Union County Bankruptcy Records

Union County bankruptcy records are maintained by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina as part of the federal court system. Union County was created in 1798 from Pinckney District, along with York County, and takes its name from Union Church, a local landmark. Court records in Union County date to 1785, when the area was part of the Ninety-Six District. The county is served by the 8th Judicial Circuit, and the Clerk of Court also performs Register of Deeds functions. Union County has a strong historical identity rooted in textile manufacturing, and its residents access the same federal bankruptcy protections available to all South Carolinians.

Union County Clerk of Court and Register of Deeds

The Union County Clerk of Court serves as both the court records custodian and the Register of Deeds for the county. The office is located at the Union County Courthouse, with a mailing address of PO Box 703, Union, SC 29379. The office can be reached at (864) 429-1630, with hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. This consolidated structure means that deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, and court records are all accessible through a single office, which simplifies property and court research for bankruptcy-related inquiries.

The Clerk maintains civil, criminal, and family court records for Union County as well as all real property instruments recorded in the county. When a Union County bankruptcy case results in a lien release, mortgage satisfaction, or deed transfer, those documents are recorded through the Clerk's ROD function. Researchers tracing property connected to a bankruptcy estate in Union County should search both PACER for the federal case and the ROD records for the property disposition.

Online property records for Union County are accessible through the SC Land Records portal, which provides deed and mortgage index data searchable by grantor, grantee, and instrument type. The SC Judicial Public Index for Union County provides free access to civil, criminal, and family court filings and is particularly useful for locating civil judgment liens that may accompany a federal bankruptcy filing.

State tax liens filed on or after November 1, 2019 are maintained in the statewide SC Department of Revenue Lien Registry, which is free to search by debtor name. Earlier state tax liens are recorded at the county level through the Clerk's ROD function and require an in-person search or a written request to the Union Courthouse address.

Note: Union County court records date to 1785, though the county was not formally created until 1798; records from the 1785 to 1800 period are tied to the earlier Ninety-Six District and Pinckney District administrative structures.

The county website is the primary online reference for Union County office contact information, hours, and links to records resources for the Clerk of Court and related departments.

Searching Union County Bankruptcy Filings Through Federal Court

All Union County bankruptcy cases are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina. The court maintains three divisions: Charleston (145 King Street), Columbia (1100 Laurel Street), and Greenville (300 E. Washington Street). Union County's location in the Upstate region means that cases are commonly handled through the Greenville Division, though filers should confirm the assigned division through the court's case information page at scb.uscourts.gov.

The primary research tool for federal bankruptcy records is PACER. PACER provides access to docket sheets, filed documents, claims registers, and discharge orders for all active and closed federal bankruptcy cases in South Carolina. The system charges $0.10 per page with a $3.00 maximum per document. Quarterly accounts with fees under $30.00 are automatically waived. For basic free lookups, the VCIS automated phone system at 1-866-222-8029 operates 24 hours a day and provides case status information for filings made after November 30, 1988.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases filed by Union County residents typically reach discharge within 90 to 120 days of filing. Chapter 13 cases run for 36 to 60 months under a court-approved repayment plan. South Carolina bankruptcy filings increased approximately 12 percent between 2024 and 2025, a statewide trend that reflects economic pressures also present in smaller communities like Union.

Note: All South Carolina residents, including those in Union County, file bankruptcy in a single statewide federal district, meaning PACER searches for Union County residents do not require a county-specific filter; searching by name or Social Security number will locate all filings regardless of which division handled the case.

Union County History and Textile-Era Records

Union County's identity is closely tied to its history as a textile manufacturing hub in the South Carolina Upstate. The rise and decline of the textile industry through the 20th century resulted in periods of economic growth and contraction that are reflected in the county's bankruptcy filing history. Researchers studying the relationship between industrial decline and bankruptcy patterns in Union County may find relevant context in the county's historical records and local library holdings.

The county was formed in 1798 from Pinckney District, which itself existed from 1795 to 1800 as an administrative district created from parts of the Ninety-Six District. Before 1795, the area that became Union County was part of the larger Ninety-Six District structure, meaning early land and court records from this era may be found in multiple administrative record sets. Researchers looking for pre-1798 property or court records for land in present-day Union County should consult the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, which holds colonial and early statehood era records for the entire state.

The National Archives in Atlanta maintains archived federal court records for the District of South Carolina, including older Union County bankruptcy case files that are no longer in the active PACER system. Researchers looking for case files from earlier decades should direct requests to NARA Atlanta with the case name, case number, and filing year if known. These archived files may contain original petitions, schedules of assets, and discharge orders not available online.

Note: The Pinckney District administrative period from 1795 to 1800 creates a brief but important gap in the county-level record structure; records from this period should be sought at SCDAH rather than at the Union County Clerk's office.

Union County Property Records and Bankruptcy Estate Research

When a Union County resident files for bankruptcy, any real property they own in the county becomes part of the bankruptcy estate subject to review by the appointed trustee. The trustee evaluates property values, outstanding mortgage balances, and available exemptions to determine whether the equity is accessible to creditors. Real property data for Union County is accessible through the SC Land Records portal and through county property tax records, both of which are useful for assessing the value and encumbrance status of property in a bankruptcy case.

Mortgage discharges, lien releases, and deed transfers resulting from a Union County bankruptcy are recorded through the Clerk performing ROD functions. These recordings are searchable through SC Land Records and may also appear in the SC Judicial Public Index when related civil actions accompany the federal bankruptcy proceeding. Researchers building a complete profile of a debtor's Union County property history should check all three systems: PACER, SC Land Records, and the Public Index.

South Carolina's homestead exemption allows bankruptcy filers to protect a portion of their home equity from creditors. The exact amount depends on the exemption scheme the filer elects and whether they are filing jointly. Residents of Union County seeking to understand how state exemptions apply to their specific situation should consult a licensed South Carolina bankruptcy attorney before filing. The SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 803-799-7100 can provide referrals, with an initial consultation at $50 for 30 minutes.

Note: South Carolina is an opt-out state for federal bankruptcy exemptions, meaning Union County filers must use the South Carolina state exemption schedule, which differs from the federal exemptions available in other states.

Union County Legal Resources and FOIA

Union County residents seeking help with bankruptcy matters can contact the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 803-799-7100 or 1-800-868-2284. The service connects callers with licensed attorneys who practice bankruptcy law, with a $50 initial 30-minute consultation fee. Income-qualifying individuals may contact SC Legal Services at 1-888-346-5592 for free civil legal guidance. SC Legal Services can assist with understanding the bankruptcy filing process, available exemptions, and the implications of Chapter 7 versus Chapter 13 for Union County residents.

Public records requests for Union County court and property records fall under S.C. Code Title 30, Chapter 4. Requests should be directed to the Clerk of Court at the Union County Courthouse or submitted to PO Box 703, Union, SC 29379. The Clerk's office can provide fee schedules for certified copies and explain the FOIA request process for records not otherwise available through the SC Judicial Public Index or SC Land Records portal. Most recorded property instruments and civil court filings are considered public records accessible without a formal FOIA submission.

The SC Judicial Public Index for Union County is the fastest free online method for locating civil judgments, civil suits, and related state court actions that may affect a debtor's financial picture in conjunction with a federal bankruptcy filing. Documents identified through the Public Index can be obtained in certified copy form by contacting the Clerk's office directly at (864) 429-1630.

Note: Union County's relatively small size means that in-person visits to the Clerk's office are often the most efficient method for obtaining specific records, particularly for older filings that may not be fully indexed in online systems.

Cities in Union County

The city of Union is the county seat and the center of civic and court activity in Union County, housing the Clerk of Court, the Register of Deeds, and the county courthouse where civil matters related to bankruptcy are handled.

Nearby Counties with Bankruptcy Records

Union County is surrounded by Upstate South Carolina counties, all of which file bankruptcy through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina in a single statewide federal district.

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