Myrtle Beach Bankruptcy Records

Myrtle Beach bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina and processed through the Horry County court system under the 15th Judicial Circuit. As South Carolina's premier coastal resort city and a major economic driver along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach generates a consistent volume of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings driven by the area's tourism-dependent economy and seasonal employment patterns. Residents and creditors can access case records through PACER, the free VCIS telephone line, and the Horry County court system. This guide covers all official public record channels for Myrtle Beach bankruptcy filings.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court and Federal Filings for Myrtle Beach

All bankruptcy petitions from Myrtle Beach residents are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina. Horry County cases are typically assigned to the Columbia Division at 1100 Laurel Street, Columbia SC 29201, as the inland division serving the Grand Strand region. The court's electronic docket spans all three South Carolina federal bankruptcy divisions -- Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville -- and is fully accessible through the PACER system. New cases are docketed promptly after the petition is accepted, and all subsequent filings, orders, and hearing schedules are added to the public docket in real time.

Chapter 7 liquidation cases from Myrtle Beach typically conclude within 90 to 120 days of filing when no nonexempt assets require administration. Chapter 13 repayment plans confirmed in the South Carolina district run for 36 to 60 months based on the debtor's income and the plan terms approved by the court. South Carolina's overall bankruptcy filing rate increased by approximately 12 percent between 2024 and 2025, with coastal counties like Horry contributing to that increase as tourism-sector economic pressures and housing costs continued to affect many Grand Strand residents.

Note: Horry County cases are assigned to the Columbia Division despite the county's coastal location; the division assignment is based on court administrative geography rather than physical proximity.

PACER and VCIS Access for Myrtle Beach Records

Federal bankruptcy records for Myrtle Beach are accessible through PACER, providing full document-level access to all filed pleadings, schedules, creditor matrices, and orders at $0.10 per page. Accounts with quarterly charges under $30.00 are not billed. Searches can be conducted by debtor name, case number, Social Security number, or employer identification number. All three South Carolina federal bankruptcy divisions share a unified electronic docket, so a PACER search of the district covers all Myrtle Beach and Horry County cases regardless of which division they are assigned to.

The free VCIS line at 1-866-222-8029 provides basic case status information around the clock -- including filing date, chapter, trustee assignment, and discharge status -- for cases filed after November 30, 1988. The court's case information page at scb.uscourts.gov/case-information provides links to both PACER and VCIS with detailed instructions for conducting case searches efficiently. VCIS is often the fastest starting point before committing to a full PACER document review.

Note: The VCIS automated phone system provides case status at no cost; full document access for Myrtle Beach bankruptcy cases requires PACER registration and the standard per-page fee.

Myrtle Beach Municipal Court

The Myrtle Beach Municipal Court is located at 1101 Oak Street, Myrtle Beach SC 29577, and can be reached at (843) 918-1382. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal offenses committed within the city, city ordinance violations, traffic matters, and property crimes valued up to $1,000. Given Myrtle Beach's large seasonal population and active tourism economy, the municipal court handles a substantial caseload throughout the year.

Under S.C. Code § 14-25-45, the Myrtle Beach Municipal Court is classified as a court "not of record," meaning its dockets are not included in the statewide SC Judicial Department Public Index system. Outstanding fines and penalties from municipal court can become city liens, and those liens may appear as creditor claims in a federal bankruptcy case. Debtors with unresolved municipal court obligations at the time of filing should list those amounts in their bankruptcy schedules. Creditors reviewing Myrtle Beach bankruptcy filings should be aware that municipal liens may not appear in a standard PACER or Public Index search.

The SC Judicial Department Public Index for Horry County provides online access to circuit court case information for Myrtle Beach-area residents, including civil judgments and criminal case dispositions.

Note: Myrtle Beach Municipal Court records are not part of the SC Public Index; outstanding municipal fines and city liens require a direct inquiry to the court at (843) 918-1382 or in person at 1101 Oak Street.

Myrtle Beach FOIA and City Records

The City of Myrtle Beach handles public records requests and Freedom of Information Act inquiries through its official website at cityofmyrtlebeach.com. Written FOIA requests can be submitted to the City Attorney at PO Box 2468, Myrtle Beach SC 29577, by email at FOIA@cityofmyrtlebeach.com, or by fax at 843-918-1028. These requests are processed under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, S.C. Code Title 30, Chapter 4. City records accessible through FOIA may include permits, ordinances, city liens, and business license history relevant to property or asset research in a Myrtle Beach bankruptcy case.

Police records and reports maintained by the Myrtle Beach Police Department are handled through the department's own Freedom of Information process. The Police Department's FOIA information is available at police.cityofmyrtlebeach.com. Police records are separate from municipal court records and may be relevant in bankruptcy cases involving criminal restitution claims or asset forfeiture matters.

The City of Myrtle Beach official website provides FOIA request information and city record access for residents and researchers investigating city-held documents relevant to bankruptcy or property matters.

The Myrtle Beach Police Department's FOIA page at police.cityofmyrtlebeach.com provides instructions for requesting police records that may be relevant when investigating asset or restitution issues in a bankruptcy case.

Note: City FOIA requests and Police Department records requests are processed separately by different city offices; submit each request to the appropriate office for the type of records being sought.

Horry County Clerk of Court

The Horry County Clerk of Court is located at 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway SC 29526, phone (843) 915-5080. Conway is Horry County's seat, located approximately 15 miles inland from Myrtle Beach. The clerk's office maintains state court records for Horry County's 15th Judicial Circuit, including civil judgments, criminal case dispositions, and family court orders for Myrtle Beach and other county municipalities. State court judgment liens recorded in Horry County can encumber real property owned by Myrtle Beach residents and may need to be addressed in a bankruptcy plan.

The SC Judicial Department's Public Index provides online access to Horry County circuit court case information by party name and case number. Researchers conducting due diligence on Myrtle Beach debtors should search both the Horry County Clerk's records and the federal PACER system to identify the full scope of outstanding judgments and legal obligations. The SC Tax Lien Registry at dor.sc.gov/LienRegistry provides additional information on state tax liens that may affect Myrtle Beach properties and businesses.

Note: The Horry County Clerk of Court is in Conway, not Myrtle Beach; many record searches can be completed online through the SC Judicial Department Public Index, reducing the need to travel to the county seat.

Historical and Archival Records for Myrtle Beach

Pre-PACER bankruptcy records involving Myrtle Beach and Horry County residents may be held at NARA's Atlanta facility, the regional federal records repository for South Carolina. Researchers seeking original case files from the 1980s or earlier should contact NARA Atlanta in advance to confirm availability and request procedures. For state-level historical records, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History (SCDAH) in Columbia holds older court and land records for Horry County that may be useful in complex title or lien research.

Myrtle Beach's significant tourism and hospitality industry means that business-related bankruptcy cases in the area can involve complex commercial real estate, franchise agreements, and multi-creditor structures. Researchers working on such cases should plan to search multiple record systems, including the county deed records, the SC Tax Lien Registry, and PACER, to build a complete picture of a debtor's obligations.

Note: NARA Atlanta holds closed South Carolina federal court case files on a rolling basis; contact the facility before visiting or submitting a records request to confirm availability of specific Myrtle Beach-area files.

Legal Assistance for Myrtle Beach Bankruptcy Filers

Myrtle Beach residents seeking bankruptcy legal guidance can contact the South Carolina Bar at 803-799-7100 or 1-800-868-2284 for a referral to a licensed bankruptcy attorney. The SC Bar's referral service connects callers with attorneys who practice in the Horry County and Grand Strand area. Several bankruptcy attorneys maintain offices in Myrtle Beach and along the Grand Strand, making local representation more accessible than in smaller counties. Initial consultations are frequently available at reduced or flat rates.

Income-qualified residents may be eligible for free legal help through SC Legal Services at 1-888-346-5592. SC Legal Services assists low-income individuals with consumer bankruptcy questions and related civil legal matters. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court's self-help resources at scb.uscourts.gov include procedural guides and court-approved forms for pro se filers who wish to navigate the process without an attorney, though professional counsel is strongly advisable given the complexity of bankruptcy proceedings.

Note: Myrtle Beach's tourism economy can create unique income-calculation challenges in bankruptcy cases, particularly for seasonal workers; consulting an attorney who understands Horry County's economic environment is advisable before filing.

Myrtle Beach County Court Resources

All Myrtle Beach bankruptcy cases are handled by the Horry County court system and filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina.