Bluffton People Search
Bluffton is one of the fastest growing towns in Beaufort County, located in the South Carolina Lowcountry near Hilton Head Island. A people search in Bluffton uses records from the Beaufort County court system and statewide databases maintained by SLED in Columbia. The town has grown to over 30,000 residents in recent years. Beaufort County is not among the state's ten largest counties, so state-level tools play a key role in finding people and accessing public records for this area. The town has its own police department that works alongside the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office.
Bluffton Quick Facts
Bluffton Court Records Search
The South Carolina Judicial Branch at sccourts.org/caseSearch provides online access to Beaufort County court records. Select Beaufort County from the dropdown to search the 14th Judicial Circuit. The system covers Circuit Court records in General Sessions and Common Pleas, Family Court matters, and some Magistrate Court records. Search by party name, case number, or date range to find cases involving Bluffton residents.
Results include the case number, filing date, parties, charges, case status, and assigned judge. The system is free and available 24 hours a day. Some docket entries include viewable documents. For certified copies, contact the Beaufort County Clerk of Court. Certified copies typically cost $10 per document. Certain records are restricted, including juvenile cases, sealed records, and expunged cases.
As of January 2026, home addresses no longer appear on the public index for new or existing cases across South Carolina.
Bluffton Criminal Background Checks
SLED CATCH is the statewide tool for running criminal history checks in South Carolina. The system costs $25 per search and covers arrests from all 46 counties. You need the person's full name and date of birth. Run a search at catch.sled.sc.gov for instant results. An extra $1 convenience fee applies to online searches. SLED processed over 553,000 online background checks in 2019.
Mail-in requests go to SLED Records Department, PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221. Send a business check, certified check, or money order. Personal checks and cash are not accepted. Mail requests take 7 to 10 business days. Contact the Public Dissemination Unit at 803-896-1443 on weekdays between 9 AM and 4:30 PM. SLED maintains a Low Country regional office at (843) 782-3822 for local law enforcement support.
Note: SLED CATCH searches return records from all South Carolina counties in a single report, not just Beaufort County.
Bluffton Inmate Search
The South Carolina Department of Corrections runs an online inmate search for people serving state prison sentences. This covers Bluffton residents who have been convicted and sent to a state facility. Access the search at the SCDC public search page. You can search by name, SCDC number, or State Identification number. The system shows photos, charges, sentences, facility locations, and release dates.
SCDC headquarters is at 4444 Broad River Road in Columbia. FOIA requests for detailed inmate records can be sent to FOIA@doc.sc.gov or by calling (803) 896-8500. For people held at the Beaufort County Detention Center awaiting trial, contact the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office for current inmate information.
Bluffton People Search Resources
The SLED Sex Offender Registry at scor.sled.sc.gov tracks registered sex offenders across South Carolina. Search by name or enter a Bluffton ZIP code to see a map of nearby offenders. The SORT system shows photos, addresses, aliases, and lets you sign up for free email alerts. Over 10,000 offenders are on the active registry in the state. Registry laws are found in S.C. Code of Laws Title 23, Chapter 3, Article 7, Sections 400 through 555.
South Carolina vital records are maintained by the Department of Public Health at 2600 Bull Street in Columbia. Birth and death records go back to January 1, 1915. A certified copy costs $12 for the first one and $3 for each extra copy. You can also order through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com or call 1-877-284-1008. Marriage records from July 1950 through December 2021 and divorce records from July 1962 through December 2014 are available at the state level.
For older vital records, the Beaufort County Probate Court or the Clerk of Court may have what you need. The Probate Court handles marriage licenses, estates, and guardianship matters for all of Beaufort County.
Bluffton Public Records Requests
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act under Title 30, Chapter 4 gives anyone the right to request records from Bluffton town offices and Beaufort County agencies. Public records include all documents prepared, owned, or used by a public body. Requests must be in writing and should describe the records as clearly as possible.
Agencies must respond within 10 business days for records less than 24 months old and 20 business days for older records. After the initial response, they have 30 calendar days to produce the records. Fees are limited to the actual cost of search, retrieval, and copying. Electronic records carry no transmission fee. The South Carolina Code of Laws contains the full text of FOIA and all related statutes.
Professional license verification is available through the LLR Licensee Lookup at verify.llronline.com. This tool covers over 40 types of professional licenses in South Carolina, including contractors, real estate agents, and medical professionals. Search by name to check license status and disciplinary history.
Note: The Family Privacy Protection Act prohibits using personal information from state agencies for commercial solicitation in South Carolina.
Vital Records Near Bluffton
For people doing a Bluffton people search who need vital records, here is what the state office holds:
- Birth records: January 1, 1915 to present
- Death records: January 1, 1915 to present
- Marriage records: July 1950 through December 2021
- Divorce records: July 1962 through December 2014
- Certified copy fee: $12 first copy, $3 each additional
Birth records become public after 100 years. Death records become public after 50 years. Before those dates, only immediate family members and legal representatives can request copies. The Vital Records Office phone number is (803) 898-3630. Expedited service is available at (803) 898-0176.
Beaufort County People Search
Bluffton is part of Beaufort County. All court filings, property transfers, and probate matters for the town go through the Beaufort County system. The county Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds, and Probate Court maintain records at the county courthouse in Beaufort.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
People in these nearby cities can access similar people search tools through their own county systems. Pick a city for more details.