Union County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Union County in 2026

UnionSCRecords.us provides publicly available information and data related to public records in Union County, South Carolina. Members of the public seeking court documents, property filings, vital records, or government meeting minutes may locate relevant information through official county and state resources. The categories of records accessible through government channels include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court)
Property deeds, mortgages, and tax records
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and permits
Voting and election records
Law enforcement records (where permitted by law)
County commission meeting minutes and agendas

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access: The Union County government portal provides access to select public documents. The South Carolina Judicial Branch maintains an online case search system for court records. Members of the public may search property records through the Union County Assessor's office online database. Some records require account registration or identity verification prior to access.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Union County Clerk of Court or the Register of Deeds office to inspect records in person. The Clerk of Court is located at 210 West Main Street, Union, SC 29379. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the appropriate office by mail, including the requester's full name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for response. Under South Carolina Code § 30-4-30, agencies are required to respond to written requests within a reasonable period.

Phone/Email: The Union County Clerk of Court may be reached at (864) 429-1630. Contact information for individual departments is available through the county's official website.

What Are Public Records in Union County?

Public records in Union County are defined under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, codified at § 30-4-20, as all books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, or other documentary materials regardless of physical form or characteristics prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public body. The following record types are maintained by county and state agencies:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court records	Union County Clerk of Court
Property deeds and mortgages	Union County Register of Deeds
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	SC Department of Public Health
Business licenses and permits	Union County Administrator's Office
Property tax and assessment records	Union County Assessor / Treasurer
Voting and election records	Union County Board of Voter Registration
Meeting minutes and agendas	Union County Council / Clerk
Law enforcement records	Union County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Union County Planning Department

Birth and death certificates are maintained at the state level by the South Carolina Department of Public Health, which processes vital records requests for events occurring throughout the state. Property records and deeds are filed with the Union County Register of Deeds, while court filings are maintained by the Clerk of Court under the South Carolina Judicial Department.

Is Union County an Open Records County?

Union County operates in full compliance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which governs public access to government records statewide. Under § 30-4-15 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, it is the policy of the state that the deliberations and actions of public bodies shall be conducted openly and that the records of public bodies shall be open to public scrutiny.

As stated in the South Carolina FOIA, "it is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner so that citizens shall be advised of the performance of public officials and of the decisions that are made by such officials in formulating and executing public policy." This principle applies to all county agencies, boards, and commissions operating within Union County.

The county does not maintain a separate local open records ordinance that supersedes state law; rather, all departments adhere to the standards established by the South Carolina General Assembly. The South Carolina Attorney General's Office provides guidance on FOIA compliance and publishes interpretive opinions that inform agency practice across all counties, including Union County.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Union County?

The current fee structure for public records in Union County is governed by state law and individual agency schedules. Under South Carolina FOIA, agencies may charge fees that reflect the actual cost of searching, retrieving, and copying records.

Standard Copy Fees:

Service	Standard Fee
Paper copies (letter/legal size)	$0.25 per page (standard rate)
Certified copies of court records	$1.00–$2.00 per page (varies by document)
Certified vital records copies	$12.00 per certificate (SC DPH)
Electronic copies	Actual cost of duplication
Search fees	Actual cost of staff time (where applicable)

Inspection of records at a public office is not subject to a copy fee; members of the public may review documents in person at no charge.
Certification fees apply when an official seal or attestation is required.
Payment methods accepted at county offices include cash, check, and money order; some offices accept credit or debit cards.
Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for requests determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the agency.

Fees for vital records obtained through the South Carolina Department of Public Health are set separately by state regulation and apply uniformly across all counties.

Does Union County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Union County government offices during regular business hours. Members of the public may review documents in person without incurring a fee, provided the records are not exempt from disclosure under state law.

The following resources provide free access to public records:

Union County online property search: The county assessor's database allows free online searches of property assessment and ownership data.
South Carolina Judicial Department Public Index: The South Carolina court records public index provides free online access to case information for civil and criminal matters filed in state courts, including those in Union County.
Union County Council meeting minutes: Agendas and minutes from county council meetings are posted on the county website at no charge.
Voter registration records: Basic voter registration information is available for public inspection through the Union County Board of Voter Registration.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while in-person review of records carries no fee, obtaining physical or certified copies is subject to the fee schedule described above. Certain personal records, such as an individual's own criminal history, may be obtained at reduced or no cost through specific state programs.

Who Can Request Public Records in Union County?

Any person may request public records in Union County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act does not restrict access to residents of the state; non-residents retain the same rights to inspect and copy public records as South Carolina residents.

Under current law, requesters are not required to:

Demonstrate residency in Union County or South Carolina
Provide a reason or purpose for the request
Disclose their identity for most standard records requests

However, certain record types carry additional requirements. Requests for records containing sensitive personal information, sealed court documents, or restricted law enforcement files may require the requester to demonstrate a legitimate interest or provide identification. Individuals requesting their own records — such as personal criminal history or vital records — are subject to identity verification procedures to protect against unauthorized disclosure.

Attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public all hold equal standing under the South Carolina FOIA. Requests submitted on behalf of organizations or businesses are treated in the same manner as individual requests.

What Records Are Confidential in Union County?

Not all government records in Union County are subject to public disclosure. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, at § 30-4-40, enumerates specific categories of records that are exempt from mandatory disclosure. The following record types are currently withheld from public access:

Sealed court records: Documents sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to minors involved in the juvenile justice system are confidential under state law.
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active investigation are exempt until the investigation is closed.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records.
Medical and health records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records: Maintained as confidential by the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
Personnel records: Employee records are exempt with limited exceptions for certain public officials.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted to government agencies under confidentiality agreements.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Withheld to protect public safety.

As stated in the South Carolina FOIA, "the exemptions from disclosure provided in this section must be construed narrowly to carry out the general policy of this chapter that public records be made available to the public." Agencies bear the burden of demonstrating that a specific exemption applies before withholding responsive records.

Union County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Union County Register of Deeds
210 West Main Street, Room 101
Union, SC 29379
(864) 429-1625
Union County Register of Deeds

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Union County Clerk of Court
210 West Main Street
Union, SC 29379
(864) 429-1630
Union County Clerk of Court

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Union County Assessor's Office
210 West Main Street
Union, SC 29379
(864) 429-1600
Union County Assessor

Union County Sheriff's Office
101 South Herndon Street
Union, SC 29379
(864) 429-1612
Union County Sheriff's Office

South Carolina Department of Public Health – Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 898-3630
South Carolina Department of Public Health