Socastee Bench Warrant Records
Socastee is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina. It is not an incorporated city. That means Socastee does not have its own municipal court or police department. All bench warrants for the Socastee area are handled through the Horry County court system. When someone in Socastee misses a court date or fails to pay a fine, the Horry County Magistrate Court may issue a bench warrant. Residents can search for bench warrants through the Horry County Public Index or by calling the county offices.
Horry County Courts for Socastee
Because Socastee is unincorporated, there is no local municipal court. All court matters for Socastee residents go through Horry County. The Horry County Magistrate Court Central is at 1301 2nd Ave, Conway, SC. The phone number is 843-915-5080. This court handles traffic violations, misdemeanors, and ordinance cases that arise in the Socastee area.
When a person fails to appear at the magistrate court, the judge can issue a bench warrant. A bench warrant is not the same as an arrest warrant. It comes from the judge on the bench because someone did not follow a court order. The most common triggers are missed court dates and unpaid fines. Once a bench warrant is issued, it goes into the law enforcement database. Deputies and officers can see it during any routine check.
The Clerk of Court handles case records at the county level. You can reach the Horry County Clerk of Court at 843-915-5080 for questions about case filings, bench warrants, and other court documents related to Socastee cases.
| Court | Horry County Magistrate Court Central |
|---|---|
| Address | 1301 2nd Ave, Conway, SC |
| Phone | 843-915-5080 |
| Clerk of Court | horrycountysc.gov Clerk of Court |
Note: Socastee does not have its own court. All bench warrants for the area go through the Horry County Magistrate Court in Conway.
How Bench Warrants Work
A bench warrant affecting a Socastee resident begins when the person fails to appear at the Horry County Magistrate Court. The judge reviews the docket and decides how to handle the absence. Under Section 22-5-115, the judge can issue a summons or a bench warrant. A summons is a notice to appear at a later date. A bench warrant authorizes law enforcement to arrest the person right away.
Failure to pay fines is another common reason for bench warrants in the Socastee area. When someone does not pay a court-ordered fine, the judge may treat it as contempt. Bond violations also lead to bench warrants. Under Section 38-53-70, violating bond conditions can result in up to 90 days in jail.
Bench warrants do not expire. A warrant issued months or years ago is still valid. It stays in the system until the person resolves the matter with the court or gets arrested. Anyone in Socastee with an active bench warrant could be arrested during a routine traffic stop or encounter with law enforcement.
Horry County Sheriff Warrants
Since Socastee does not have its own police force, the Horry County Sheriff provides law enforcement services. The Sheriff's Warrant Division can be reached at 843-915-8347. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Deputies from this division serve bench warrants throughout the county, including in Socastee.
If you think you may have a bench warrant in the Socastee area, you can contact the Warrant Division to check your status. They can tell you whether a bench warrant is active in the system and advise on next steps. Clearing a bench warrant before an encounter with a deputy is always the better path.
The image below shows the Horry County government website, which links to court and sheriff resources for Socastee residents.
The Horry County website is the central resource for finding department contacts and court information that applies to bench warrants in the Socastee area.
| Agency | Horry County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Warrant Division | 843-915-8347 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | horrycountysc.gov |
Search Socastee Bench Warrants
The Horry County Public Index is the primary tool for searching bench warrants in the Socastee area. Enter a name or case number. Look at the case actions to see if a bench warrant has been filed. This system is free and covers all courts in Horry County.
The SC Courts case records search also connects to the Horry County index. Select the county and search from there. For a statewide check, the SLED CATCH system runs criminal background searches for $25. Bench warrants from any South Carolina court may appear in the results.
You can also call the Horry County Magistrate Court at 843-915-5080 to ask about a specific case. The Warrant Division at 843-915-8347 can confirm whether a bench warrant is currently active for a person in the Socastee area.
Public Records in Horry County
Under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, anyone can request government records from Horry County. This includes bench warrant records tied to Socastee cases. FOIA requests must be answered within 10 business days. The county can extend the deadline to 20 business days if extra time is needed to process the request.
Most bench warrant records for the Socastee area are already available through the Horry County Public Index. FOIA is better suited for records not posted online, such as internal case notes or police reports from bench warrant arrests.
The Summary Court Bench Book provides the rules that magistrate judges in Horry County follow when deciding whether to issue a bench warrant or a summons for Socastee cases.
South Carolina Bench Warrant Law
Title 17, Chapter 13 of the South Carolina Code covers warrants and arrest procedures. This law governs how bench warrants are issued, served, and returned. Every court in the state follows it, including the Horry County Magistrate Court that serves Socastee.
Key statutes include Section 22-5-115, which gives judges the choice between a summons and a bench warrant. Section 38-53-70 addresses bond violations. Rule 13 of the Family Court Rules allows family court judges to issue bench warrants sparingly for contempt. A person arrested on a family court bench warrant must be brought before a judge within 24 hours. Family court bench warrants affecting Socastee residents go through the Horry County Family Court.
Note: Because Socastee is not incorporated, all bench warrant matters fall under Horry County jurisdiction. There is no separate city court or local warrant process.
Horry County Bench Warrants
Socastee falls entirely under Horry County jurisdiction. For the full picture of bench warrants across the county, including all magistrate courts, the sheriff's warrant division, and General Sessions cases, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities and Areas
Nearby incorporated cities have their own municipal courts and bench warrant processes. Select a city below for details specific to that area.