Union County Property Records
How To Search Property Records in Union County in 2026
UnionSCRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to property records in Union County, South Carolina. Members of the public may find ownership history, deed transfers, tax assessments, recorded liens, and related real property documents through this resource. Available record categories include deeds, mortgages, tax records, plat maps, and encumbrance filings. Information presented reflects public data and may not capture every transaction or document on file with county offices.
Property records in Union County may be searched through several official channels, including the Union County Assessor's office, the Register of Deeds, and the Union County Treasurer. Each office maintains distinct record sets, and researchers are encouraged to consult multiple sources for a complete property profile.
Online Search Methods:
1. Union County Assessor Website
The Union County Assessor provides free public access to property assessment data without registration. Members of the public may search by:
- Property address
- Owner name
- Parcel identification number
- Subdivision name
- Map/GIS location
Information available through the Assessor's portal includes current owner name, mailing address, legal description, parcel number, land use and zoning classification, square footage, year built, lot size, assessed value, taxable value, exemptions applied, and sales history.
How to Search:
- Navigate to the Union County Assessor's official website
- Select the preferred search type (address, owner name, or parcel number)
- Enter the search criteria in the appropriate field
- Review the results list returned by the system
- Select the relevant property to view the full property card
- Review assessment data, sales history, and map location
- Print or save the information as needed
2. Register of Deeds – Official Recorded Documents
The Union County Register of Deeds maintains the official index of recorded instruments affecting real property. Basic searches are available at no charge. Documents available through this office include:
- Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
- Mortgages and deeds of trust
- Satisfactions and releases of mortgage
- Mechanic's liens, judgment liens, and tax liens
- Easements and declarations of restrictions
- Plats and surveys
- Lis pendens filings
- Powers of attorney affecting property
How to Search:
- Access the Register of Deeds search portal through the Union County official website
- Select search type (grantor name, grantee name, document type, or recording date range)
- Enter the applicable search criteria
- Review the results and select the relevant document
- View document images where available online
- Note the book and page number or instrument number for reference
- Request certified copies if official documentation is required
3. Union County Treasurer – Tax Information
The Union County Treasurer provides free public access to property tax records. Searches may be conducted by property address, owner name, parcel number, or tax account number. Information available includes:
- Current tax bill and payment status
- Payment history
- Outstanding balances
- Exemptions applied
- Millage rates
- Delinquent tax certificate information
- Installment plan status
4. GIS Mapping System
Union County maintains a geographic information system (GIS) that allows visual property searches using interactive maps. Users may navigate to a specific location, click on a parcel to retrieve property information, view aerial photography, examine property boundaries, and access linked assessment records. Zoning layers, flood zone designations, and environmental features are also accessible through the mapping interface.
In-Person Searches:
Union County Assessor's Office
210 West Main Street
Union, SC 29379
Phone: (864) 429-1600
Union County Assessor
Services available in person include public access computers, staff assistance, property cards, maps and plats, and exemption application processing.
Union County Register of Deeds
210 West Main Street
Union, SC 29379
Phone: (864) 429-1625
Union County Register of Deeds
In-person services include viewing official recorded documents, requesting certified copies, searching grantor and grantee indexes, and accessing historical record books with staff assistance.
Union County Treasurer's Office
210 West Main Street
Union, SC 29379
Phone: (864) 429-1606
Union County Treasurer
In-person services include tax payment processing, copies of tax bills, delinquency information, and tax certificate searches.
By Mail Requests:
Requests submitted by mail to the Register of Deeds should specify the document by book and page number, instrument number, or property address with an approximate date range. Requesters must include payment for applicable copy fees and a return mailing address. Certified copies are available upon request with the appropriate fee. Mail requests to:
Union County Register of Deeds
210 West Main Street
Union, SC 29379
Through Professionals:
Title companies provide comprehensive title searches, abstracts of title, and title insurance commitments that identify all recorded interests affecting a property. Real estate attorneys offer legal title opinions and assistance with complex ownership disputes. Real estate agents may access MLS data for listed properties, pull property histories, and provide comparable sales data as part of their representation services.
Search Tips:
When searching by address, members of the public should use the complete street address and try variations with and without directional prefixes (N, S, E, W). When searching by owner name, attempting the last name first and checking spelling variations, including maiden names and business entity names, improves results. For historical records not available online, an in-person visit to the courthouse is required, as older documents may exist only in bound books or on microfilm.
What Is Union County Property Records
Property records in Union County are official documents related to real property — land and the structures affixed to it — maintained by county government offices as legal records of ownership, transfers, and encumbrances. These records are essential for establishing clear title and are accessible to any member of the public under South Carolina law.
Types of Property Records:
Ownership Records include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, special warranty deeds, life estate deeds, trust documents, and the full chain of title reflecting every transfer of ownership from the original grant to the present owner.
Encumbrance Records document mortgages, deeds of trust, tax liens, mechanic's liens, judgment liens, easements, restrictive covenants, homeowner association documents, and lis pendens filings that provide constructive notice of pending litigation affecting title.
Tax and Assessment Records include property tax assessments, tax bills, payment history, exemption applications, millage rates, special assessments, and delinquency records maintained by the Assessor and Treasurer.
Legal Descriptions are found in plat maps, subdivision plats, surveys, and recorded deeds that identify property by lot and block, metes and bounds, or section, township, and range.
Building and Permit Records include building permits, certificates of occupancy, code violation notices, and zoning designations maintained by the Union County Building and Planning Department.
Who Maintains Property Records:
The Union County Register of Deeds is responsible for recording, indexing, and permanently maintaining all instruments affecting real property title, pursuant to South Carolina Code § 30-7-10, which establishes the legal framework for recording conveyances and other instruments in South Carolina. The Assessor maintains valuation and assessment records. The Treasurer maintains tax billing and payment records. The Building and Planning Department maintains permit and zoning records.
As stated in the South Carolina Code, "instruments in writing which relate to or affect the title to real estate in this State shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds or clerk of court of the county in which the real estate is situated." This recording requirement ensures that all interests in real property are documented in a publicly accessible system.
Are Property Records Public Information in Union County?
Property records in Union County are public information, accessible to any person without a stated purpose, residency requirement, or ownership interest in the property. South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, codified at S.C. Code § 30-4-10 et seq., affirms the public's right to inspect and copy public records maintained by government bodies, including county offices that hold property records.
The public nature of property records serves multiple essential functions. Transparency in property ownership prevents fraudulent transfers and supports accountability in property taxation. The recording system provides constructive notice to all parties, meaning that any person who records a deed, mortgage, or lien puts the world on legal notice of that interest. This principle is foundational to American real estate law and has been recognized in South Carolina courts for well over a century.
Who Can Access Property Records:
Any member of the public — regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose — may access Union County property records. Common users include prospective buyers, real estate agents and brokers, title companies, appraisers, lenders, attorneys, property investors, genealogists, historians, and journalists.
Privacy Considerations:
Under current law, Social Security numbers and bank account numbers are redacted from recorded documents before public release. Certain individuals, including law enforcement officers, judges, and domestic violence victims, may be eligible for address confidentiality protections under applicable state programs. Homestead exemption applications may contain financial information that is not fully subject to public disclosure; the Assessor's office can provide guidance on specific policies.
Commercial Use:
Commercial entities may lawfully aggregate and resell public property record data. Title insurance companies, appraisal firms, and data aggregators such as CoreLogic and First American operate subscription services built on public record data. Such use is legally permissible, though anti-harassment statutes, fair housing laws, and other applicable regulations continue to govern how that information may be used.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Property Records in Union County?
Members of the public may inspect property records at no charge. Fees apply when copies or certified copies are requested. Under S.C. Code § 8-21-310, the Register of Deeds is authorized to collect fees for recording and copying instruments. Current standard fees in Union County are as follows:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Inspection of records (in person) | No charge |
| Standard copy (per page) | $0.25 per page |
| Certified copy of recorded document | $1.00 per page + $2.00 certification fee |
| Online document viewing | No charge (basic search) |
| Recording a deed or instrument | $25.00 for first page + $0.50 per additional page |
| Plat copies | Varies by size |
- Accepted payment methods at the Register of Deeds include cash, check, and money order. Some offices accept credit or debit cards; members of the public should confirm accepted payment methods before visiting.
- Assessment records from the Assessor's office are available for free online and at no charge for in-person inspection.
- Tax records from the Treasurer's office are available for free online.
- Fee waivers are not broadly available for standard copy requests, though indigent individuals involved in legal proceedings may seek fee waivers through the court system for court-related documents.
- Electronic copies downloaded from the county's online portal are available at no charge for basic property information; fees may apply for certified electronic copies.
What's Included in a Union County Property Record?
A complete Union County property record draws from multiple county offices and may include the following categories of information:
Ownership Information:
Current ownership records identify the legal owner or owners by name, ownership type (individual, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entireties, trust, LLC, or corporation), acquisition date, deed book and page or instrument number, and mailing address for tax purposes. Previous ownership records provide the full chain of title, including prior owners' names, transfer dates, and historical deed references.
Property Identification:
Each parcel is identified by a site address, legal description (lot and block, subdivision name, plat book and page reference, or metes and bounds description), parcel identification number, and tax account number.
Physical Characteristics:
Land information includes lot size in square feet or acres, lot dimensions, frontage, depth, corner lot designation, land use designation, and zoning classification. Building information includes total living area, year built, number of stories, building type, construction type, exterior wall material, roof type, foundation type, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, garage information, pool, porch or patio square footage, fireplace, HVAC systems, water source, and sewer system.
Valuation Information:
Assessment records include land value, building value, total assessed value, market value, just value, and capped value where applicable under South Carolina's assessment ratio system. Historical values for prior assessment years are also maintained.
Tax Information:
Current year tax records include the total tax amount due, exemptions applied, taxable value, millage rate, and a breakdown by taxing authority (county general fund, school district, municipality, and special districts). Tax history reflects prior years' payments and any delinquency.
Exemptions Applied:
South Carolina offers several property tax exemptions, including the legal residence (homestead) exemption, senior citizen exemption, disability exemption, and veteran exemption. Exemptions applied to a specific parcel are reflected in the Assessor's records.
Sales History:
Sales history includes sale dates, sale prices, deed types (warranty, quitclaim, foreclosure, tax deed, or gift), grantor and grantee names, deed document numbers, and documentary stamp amounts for recent transactions.
Encumbrances and Liens:
Recorded mortgages, deeds of trust, tax liens, judgment liens, mechanic's liens, HOA liens, code enforcement liens, easements, restrictive covenants, and lis pendens filings are all part of the official record maintained by the Register of Deeds.
Maps and Images:
Property records may include exterior photographs, aerial imagery, GIS maps with parcel boundaries, plat maps, and property sketches maintained by the Assessor.
What Is NOT Typically in Public Property Records:
- Current mortgage balances (only original amounts at recording)
- Personal financial information beyond what appears in recorded documents
- Social Security numbers (redacted under current law)
- Interior photographs
- Private agreements not submitted for recording
- Actual purchase contract terms beyond the recorded sale price
How Long Does Union County Keep Property Records?
Property records in Union County are maintained permanently. The legal requirement to preserve recorded instruments affecting real property title is established under South Carolina's recording statutes and the state's records retention schedule administered by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. As the South Carolina Department of Archives and History notes in its records retention guidelines, instruments recorded in the Register of Deeds are permanent records that must be preserved indefinitely.
Records Kept Permanently:
All recorded deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, lien filings, plats, easements, declarations, and other instruments affecting title are retained permanently. This includes documents dating back to Union County's formation and, in some cases, to original land grants from the colonial and territorial periods.
Format and Storage:
- Very old records exist in handwritten ledger books
- Mid-twentieth century records are available on microfilm
- Recent records are maintained as digital scans in electronic document management systems
- Multiple backup systems are maintained for digital records
- Climate-controlled storage protects paper and microfilm archives
Online Availability by Time Period:
| Time Period | Availability |
|---|---|
| Recent (last 20+ years) | Fully online in most cases |
| Moderate age (20–50 years) | May be online; microfilm available |
| Historical (50+ years) | In-person access; microfilm or original books |
| Very old (100+ years) | Archive storage; advance notice may be required |
Property Appraiser Assessment Records:
Current and historical assessment records are maintained permanently. Property cards and assessment rolls are permanent records. Exemption applications are retained for a period consistent with the state retention schedule, which varies by document type.
Tax Collector Records:
Tax payment records are retained for a minimum of seven to ten years. Tax certificates are retained until redeemed or until a tax deed is issued. Tax deed records are permanent. Delinquency records are maintained for several years consistent with the state schedule.
Destruction of Records:
Recorded instruments affecting title are never destroyed. Administrative working files, duplicate copies, and internal correspondence may be destroyed after the applicable retention period under the state schedule. The destruction of any permanent record is prohibited.
Accessing Historical Records:
Members of the public seeking historical records not available online should contact the Register of Deeds directly. Staff can retrieve documents from microfilm or bound volumes. For very old records, advance notice or an appointment may be helpful. The same public access rights and copy fee schedule apply to historical records as to recent ones.
Union County Register of Deeds
210 West Main Street
Union, SC 29379
Phone: (864) 429-1625
Union County Register of Deeds
How To Find Liens on Property in Union County?
Liens on property in Union County are recorded instruments and are therefore part of the public record maintained by the Register of Deeds. Any member of the public may search for liens affecting a specific parcel using the following methods:
Step-by-Step Search Process:
- Access the Register of Deeds search portal through the Union County official website
- Search by the property owner's name (as grantor or grantee) or by parcel identification number
- Filter results by document type to identify liens specifically, including:
- Federal tax liens (filed by the IRS)
- State tax liens (filed by the South Carolina Department of Revenue)
- Judgment liens (arising from court judgments)
- Mechanic's liens (filed by contractors or materialmen)
- HOA liens
- Code enforcement liens
- Review each result for the lien amount, lienholder name, recording date, and book and page reference
- Check for corresponding releases or satisfactions, which indicate the lien has been paid and discharged
- For federal tax liens specifically, the IRS files notices with the Register of Deeds pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6323, which governs the validity and priority of federal tax liens against third parties
Additional Sources for Lien Searches:
- South Carolina Judgment Lien Searches: Judgment liens arising from civil court proceedings are indexed through the Union County Clerk of Court and attach to all real property owned by the judgment debtor in the county
- SCDOR Tax Liens: The South Carolina Department of Revenue files state tax liens with the Register of Deeds; these are searchable through the same recorded document index
- PACER (Federal Court Records): Federal court judgments and bankruptcy filings that may affect property title are accessible through the PACER federal court records system
- UCC Filings: Fixture filings under the Uniform Commercial Code that affect real property are filed with the Register of Deeds and are searchable through the same index
In-Person Lien Search:
Members of the public may conduct in-person lien searches at the Register of Deeds office with staff assistance. Staff can retrieve the grantor/grantee index and assist in identifying all recorded instruments, including liens, affecting a specific property.
Union County Register of Deeds
210 West Main Street
Union, SC 29379
Phone: (864) 429-1625
Union County Register of Deeds
A title company or real estate attorney may be engaged to conduct a comprehensive lien search as part of a title examination, which will identify all recorded interests and provide a professional opinion on the state of title.
What Is Property Owner Rule in Union County?
The property owner rule in Union County, South Carolina, refers to the legal principle that the owner of real property has the right to testify as to the value of that property in legal proceedings without being qualified as an expert witness. This rule is recognized under South Carolina evidence law and has been affirmed by South Carolina courts in condemnation, tax appeal, and property damage cases.
Under the property owner rule as applied in South Carolina, a property owner is presumed to have sufficient knowledge of their own property to offer a lay opinion of its fair market value. This opinion is admissible in proceedings such as:
- Eminent domain and condemnation hearings
- Property tax assessment appeals before the Union County Board of Assessment Appeals
- Civil litigation involving property damage or diminution in value
- Partition actions
The South Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court have consistently held that property ownership alone qualifies an individual to testify as to value, provided the testimony is based on the owner's personal knowledge of the property. The weight given to such testimony is a matter for the trier of fact.
Property Tax Assessment Appeals:
In the context of property tax, the property owner rule is particularly relevant to assessment appeals. Under S.C. Code § 12-60-2510, property owners in Union County who disagree with the Assessor's valuation may file a written protest and present evidence of value, including their own testimony as the property owner, before the Union County Board of Assessment Appeals. The appeal process requires the owner to file a written objection within 90 days of the date of the assessment notice.
Ownership Rights Under South Carolina Law:
Property ownership in Union County confers the right to use, enjoy, and dispose of real property subject to applicable zoning regulations, deed restrictions, easements, and other encumbrances of record. The South Carolina Constitution provides that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation, consistent with the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Union County Assessor's Office
210 West Main Street
Union, SC 29379
Phone: (864) 429-1600
Union County Assessor
Union County Board of Assessment Appeals
210 West Main Street
Union, SC 29379
Phone: (864) 429-1600
Union County Government