Sumter County, South Carolina public records

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

Last checked against official sources on November 7, 2026.

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. Voter records
11. Historical records
12. Good to know about Sumter County records
13. Office addresses, phones and hours
14. Questions people ask
15. Official copies vs look-alike sites
16. Sources

Where to get each record

Deeds and land records

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

Online search

countyfusion2.kofiletech.us/…²

Who runs it

Kofile (CountyFusion)²

How to order

Staff assist with copies of deeds and recorded documents; no title searches²

Record types

Deeds, mortgages, plats, easements, state and federal tax liens, powers of attorney, UCC financing statements, mechanic liens²

Recording fee

Recording fees by document type: $10.00, $15.00 (deeds) or $25.00; chart dated August 1, 2019¹¹

How deeds work in South Carolina

Property values, owners and tax bills

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

Property search

qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx³

Tax bill search

sumtercounty.qpaybill.com⁴

Parcel map (GIS)

qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx³

Appealing a value

Written objection within 90 days of an assessment notice; otherwise by the first penalty date (generally January 15)¹²

Penalties

Taxes due January 15; 3% after January 15, 10% after February 1, 15% after March 16⁴

How property tax works in South Carolina

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

Fees: certified criminal

$10 certified copies of sentence sheets etc.⁵

Fees: certified divorce

$10 for certified copies of divorce decrees⁵

Criminal records and background checks

Overview

General Sessions criminal records at the Clerk of Court⁵

How South Carolina courts keep their files

Marriage records

Marriage licenses issued and kept by Probate Court⁵

Certified copy

Request form for certified copy of marriage license (PDF on Probate page)⁷

Online

southcarolinaprobate.net/…⁷

South Carolina marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Clerk of Court keeps final divorce decrees; requests in writing or in person, $10 certified⁵

State

DPH has Report of Divorce only¹³

South Carolina divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

State only: SC DPH Vital Records (any office, including Sumter)¹⁴

Fee

$12 search incl. one certified copy; $17 expedited⁸

Ordering a South Carolina birth certificate

Death certificates

State only: SC DPH Vital Records¹⁵

Ordering a South Carolina death certificate

Probate records and wills

Probate Court probates estates of deceased persons⁷

Copy fee

$5.00 certified copy (state fee statute)¹⁰

Finding a will or probate case in South Carolina

Voter records

Kept by: Sumter County Voter Registration and Elections Office¹⁶

Historical records

Deeds from November 19, 1794 and plats from January 13, 1785, on microfilm and in books in the ROD vault²

Good to know about Sumter County records

• Earliest recorded deeds November 19, 1794; plats January 13, 1785; mortgage books began January 8, 1872²
• Sumter is one of the 23 SC counties with a separate Register of Deeds, appointed by the county governing body¹⁷
• Clerk of Court no longer processes passport applications⁵
• Sumter County is in the 3rd Judicial Circuit⁶

Office addresses, phones and hours

Questions people ask

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, Lancaster County, Lexington County, Oconee County, Pickens County, Richland County, Spartanburg County, York County. Every county in the state: South Carolina county list. Looking for another Sumter County? Sumter County, Florida.

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 DeedsSumter County Register of Deedschecked November 7, 2026
3. Sumter County Government home pageSumter Countychecked November 7, 2026
4. TreasurerSumter County Treasurerchecked November 7, 2026
5. Clerk Of CourtSumter County Clerk of Courtchecked November 7, 2026
6. Courthouse Search: SumterSouth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 7, 2026
7. Probate CourtSumter County Probate Courtchecked November 7, 2026
8. Vital records feesSC Department of Public Healthchecked November 7, 2026
9. Vital Records office locationsSC Department of Public Healthchecked November 7, 2026
10. SC Code Title 8 Chapter 21 (fees)SC Legislaturechecked November 7, 2026
11. Register of Deeds Fee Chart (Recording fees August 1, 2019)Sumter County Register of Deedschecked November 7, 2026
12. AssessorSumter County Assessorchecked November 7, 2026
13. Divorce reportsSC Department of Public Healthchecked November 7, 2026
14. Birth certificatesSC Department of Public Healthchecked November 7, 2026
15. Death certificatesSC Department of Public Healthchecked November 7, 2026
16. County Voter Registration & Election OfficesSC Election Commissionchecked November 7, 2026
17. Register of DeedsSouth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 7, 2026
18. AuditorSumter County Auditorchecked November 7, 2026
19. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026