Not a government site. We do not sell records or host personal data. About us

County Records Guide
Menu

Lancaster County, South Carolina public records

In Lancaster County, deeds are recorded by the Register of Deeds; property values come from the Assessor; court files are split between the Clerk of Court and the 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 Lancaster 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 recordsRegister of Deeds3Search deeds2—
Property values and ownersAssessor3Property search4—
Property tax billsLancaster County Treasurer3Tax bill search3—
Court casesClerk of Court3
Probate Court3		Circuit Court5
Family Court6
Probate Court7
Magistrate Court5		$10 for an official certificate under seal8
Marriage recordsProbate Court3—Copy fee mail: $5 per certificate, by mail9
Divorce recordsClerk of Court3—State fee: $12 search including one certified copy; $3 per additional copy; $17 expedited where offered10
Birth certificatesState only: SC DPH Vital Records (formerly DHEC)11—$12 search including one certified copy; $17 expedited; $3 per additional copy10
Death certificatesState: SC DPH Vital Records; any Vital Records office can issue for any county12—$12 search including one certified copy; $17 expedited; $3 per additional copy12
Probate and willsProbate Court3Search probate cases7Uniform: $5.00 certified copy; $20.00 exemplified/authenticated copy; $10.00 filing and indexing a will under § 62-2-9018
Business names (DBA)Not named on the official pages we checkedSearch business names13—

Deeds and land records

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

About this search
Lancaster County Online Record System2
Search disclaimer
Online data is not certified by the Register of Deeds14
Recording fees
County links a statewide recording fee chart as of August 1, 2019, e.g. plat $25.0015
Electronic recording
E-file documents received after 4 pm EST may wait until the next business day2

How deeds work in South Carolina

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Assessor sets property values3; the Lancaster County Treasurer bills and collects the tax3.

Property search
qpublic.net/sc/lancaster (Online Assessors Data)4
Tax bill search
lancastersctax.qpaybill.com/… (search by vehicle, real estate, personal, watercraft)3
Tax pay fee
2.35% card processing fee, charged by a third party16
Parcel map (GIS)
lancaster-launch-lancogis.hub.arcgis.com (GIS Resource Site)3
Appealing a value
Assessment Appeal Application, through the county's online forms portal4
Appeal deadline
In a year with an assessment notice: written objection to the assessor within 90 days after the notice is mailed. In a year with no notice: a written appeal to the assessor at any time (filed before the first penalty date it applies to that tax year, otherwise to the next). If a conference does not resolve it, a written protest to the assessor within 30 days after the conference.17
Reassessment
Reappraised every five years4
Delinquent
Delinquent Tax Collection, 803-283-8885; taxes become delinquent after March 1618

How property tax works in South Carolina

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Circuit Court (Common Pleas, General Sessions)Circuit Court has a civil side and a criminal side19Clerk of Court (Criminal and Civil Court)publicindex.sccourts.org/…5
Family CourtFamily Court is the sole forum for divorce20Clerk of Court (Family Court)portal.fccms.sccourts.org6
Probate CourtEstates and marriage licenses21Probate Courtsouthcarolinaprobate.net/search7
Magistrate Court (Lancaster Central Traffic Court)Magistrates: civil claims up to $7,50022—publicindex.sccourts.org/…5
Fees
Civil filing: $100 under § 8-21-310(C)(1) plus $50 under § 14-1-204(B)(1) ($150 total); $10 for an official certificate under seal8
What is public
County public indexes are the online route. Bulk distribution or compiled information for any commercial purpose is barred by Rule 610.23

Criminal records and background checks

Court records
County Public Index5
State repository
SC Law Enforcement Division (SLED), via CATCH: catch.sled.sc.gov24
Fee
$25.00 non-refundable; $8.00 for qualifying charities24

How South Carolina courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Probate Court.3

Marriage license fee
South Carolina resident $75; out-of-state resident $90; non-refundable25
Waiting period
24 hours after the application is completed25
Appointment
By appointment only; both applicants must attend25
Copy fee mail
$5 per certificate, by mail9
Copy fee phone
$6 by phone9
How to order
Mail, phone or online form9
Copies from the state
SC DPH Vital Records: marriages from July 1950 to December 2023. Earlier or later: Probate Court that issued the license26

South Carolina marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Decree: Clerk of Court in the county where filed (Family Court). State: DPH holds only a Report of Divorce, not the decree27

State fee
$12 search including one certified copy; $3 per additional copy; $17 expedited where offered10

South Carolina divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

State only: SC DPH Vital Records (formerly DHEC). Any Vital Records office can issue for any county; births since 191511

Fee
$12 search including one certified copy; $17 expedited; $3 per additional copy10
Who may order
The person named (18+), parents named, legal guardian or legal representative; immediate family if the registrant is deceased, with a certified death record11

Ordering a South Carolina birth certificate

Death certificates

State: SC DPH Vital Records; any Vital Records office can issue for any county12

Fee
$12 search including one certified copy; $17 expedited; $3 per additional copy12
Who may order
Immediate family or their legal representative; others with a direct and tangible interest needing it for a personal or property right; everyone else gets only a statement of fact, date and county28

Ordering a South Carolina death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Probate Court.3

Copy fee
Uniform: $5.00 certified copy; $20.00 exemplified/authenticated copy; $10.00 filing and indexing a will under § 62-2-9018
Drop box
Filings go in the Probate Court drop box in the courthouse lobby7

Finding a will or probate case in South Carolina

Business names (DBA)

About this search
Public search13
Sole props
Sole proprietorships and general partnerships do not file with the Secretary of State29

Voter records

Public or restricted
Lists are sold, but only to registered South Carolina voters30
Registration
Register by one month before election day31

Historical records

Archives
SC Department of Archives and History, Research Room32
Online index
Online Records Index: archivesindex.sc.gov32

Good to know about Lancaster County records

  • The Register of Deeds is a separate office from the Clerk of Court5
  • The Register of Deeds posts a public notice on the North Carolina and South Carolina boundary clarification, under the line 'Effective January 1, 2017'2
  • Family Court and Criminal and Civil Court have separate phone lines under one Clerk of Court6
  • County warns about tax-sale notices that do not come from its own collector18

Office addresses, phones and hours

Register of Deeds

Address
101 N Main Street, Lancaster, SC 297202
Mail
PO Box 1809, Lancaster, SC 29721-18095
Hours
8:30 am to 5 pm; arrive by 4:30 pm for walk-in recording2

Assessor

Address
101 N Main Street, Suite 213, Lancaster, SC 297204
Mail
P.O. Box 1809, Lancaster, SC 297214
Phone
803-285-6964; toll free 800-671-11734
Hours
8:30 am to 5 pm4

Lancaster County Treasurer

Address
101 North Main Street, Lancaster, SC 2972016
Mail
PO Box 729, Lancaster, SC 2972116
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm; closed major holidays16

Clerk of Court (Criminal and Civil Court)

Address
104 N Main Street, Lancaster, SC 297206
Mail
PO Box 1809, Lancaster, SC 297216
Hours
8:30 am to 5 pm6

Clerk of Court (Criminal and Civil Court)

Address
104 N Main Street, Lancaster, SC 297206
Hours
8:30 am to 5 pm6

Clerk of Court (Family Court)

Address
104 N Main Street, Lancaster, SC 297206
Hours
8:30 am to 5 pm6

Probate Court

Address
104 N Main Street, Lancaster, SC 297207
Mail
P.O. Box 1809, Lancaster, SC 297219

Voter Registration (Board of Voter Registration & Elections)

Address
County Administration Building, 101 North Main Street, Lancaster33
Mail
Post Office Box 1809, Lancaster, SC 2972133

Sheriff's Office

GIS

Records that are not online: public records requests

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

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

The Register of Deeds keeps deed records.3

Where do I get a divorce decree in Lancaster County?

Decree: Clerk of Court in the county where filed (Family Court). State: DPH holds only a Report of Divorce, not the decree.27

How much does a marriage license cost in Lancaster County?

South Carolina resident $75; out-of-state resident $90; non-refundable.25

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

Use the property search of the Assessor: qpublic.net/sc/lancaster4

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 Lancaster 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, Beaufort County, Berkeley County, Charleston County, Cherokee County, Dorchester County, Florence County, Greenville County, Horry County, Lexington County, Oconee County, Pickens County, Richland County, Spartanburg County, Sumter County, York County. Every county in the state: South Carolina county list. Looking for another Lancaster County? Lancaster County, Nebraska; Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

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 DeedsLancaster County, SCchecked November 7, 2026
  3. DepartmentsLancaster County, SCchecked November 7, 2026
  4. AssessorLancaster County, SCchecked November 7, 2026
  5. Lancaster County courthouse pageSouth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 7, 2026
  6. Clerk of CourtLancaster County, SCchecked November 7, 2026
  7. Probate CourtLancaster County, SCchecked November 7, 2026
  8. SC Code Title 8 Chapter 21, Fees and CostsSC Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  9. Marriage Certificate RequestsLancaster County, SCchecked November 7, 2026
  10. Fees - Vital RecordsSC Department of Public Healtharchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  11. Birth CertificatesSC Department of Public Healtharchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  12. Death CertificatesSC Department of Public Healtharchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  13. Business Entities File and Search OnlineSC Secretary of Statearchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  14. Lancaster County Online Record SystemLancaster County, SCchecked November 7, 2026
  15. South Carolina Recording Fees (county PDF)Lancaster County, SCchecked November 7, 2026
  16. Online Tax Payment CenterLancaster County, SCchecked November 7, 2026
  17. South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 12, Chapter 60 (South Carolina Revenue Procedures Act)South Carolina Legislaturechecked November 7, 2026
  18. Delinquent Tax CollectionLancaster County, SCchecked November 7, 2026
  19. Circuit CourtSC Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
  20. Family CourtSC Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
  21. Probate CourtSC Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
  22. Magistrate CourtSC Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
  23. Rule 610 RequestsSC Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
  24. SLED CATCHSC Law Enforcement Divisionchecked November 4, 2026
  25. Marriage LicenseLancaster County, SCchecked November 7, 2026
  26. Marriage CertificatesSC Department of Public Healtharchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  27. Divorce ReportsSC Department of Public Healtharchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  28. SC Code Title 44 Chapter 63, Vital StatisticsSC Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  29. Business EntitiesSC Secretary of Statearchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  30. Sale of Voter Registration ListsSC Election Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  31. Voter RegistrationLancaster County, SCchecked November 7, 2026
  32. Research and GenealogySC Department of Archives and Historyarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  33. County Voter Registration & Election OfficesSC Election Commissionchecked November 7, 2026
  34. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026