Horry County Bench Warrant Search

Horry County bench warrants are issued by courts in Conway, Myrtle Beach, and other municipal courts across this large coastal county. The Clerk of Court office in Conway handles most bench warrant inquiries for the circuit court level. Horry County also has multiple magistrate courts and municipal courts that issue bench warrants. The county's large population and tourist traffic mean a high volume of court cases. You can search bench warrant records through the South Carolina Public Index or by contacting the Horry County Clerk of Court, Sheriff's Office, or Police Department Warrant Division directly.

Horry County Bench Warrants

A bench warrant is a court order. It tells law enforcement to bring a person before a judge. The SC Summary Court Bench Book defines it as a "form of process issued from the bench for attachment or arrest of a person." Bench warrants are not arrest warrants. An arrest warrant starts a new case. A bench warrant comes from a case that is already open in the court system. Horry County courts issue them at the circuit, magistrate, and municipal levels.

The most common reason for a bench warrant in Horry County is failure to appear. A person misses a court date. The judge issues a bench warrant. Failure to pay a fine is another cause. Sometimes a person is tried in their absence and found guilty. A bench warrant then orders their arrest so the sentence can be carried out. With Myrtle Beach drawing millions of visitors each year, Horry County courts handle a large number of traffic and minor criminal cases. Many of those cases produce bench warrants when people leave the area without resolving their court matters.

Search Horry County Court Records

The Horry County Public Index is a free online tool from the South Carolina Judicial Branch. You can search by name or case number. Find a case and click the Action tab. Entries such as "Failure to Comply" or "Archived Bench Warrant" show that a bench warrant was issued. The Public Index also lists municipal court cases from Atlantic Beach, Aynor, Briarcliffe Acres, Conway, Loris, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Surfside Beach.

For current bench warrant status, contact the Horry County Clerk of Court. The main office is at 1301 2nd Ave, Conway, SC 29526. Call 843-915-5080. The South Strand office is at 9630 Scipio Lane, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588. Call 843-915-5082. Staff at both locations can check case records and confirm if a bench warrant is still active in Horry County.

The Horry County Sheriff's Office handles bench warrant service. Call 843-915-5450 for warrant questions. The Police Department Warrant Division can also help at 843-915-8347. The SLED CATCH system through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division offers statewide background checks for $25. Results may include bench warrant data from Horry County.

Note: With so many courts in Horry County, a bench warrant could come from any one of them. Check the Public Index first to narrow down which court issued the warrant.

Horry County Clerk of Court

The Horry County Clerk of Court website provides office hours, contact details, and information about court records access for the public.

The clerk's office in Conway serves as the main records hub for Horry County circuit court cases. You can visit in person to request copies of court documents that show bench warrant activity. Copy fees apply for printed records.

Magistrate and Municipal Courts

Horry County has a Central Magistrate Court at 1301 2nd Ave in Conway. Call 843-915-5080 for case questions. This court handles minor criminal cases, traffic offenses, and civil matters. Many bench warrants in Horry County come from this court and from the municipal courts in the area.

Under Section 22-5-115 of the South Carolina Code, a magistrate may issue a summons instead of a bench warrant. This gives the person a chance to come to court on their own. If they still fail to appear, the bench warrant follows. Horry County magistrates use this approach when it fits the situation. Municipal courts in Myrtle Beach, Conway, North Myrtle Beach, and other towns within Horry County follow the same rules.

When someone is arrested on a bench warrant in Horry County, they must appear before a judge within 24 hours. Bond is set at that hearing. The person is then scheduled to go back to the court that issued the original bench warrant.

Note: The Horry County Police Department handles law enforcement in the unincorporated areas and works closely with the sheriff on bench warrant service.

Public Records Requests

Under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, S.C. Code Section 30-4-10, bench warrant records in Horry County are public. Anyone can request them. You do not need to be a party to the case. File a FOIA request with the Clerk of Court or the Sheriff's Office.

The office has 10 business days to respond to requests for records less than 24 months old. Older records allow 20 business days. Standard copy fees apply. Most offices charge about $1 per page. Horry County follows these same rules for all FOIA requests related to bench warrants and court records.

Bond Violations and Warrants

Bond violations are a common source of bench warrants in Horry County. Under Section 38-53-70, when a defendant violates bond conditions, the court issues a bench warrant. The surety or bail bond company then has 90 days to find the person and return them to court. If the surety fails, they risk losing the full bond amount.

Bond conditions in Horry County might include staying in the state, not visiting certain places, or reporting to a pretrial officer. Breaking any rule can lead to a bench warrant. The Horry County Sheriff's Office or local police carry out the arrest. Under Rule 13, courts are encouraged to reschedule hearings rather than issue bench warrants for bond violations when possible.

Resolving a Bench Warrant

If you have a bench warrant in Horry County, act quickly. Call the Clerk of Court at 843-915-5080. Ask about your case and what steps the court requires. In many cases, a new court date will be set. You may need to turn yourself in at the Horry County Sheriff's Office or the police department.

A lawyer can help you handle this. They can contact the court, arrange a surrender date, or request a bond hearing. This is better than waiting for an arrest at a traffic stop. The SC Judicial Branch website lets you check your case online before you take action.

• Call the clerk's office to check your case status
• Contact an attorney for help
• Turn yourself in voluntarily
• Go to the rescheduled court date on time
• Bring all required paperwork

Waiting makes things worse. Higher bond amounts, added charges, or jail time can follow. Dealing with a bench warrant promptly gives you the best outcome in Horry County court.

South Carolina Bench Warrant Statutes

Title 17, Chapter 13 of the South Carolina Code covers warrants and arrests. These rules apply in Horry County and all 46 counties. A bench warrant cannot start a new criminal case. It only applies to someone with an open case before the court. If someone says you have a bench warrant in Horry County, it means you missed a court date or broke a condition. No new charges were filed.

The SC Summary Court Bench Book serves as a reference guide for judges and magistrates across the state. Horry County judges use this book when deciding whether to issue a bench warrant or try another approach first. The book outlines the steps and legal standards that apply to bench warrants in South Carolina.

Cities in Horry County

Horry County includes several cities and towns, each with its own municipal court that may issue bench warrants. Check the Public Index for the specific city court if you are looking for a bench warrant tied to a municipal case in Horry County.

Nearby Counties

Horry County borders several other counties in South Carolina. Bench warrants are valid statewide. A bench warrant from Horry County can be served by law enforcement in any county. Check the Public Index for each county if you are unsure where a warrant was issued.

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