Myrtle Beach Civil Court Records
Civil court records for Myrtle Beach are maintained by the Horry County Clerk of Court. Myrtle Beach is the largest city in Horry County and is the center of South Carolina's Grand Strand coastal region. All civil cases involving Myrtle Beach residents or businesses are filed in the Horry County Court of Common Pleas. This includes contract disputes, personal injury claims, real property matters, commercial litigation, and foreclosure proceedings. You can search Myrtle Beach civil court records online through the South Carolina Public Index at the Horry County level.
Myrtle Beach Quick Facts
Court of Common Pleas in Myrtle Beach
Civil cases in Myrtle Beach are filed in the Horry County Court of Common Pleas, part of South Carolina's 15th Judicial Circuit. The 15th Circuit also includes Georgetown County, with judges rotating between the two counties. The Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over all civil actions where the amount in controversy exceeds $7,500.
Horry County is one of South Carolina's most populous and fastest-growing counties due to the tourism industry centered in Myrtle Beach. Horry County has a Master-in-Equity Court for complex equity matters and foreclosure actions referred by the Circuit Court. Civil matters in Myrtle Beach frequently include real estate disputes, contract claims, personal injury actions, and commercial litigation related to the hospitality and tourism sectors. Under Title 14 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, circuit court judges are elected by the General Assembly for six-year terms.
The Horry County Clerk of Court maintains all civil case records for Myrtle Beach cases. The clerk's office is located in Conway, the Horry County seat. Visit the courthouse to search civil case files, request document copies, or locate a case by party name or case number. Contact the courthouse through the statewide courthouse search tool for current hours and contact information.
How to Search Myrtle Beach Civil Court Records Online
The South Carolina Public Index provides free online access to civil court records for Myrtle Beach cases. Go to publicindex.sccourts.org/horry and accept the terms of service to begin. You can search by case number, party name, or attorney name to find cases involving Myrtle Beach residents or businesses.
The Public Index shows case captions, filing dates, party information, docket entries, and scheduled hearings. It does not include every document in the case file. For copies of actual pleadings, orders, or other documents, contact the Horry County Clerk of Court in Conway or visit the courthouse. For civil disputes under $7,500, Horry County Magistrate Courts hold jurisdiction at the small claims level.
Myrtle Beach Municipal Court
The City of Myrtle Beach operates a Municipal Court that handles city ordinance violations, traffic offenses, and minor criminal offenses within city limits. The Myrtle Beach Municipal Court has no civil jurisdiction. It does not handle contract disputes, personal injury claims, property matters, or any other civil cases. All civil matters involving Myrtle Beach residents must be filed in the Horry County Court of Common Pleas in Conway.
South Carolina municipal courts are limited by statute to ordinance enforcement and minor criminal matters. Any civil dispute, regardless of the amount involved, must be filed in the Court of Common Pleas at the county level. Contact the Horry County Clerk of Court to initiate a new civil case or to access records from existing civil cases involving Myrtle Beach parties.
Civil Record Access Rights in Myrtle Beach
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Ann. §30-4-10 makes civil court records available to the public. Anyone can view or copy civil court records for Myrtle Beach cases without being a party to the case.
Privacy protections apply to sensitive personal information. Under S.C. Code Ann. §30-2-330, documents on publicly accessible websites must not include social security numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, or similar identifiers. This applies to all civil court records involving Myrtle Beach parties.
Title 15 of the South Carolina Code of Laws governs all civil procedures for Myrtle Beach cases, including venue rules, statutes of limitations, and judgment enforcement. Self-help resources for civil cases in the Myrtle Beach area are available at the South Carolina Judicial Branch website.
Horry County Civil Court Records
Myrtle Beach is located in Horry County. All civil court filings for Myrtle Beach go through the Horry County Court of Common Pleas in Conway. For complete information about the county court, clerk contact details, and court resources, visit the Horry County civil court records page.
Nearby Cities
Residents of nearby cities file civil cases at their respective county courthouses. Select a city to learn about civil court records in that area.