Clerk of Court
Clerk of Court
Each county has a popularly elected Clerk of Court who serves a four-year term. The Clerk of Court serves both the Circuit Court and the Family Court. The Clerks of Court are charged with docket management, receipt of fees, fines and costs, maintenance of all court records, and submission of reports to a variety of state and federal agencies.In-Circuit Court, the Clerk of Court is responsible for both criminal and civil matters, and some of these duties include receipt of criminal warrants and transmission to the solicitor, receipt of bail, compilation of trial lists, jury management, and staffing the courtroom while the court is in session.
Among the duties, a Clerk of Court is responsible for in Family Court are the collection and disbursement of court-ordered child support payments, issuance of Rules to Show Cause in cases where court orders have not been followed, and filing of Orders of Protection and transmittal of these orders to the appropriate local law enforcement agencies.
Dillon County Register of Deeds
The Clerk of Court also serves as the Register of Deeds, formerly called Register of Mesne Conveyances, in some counties. The Register of Deeds is responsible for recording all property transactions and records as required by state law. In some counties, the Register of Deeds is an elected or appointed position. The Register of Deeds position is a separate office from the Clerk of Court.
Circuit Court
In-Circuit Court, the Clerk of court is responsible for both criminal and civil matters, and some of these duties include receipt of criminal warrants and transmission to the solicitor, receipt of bail, compilation of trial lists, jury management, and staffing the courtroom while the court is in session.The State is divided into sixteen judicial circuits. Each circuit has at least one resident circuit judge who maintains an office in the judge’s home county within the circuit. There are forty-nine circuit judges who serve the sixteen circuits on a rotating basis, with court terms and assignments determined by the Chief Justice based upon recommendations of Court Administration. Circuit court judges are elected by the General Assembly. Dillon County is in the 4th Circuit which includes the following three judges.*Denotes, active retired judge.
| Hon. Brian M. Gibbons Phone: (803) 581-4115 Fax: (803) 581-3253 bgibbonssc@sccourts.org |
Hon. Paul M. Burch Phone: (843) 672-3270 Fax: (843) 672-5960 PBurchSC@sccourts.org |
Hon. Eugene P. Warr Jr Phone: (843) 398-4331 Fax: ewarrsc@sccourts.org |
Family Court
The uniform statewide Family Court system was established by statute in 1976. The Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all matters involving domestic or family relationships. Pursuant to this provision, the Family Court is the sole forum for the hearing of all cases concerning marriage, divorce, legal separation, custody, visitation rights, termination of parental rights, adoption, support, alimony, division of marital property, and change of name. The court also generally has exclusive jurisdiction over minors under the age of seventeen alleged to have violated any state law or municipal ordinance. Serious criminal charges may be transferred to the Circuit Court.At least two family court judges are elected for staggered six-year terms to each of the sixteen judicial circuits and rotate primarily from county to county within their resident circuits. Duties of the Clerk of Court in Family Court include:
- The collection and disbursement of court-ordered child support payments
- Issuance of Rules to Show Cause in cases where court orders have not been followed, and
- Filing of Orders of Protection and transmittal of these orders to the local law enforcement agencies.
- The Clerk also collects and disburses court-ordered child support payments.
| The Hon. James G. McGee, III 181 N. Irby St., Suite 2810 Florence, SC 29501 Phone: (843) 676-1219 Fax: (843) 676-1218 jmcgeesc@sccourts.org |
The Hon. Cely Anne Brigman Darlington County Courthouse 1 Public Square Darlington, SC 29532 Phone: (843) 398-4012 Fax: (843) 398-9877 cbrigmansc@sccourts.org |
Publications & Rulings Of Importance
This section of the Clerk to Court site will display downloadable links to rulings, publications, or opinions of importance to citizens of Dillon County. Click on the images to view or download.SC Assembly Boundary Law (2017)
New law enacted after North Carolina and South Carolina re-surveyed the boundary between the two states. As a border state this impacted some residents of Dillon County.
2017 Dillon County Public Hearing Notice North Carolina-South Carolina Boundary Survey
This public notice was issued to advise Dillon County citizens of results and impacts of the North Carolina – South Carolina re-survey of the border between the two states.