Find People in Dorchester County
Dorchester County is part of the Lowcountry region of South Carolina and belongs to the First Judicial Circuit. The county was formed in 1897 from parts of Berkeley and Colleton counties. Residents and the public can search for people records through the Clerk of Court, Sheriff's Office, Register of Deeds, and Probate Court. A people search in Dorchester County can turn up court cases, inmate bookings, property ownership, and marriage records. Online tools and in-person visits both provide access to these records. The county seat is St. George, and a second office in Summerville serves many residents.
Dorchester County Quick Facts
Dorchester County Court Records
The Dorchester County Clerk of Court provides support for the First Judicial Circuit Court and Family Court. This covers General Sessions for criminal cases, Common Pleas for civil cases, and Family and Juvenile Court. The main office is at the Dorchester County Courthouse, 5200 East Jim Bilton Boulevard in St. George. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
You can search Dorchester County court records through the South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index at sccourts.org. Select Dorchester from the county list to see cases filed here. The system shows case summaries, docket entries, case status, and hearing dates. Search by party name, case number, or attorney name. Full case documents are not online. For those, visit the Clerk's office or call 843-563-0160.
In-person criminal record searches require a valid photo ID and a records request form with the person's full name. The search fee is $25 plus $1 per page for copies. Certified copies cost an extra $5 per document. Family Court records are at 212 Deming Way in Summerville. Files older than 20 years may be archived and take more time to pull.
Note: Access to Family Court records may be limited under S.C. Code sections 63-7-1990 and 63-19-2020.
Dorchester County Inmate People Search
The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate lookup portal. This tool shows who is currently held at the Dorchester County Detention Center. It also shows recent arrests. You can search by first name, last name, charge, or arresting agency. Filters for the last 24 hours or last 7 days help narrow results.
Each result from the Dorchester County inmate search shows the inmate's name, booking photo, charges, bond amount, court dates, and custody status. The system updates at least once a day. Some booking data refreshes as often as every 15 minutes. This makes it one of the fastest ways to run a people search in Dorchester County for someone who may be in custody.
The Detention Center is at 300 Deming Way in Summerville, SC 29483. Call 843-832-0100 for phone inquiries. A second location is at 101 Sears Street in St. George. The warrants information line is 843-832-0330. Both male and female inmates are housed here, including pre-trial detainees, those serving misdemeanor sentences, and people awaiting transfer to state facilities.
Vital Records and People Search
The South Carolina Department of Public Health keeps birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for the entire state. Birth and death records date back to January 1, 1915. Marriage records cover July 1950 through December 2021. Divorce records span July 1962 to December 2014. For records before those dates, check with the Dorchester County Probate Court or Clerk of Court.
You can order copies from the DPH Vital Records office at 2600 Bull Street in Columbia, SC 29201. Online orders go through VitalChek. The fee is $12 for the first certified copy of a birth or death record and $3 for each extra copy. Call 803-898-3630 for questions. Birth records become public after 100 years. Death records open after 50 years. Until then, only close family and legal representatives may request copies.
Dorchester County Probate Court issues marriage licenses. The application fee is $75 plus a $2.40 processing fee. Both parties must be 18 or older and appear together. A 24-hour waiting period applies. You can start the application online through the Probate Court site. Marriage licenses issued in South Carolina have no expiration date. The ceremony can take place in any county, but the completed license must come back to Dorchester County if applied for here.
Certified copies of marriage licenses can be ordered online at southcarolinaprobate.net/search. Select Dorchester Marriage and search by the groom's or bride's last name. The cost is $11.50 per copy. The Probate Court is at 5200 East Jim Bilton Boulevard in St. George. You can call 843-563-0105 or the Summerville line at 843-832-0105.
Appellate Court People Search
The South Carolina Appellate Court Management System gives public access to cases filed with the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. If a Dorchester County case was appealed, you can find it here. Search by case number, participant name, or SCDC inmate number at sccourts.org/ACMS.
The system shows events and basic case data for most appellate cases. Documents tied to those events are often available for viewing. Sealed or confidential cases are excluded. Recent filings may take a day to appear due to update schedules. Published and unpublished opinions from both courts are searchable by date, case number, or keyword. This is a free public service and a useful layer in any Dorchester County people search that involves court matters.
Dorchester County Property People Search
The Register of Deeds in Dorchester County records and stores land records. These include deeds, mortgages, UCC filings, state and federal tax liens, and plats. Property records tie a person's name to a physical address, making them a strong tool for a people search. The office has two locations. The St. George office is at 201 Johnston Street, phone 843-563-0181. The Summerville office is at 500 North Main Street, phone 843-832-0181.
Electronic property searches are available through the county's online portal. You can search by party name, property description, document type, or date range. The office also offers a free Fraud Alert service. Sign up and get email notices when new documents are recorded under your name. This helps spot potential property fraud early.
- Search deeds, mortgages, and liens by name or property details
- Recording hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Research hours for public access run 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Free fraud alert notifications available by email
- Microfilm copies sent to South Carolina Archives as required by law
The Assessor's Office keeps property values, ownership history, and tax map data. Search online by TMS number, owner name, property address, or parcel ID. The GIS mapping tool shows boundaries, zoning, and flood zone data. Property records in Dorchester County date back to 1897 when the county was formed.
Note: Confirm that a property falls within unincorporated Dorchester County by checking the TMS or address on the county GIS system before requesting records.
Public Records Requests in Dorchester County
Dorchester County has an online FOIA Request Portal for public records. You can also mail requests to Dorchester County, Attn: FOIA Coordinator/County Attorney's Office, 500 N. Main St., Summerville, SC 29483. The county must respond within 10 business days for records less than 24 months old and 20 business days for older records under S.C. Code Ann. Title 30, Chapter 4.
Copy fees vary by size and color. Black and white pages at standard size cost $0.20 each. Color copies run $0.60. Larger formats cost more. A front and back page counts as two pages. Requesters pay all costs tied to fulfilling the request. The FOIA portal links to records from the Assessor, Clerk of Court, Coroner, County Council, Family Court, GIS, Marriage Licenses, Probate Court, and Register of Deeds.
Using public records for commercial solicitation aimed at any person in South Carolina is against the law under S.C. Code 30-2-50. The Family Privacy Protection Act makes this a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 in fines or one year in prison.
Dorchester County Background Search
SLED's CATCH system provides statewide criminal history checks that include Dorchester County records. Create an account on the SLED CATCH portal, pay the $25 fee, and enter the person's name and date of birth. Results show South Carolina criminal history tied to fingerprint records from law enforcement.
The SCDC inmate search at public.doc.state.sc.us shows inmates currently in state prison. Search by name, SCDC number, or SID number. Results show the inmate's photo, offenses, sentence, location, and release date. For people from Dorchester County serving state sentences, this is a direct way to find them. The search is free to use.
The Sex Offender Registry at scor.sled.sc.gov lets you search by name or ZIP code for registered offenders in the Dorchester County area. SLED maintains over 10,000 active registrations. You can sign up for community alerts when a sex offender moves into a ZIP code near you. Registry rules fall under S.C. Code Title 23, Chapter 3, Article 7.
Note: Using sex offender registry data to harass or threaten any listed person is a crime under South Carolina law.
Cities in Dorchester County
Dorchester County includes the town of Summerville and other communities. Court cases for county residents are filed through the First Judicial Circuit.
Summerville is the largest community in Dorchester County. Many county offices have a Summerville branch in addition to the main St. George location.
Nearby Counties
Dorchester County borders Charleston County and Berkeley County in the Lowcountry. If you are not sure which county holds the records you need, verify the person's address. Records must be searched in the correct county.