Conway Bankruptcy Records

Conway serves as the county seat of Horry County and is the administrative and judicial center for all county government functions under the 15th Judicial Circuit. This position means Conway hosts the primary court facilities that process all Horry County bankruptcy-related state court matters, even as federal bankruptcy cases are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina. Residents in Conway and across the Grand Strand who need to research bankruptcy filings, verify case status, or access court records will find this guide covers every relevant office and access method available.

Federal Bankruptcy Court and Conway Filings

All bankruptcy cases originating in Conway are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina. South Carolina operates as a single federal bankruptcy district with courthouse locations in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville. Conway-area cases in Horry County are typically processed through the Charleston Division at 145 King Street, given the Low Country and coastal geographic alignment. The court's online case information system at scb.uscourts.gov/case-information provides basic docket lookup by name or case number.

Full document access requires a PACER account. PACER is the federal judiciary's electronic public access system and charges $0.10 per page, with all fees waived in quarters where total charges stay below $30.00. Most basic case lookups cost nothing. PACER provides access to all filed documents including petitions, schedules, trustee reports, and discharge orders, and the system sends automatic alerts when new activity is posted in a monitored case.

Note: As the county seat, Conway residents have geographic proximity to multiple state court facilities at 1301 2nd Avenue, but all bankruptcy filings are processed through the federal system regardless of where state courts are located.

City of Conway Government

Conway is a full-service incorporated city with its own municipal government, city services, and a city court for ordinance violations. The City of Conway website at cityofconway.com provides access to city services, meeting minutes, and contact information for city departments. Conway City Hall serves as the administrative center for city government and handles public records requests under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act.

The City of Conway maintains municipal records, city ordinances, and public services information through its official government website.

Conway's municipal court handles city ordinance violations and lower-level misdemeanor matters within city limits. Under S.C. Code § 14-25-45, municipal courts are courts "not of record," which means they operate differently from the county circuit courts in terms of documentation and appeal procedures. Appeals from Conway's municipal court proceed to the Court of Common Pleas within the 15th Judicial Circuit. Municipal court records are separate from both county circuit court records and federal bankruptcy records.

Note: FOIA requests to the City of Conway should be submitted to the City Clerk's office and will be processed according to the timelines established under S.C. Code Title 30, Chapter 4.

Horry County Judicial Complex

The Horry County Judicial Complex at 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway SC 29526, houses the primary state court facilities for the 15th Judicial Circuit. The Horry County Clerk of Court, reached at (843) 915-5080, maintains all circuit court records for the county, including civil judgments, General Sessions criminal records, and family court filings. The Conway Magistrate Court is also located at this address and can be reached at (843) 915-5370.

The Horry County court records system provides online access to case information for civil, criminal, and other matters processed through the circuit courts.

For creditors researching Conway debtors, the Horry County civil judgment index is a critical resource. Civil judgments entered in Horry County courts can create liens on real property owned by the judgment debtor in the county. When a debtor later files bankruptcy, these liens must be analyzed and may survive the bankruptcy discharge unless specifically avoided through court motion. Checking both county and federal records provides a complete view of a debtor's legal obligations.

Note: The Horry County Clerk's online portal at horrycountycourt.org is searchable by case name or case number and does not require an account or fee for basic record lookups.

VCIS Free Bankruptcy Case Verification

The Voice Case Information System at 1-866-222-8029 is available free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Conway residents and creditors can call this number to check the status of any bankruptcy case filed in South Carolina after November 30, 1988. The automated system returns the debtor's name, case number, filing date, Chapter type, assigned trustee, and current case status. No PACER account is needed and there is no per-call or per-case fee.

VCIS is particularly useful for Conway businesses and creditors who want to quickly verify whether a debtor has an active bankruptcy stay before proceeding with a collection call, civil lawsuit, or state court filing. The automatic stay goes into effect immediately upon the filing of any bankruptcy petition and bars most creditor actions. Confirming stay status before acting protects creditors from inadvertent violations that could result in contempt proceedings before the bankruptcy judge.

Note: VCIS data is limited to South Carolina filings; cases filed in other districts must be checked through that district's court directly or through PACER's national search interface.

Horry County Register of Deeds

The Horry County Register of Deeds at horryrecords.us maintains property transaction records for real property throughout Horry County, including Conway. Deeds, mortgages, assignment of rents, and recorded liens are all accessible through the portal. For Conway residents who own real property and are considering bankruptcy, reviewing the Register's records before filing ensures that all encumbrances are properly accounted for in the bankruptcy petition's schedule of secured claims.

Mortgage liens survive a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge unless the debtor surrenders the property or the lender agrees to modify the obligation. Judgment liens recorded in the county may be avoidable under Section 522(f) of the Bankruptcy Code if they impair the debtor's claimed exemption in real property. Conway homeowners with significant mortgage debt relative to property value may find Chapter 13's structured repayment option more practical than a Chapter 7 liquidation proceeding.

Note: Conway's real estate market, influenced by Horry County's broader coastal and Grand Strand economy, means property values and mortgage structures vary considerably even within city limits.

Legal Assistance for Conway Bankruptcy Filers

Conway residents exploring bankruptcy options can contact the South Carolina Bar at 803-799-7100 for a referral to a licensed bankruptcy attorney familiar with the 15th Judicial Circuit and Horry County court practices. For qualifying low-income residents, SC Legal Services at 1-888-346-5592 provides free legal assistance including pre-filing counseling and petition preparation help. South Carolina saw a 12 percent increase in bankruptcy filings between 2024 and 2025, and Horry County's expanding population base means rising filing volumes across all Chapter types.

The SC Tax Lien Registry at dor.sc.gov/LienRegistry should be reviewed before filing to identify any state tax liens, which are priority claims in bankruptcy and often not dischargeable. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History can assist researchers seeking older Horry County court or property records that predate digital archiving systems. Federal mandatory pre-filing credit counseling from a court-approved provider must be completed within 180 days before the petition date, and the completion certificate must accompany the filing.

Note: Conway residents who are self-employed or operate small businesses may have additional considerations regarding business debt disclosure and business asset valuation that make professional legal guidance particularly important before filing.

Conway County Court Resources

All Conway bankruptcy cases are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina and processed through the Horry County court system.