Florence County Bankruptcy Records
Florence County was created in 1888 from Darlington and Marion Counties and named for the daughter of the president of the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad, reflecting the strong railroad influence on the Pee Dee region's development. Today Florence is one of the larger urban centers in eastern South Carolina, and its county court system handles a significant volume of civil, criminal, and family court matters. Doris Poulos O'Hara serves as Clerk of Court, while a separate appointed Register of Deeds office handles land recording. All bankruptcy filings from Florence County residents are processed through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina. This guide explains how to find those records and access legal resources in the county.
Florence County Quick Facts
Federal Bankruptcy Court and Florence County Filings
Bankruptcy cases in Florence County are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina. South Carolina is a single federal judicial district, so all petitions follow the same procedures regardless of county of origin. The court's three staffed divisions are in Charleston at 145 King Street, Columbia at 1100 Laurel Street, and Greenville at 300 East Washington Street. Florence County is geographically positioned between Columbia and the coast, and the Charleston or Columbia division typically handles cases from this part of the state depending on the assigned trustee's docket.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the most common filing type and typically produces a discharge of eligible unsecured debts in 90 to 120 days. Chapter 13 requires a repayment plan spanning 36 to 60 months and is generally used by debtors with regular income who want to cure mortgage arrears or retain secured property. South Carolina's total bankruptcy filings rose by approximately 12 percent from 2024 to 2025, and Florence County, as a regional hub for the Pee Dee area, contributes a meaningful portion of those filings. All filers must meet the federal means test requirements, complete credit counseling, and follow South Carolina's specific exemption schedule since the state does not permit use of the federal exemption scheme.
Note: Florence County residents within the city of Florence may have additional municipal court records that are separate from county circuit court filings and the federal bankruptcy system.
Florence County Clerk of Court Office
The image below is from the Florence County government website, which provides information about the Clerk of Court and other county departments that handle public records requests.
The Florence County website hosts information on court offices, public records request procedures, and access to online records maintained by county government.
The Clerk of Court office at 180 N Irby Street, Florence SC 29501, reachable at (843) 665-3031, is the local point of contact for circuit court case records, judgment filings, and related civil matters.
Florence County also provides public records access information online, making it easier for residents to understand what records are available and how to request them.
The image below highlights the Florence County FOIA process available through the county's public records page.
The Florence County public records portal outlines the process for submitting Freedom of Information Act requests under S.C. Code Title 30, Chapter 4, which governs access to local government records.
Submitting a FOIA request to the county is the appropriate route when seeking specific case documents not available through the online public index.
For state court records, the Florence County Public Index provides free online access to circuit court case information. While this system covers state court proceedings rather than federal bankruptcy cases, it can reveal related state actions including foreclosure filings, civil judgments, or collection suits filed alongside or after a bankruptcy proceeding.
Note: Florence County's court and FOIA offices are separate from the federal bankruptcy court, so requests for federal case documents must be directed to PACER or the U.S. Bankruptcy Court directly.
Municipal Records and the City of Florence
The image below comes from the City of Florence Municipal Clerk's office, which maintains records specific to city government separate from county-level court filings.
The City of Florence Municipal Clerk office maintains city ordinances, municipal records, and official meeting minutes that may be relevant when researching a debtor's city-level obligations or local government interactions.
The Municipal Clerk's records are distinct from county court filings and are relevant when researching city-specific liens, code violations, or municipal judgments that could appear in a bankruptcy case schedule.
Online Records and PACER Access
The image below shows the Florence County official records page, which provides guidance on digital record access for residents researching court and property documents.
The Florence County official records page directs users to available online databases and explains the scope of records that have been digitized and made available to the public.
Using the county's online records tools in conjunction with PACER provides the most comprehensive search across both state and federal record systems.
For federal bankruptcy records, PACER is the authoritative database. After creating a free account, users can search for Florence County bankruptcy cases by debtor name or case number and download documents at $0.10 per page. That fee is waived in quarters where total charges fall under $30. The free Voice Case Information System at 1-866-222-8029 provides 24-hour case status for filings after November 30, 1988, and is a useful first stop before logging into PACER for more detailed document review.
Note: The florenceco.org online records system focuses on county-level instruments and does not include federal bankruptcy court filings, which must be accessed separately through PACER or the court's own case information portal.
Historical Background and Record Origins
Florence County was established in 1888 when the South Carolina General Assembly carved the new county out of portions of Darlington and Marion Counties. The county's formation was driven largely by the railroad industry's influence on the region, and the county seat city of Florence grew into a major rail hub for the eastern part of the state. Because the county was not formed until 1888, its independent record set begins at that date. Researchers looking for records pertaining to what is now Florence County but from before 1888 will need to check the archives of Darlington County, which holds court and land records from the period before the division.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History is the best resource for understanding which pre-1888 records apply to the Florence County area and where those records are currently held. For federal records from early district court and bankruptcy proceedings, the National Archives Southeast Region in Atlanta maintains historical federal court files that predate full digitization into PACER.
Note: Researchers tracing land titles or family legal histories in the Florence County area before 1888 must begin their search in Darlington or Marion County records, not Florence County records.
Legal Resources and Property Records
Florence County residents seeking assistance with bankruptcy filings can contact the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 803-799-7100 or 1-800-868-2284. Initial consultations cost $50 for 30 minutes with a licensed bankruptcy attorney. For residents who cannot afford private representation, SC Legal Services at 1-888-346-5592 provides free legal assistance to income-qualifying individuals. Florence County is within SC Legal Services' service area, and the organization can help with petition preparation, creditor correspondence, and guidance on South Carolina's exemption schedule.
Property and lien records related to Florence County real estate are maintained by the county Register of Deeds office at 180 N Irby Street. The SC Land Records portal includes Florence County instruments within its digitized coverage. State tax liens filed after November 1, 2019 appear in the South Carolina Tax Lien Registry rather than in county files, while older state liens remain in the county index. Federal tax liens continue to be recorded at the county Register of Deeds office.
Note: Florence County's Register of Deeds is a separate appointed office from the Clerk of Court, so land recording requests must go to the ROD office rather than to the civil court clerk.
Cities in Florence County
Florence County's incorporated communities are served by the county court and recording system for all civil and land record purposes.
Nearby Counties with Bankruptcy Records
Surrounding Pee Dee region counties share the same federal bankruptcy district and similar court access resources.