
Real and personal property taxes: Beaufort County Treasurer, Property Tax, PO Box 105176, Atlanta, GA 30348-517632
Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm; Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30pm (Bluffton and Beaufort)32

Beaufort County Clerk of Court (Common Pleas)

Address
102 Ribaut Road, Suite 208, Beaufort, SC 299027
Mail
Post Office Drawer 1128, Beaufort, South Carolina 299017
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.7

Beaufort County Clerk of Court (General Sessions)

Address
102 Ribaut Road, Suite 208, Beaufort, SC 299027
Mail
Post Office Drawer 1128, Beaufort, South Carolina 299017
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.7

Beaufort County Family Court

Address
102 Ribaut Road, 1st Floor of Main Courthouse (Room 119), Beaufort, SC 299028
Mail
P.O. Drawer 1124, Beaufort, SC 299018
Hours
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.8

Beaufort County Probate Court

Address
102 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, SC 29902; satellites at 539 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island and 4819 Bluffton Pkwy, Myrtle Park Bldg., 3rd Floor, Bluffton9
Mail
PO Box 1083, Beaufort, S.C. 29901-10839
Hours
8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., building closes to the public at 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; meetings and court business by appointment only9

Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County

Address
15 John Galt Rd, Beaufort, SC 29906; satellite 4819 Bluffton Parkway, Bluffton, SC 2991033
Mail
Post Office Box 1228, Beaufort, SC 29901-122833
Hours
Beaufort office Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm; the Bluffton satellite is closed until January 4, 202733

SC DPH Vital Records, Beaufort County office

Address
1905 Duke St., Second Floor, Room 250, Beaufort, SC 2990213

Beaufort County Geographic Information Systems

Beaufort County Records Management

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it
FOIA Specialist 843-255-2252; by mail: Beaufort County FOIA Services, c/o Communications and Accountability, Post Office Drawer 1228, Beaufort, SC 29901-122810
Fees
Printed copies $0.20 per page; USB drive $7.00; search and retrieval from $21.00/hour for department staff; redaction from $26.00/hour10

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Beaufort County?

The Beaufort County Register of Deeds keeps deed records. To order copies: Email the request with any pertinent information to [email protected]; requests are processed in the order received. The office does not perform official searches. Plain copies: $.50 per page; mailing at current postage. Certified copies: $10.00 to certify a document.32

How much is a birth certificate in Beaufort County?

$12 search including one certified copy; $17 expedited; $3 per additional copy.12

Where do I get a divorce decree in Beaufort County?

Divorce decrees are court records; ask the Beaufort County Family Court, (843) 255-5660.3

How much does a marriage license cost in Beaufort County?

$50.00 if either applicant lives in Beaufort County; $75.00 if neither does but one lives in South Carolina; $95.00 if both live outside South Carolina; cash in exact amount.11

How do I look up who owns a property in Beaufort County?

Use the property search of the Beaufort County Assessor's Office: sc-beaufort.publicaccessnow.com5

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Beaufort County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in South Carolina with a full guide: Aiken County, Anderson County, Berkeley County, Charleston County, Cherokee County, Dorchester County, Florence County, Greenville County, Horry County, Lancaster County, Lexington County, Oconee County, Pickens County, Richland County, Spartanburg County, Sumter County, York County. Every county in the state: South Carolina county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026
  2. Register of DeedsBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  3. Records ManagementBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  4. Beaufort County homeBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  5. Public Access property searchBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  6. Treasurer: Tax Document LookupBeaufort County Treasurerchecked November 4, 2026
  7. Clerk of CourtBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  8. Family CourtBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  9. Probate CourtBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  10. Freedom of Information ActBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  11. Probate Court FeesBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  12. Fees - Vital RecordsSC Department of Public Healtharchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  13. Vital Records Office LocationsSC Department of Public Healtharchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  14. Death CertificatesSC Department of Public Healtharchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  15. Document RecordingBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  16. Auditor: ContactBeaufort County Auditorchecked November 4, 2026
  17. Department phone listingBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  18. Geographic Information SystemsBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  19. Assessor AppealsBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  20. AssessorBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  21. SLED CATCHSC Law Enforcement Divisionchecked November 4, 2026
  22. Marriage LicensesBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  23. Divorce ReportsSC Department of Public Healtharchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  24. Birth CertificatesSC Department of Public Healtharchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  25. Business EntitiesSC Secretary of Statearchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  26. Sale of Voter Registration ListsSC Election Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  27. South Carolina Election Commission home page (scVOTES)checked November 6, 2026
  28. Old deed books disclaimerBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  29. Search InstructionsBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  30. Old Plats (Digitized Microfilm)Beaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  31. Research and GenealogySC Department of Archives and Historyarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  32. Treasurer: Locations and hoursBeaufort County Treasurerchecked November 4, 2026
  33. Voter Registration and ElectionsBeaufort Countychecked November 4, 2026
  34. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026