Find Property Records in Allendale County
Allendale County property records are kept by the Clerk of Court, which serves as the recording office for all land documents in the county. The Clerk of Court records deeds, mortgages, plats, and other instruments that affect real property in Allendale County. Allendale was formed in 1919 from parts of Barnwell and Hampton counties. The Clerk of Court office is located at P.O. Box 7, Allendale, SC 29810 and can be reached at (803) 584-2737.
Allendale County Quick Facts
Allendale County Recording Office
Section 30-5-10 of the South Carolina Code of Laws designates that in counties not listed as having a separate Register of Deeds, the duties of recording real property documents fall to the Clerk of Court. Allendale County is one of those counties. The Clerk of Court handles all recording functions, including receiving documents, collecting fees, assigning book and page numbers, scanning instruments, and indexing them for public access.
The image below is from the official Allendale County government website, which provides contact details for the Clerk of Court and other county offices.
The county website at allendalecounty.com is the place to start for information on accessing Allendale County records and county services.
| Office |
Allendale County Clerk of Court P.O. Box 7 Allendale, SC 29810 Phone: (803) 584-2737 |
|---|---|
| Website | allendalecounty.com |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
Allendale County Property Records Departments
Several offices within Allendale County government maintain records related to real property. The Clerk of Court handles deed and mortgage recordings. The Tax Assessor maintains property classification and valuation data. The Treasurer handles tax payments and delinquency records. Each office keeps distinct records, and a complete picture of any property may require visiting or contacting more than one department.
The image below is from the Allendale County Departments page, which lists all county offices and their contact information.
Contact information for each county department is available on the county's departments page, including the offices most relevant to property records and assessments.
Searching Allendale County Property Records
Allendale County does not have a standalone online search system for property records at this time. The primary way to access recorded documents is by visiting the Clerk of Court office in person during business hours. When you arrive, staff can search the index by grantor name, grantee name, or document reference. Having the property's tax map parcel number speeds the process considerably.
The statewide SC Land Records portal may provide indexed access to some Allendale County documents. This portal covers multiple South Carolina counties and is worth checking before you plan a trip to the courthouse. The index includes party names and short legal descriptions for recorded instruments.
Note: Call the Clerk of Court at (803) 584-2737 before visiting to confirm which records are available and what search options are currently offered.
Property Documents Recorded in Allendale County
The Allendale County Clerk of Court records all types of real property instruments. Deeds convey ownership and are the most searched documents in any county recording system. Mortgages and deeds of trust reflect lender security interests. Plats show parcel boundaries as established by a licensed surveyor. Mechanic's liens protect those who have provided labor or materials on a property when payment is disputed.
Additional instruments recorded in Allendale County include releases and satisfactions of mortgages, assignments of mortgages to new lenders, powers of attorney used in real estate transactions, and easements. Recorded documents are assigned a sequential book and page reference. This reference is the best identifier to use when requesting copies of specific instruments.
Recording Requirements for Allendale County Deeds
South Carolina recording law applies uniformly across all 46 counties. Before any deed or instrument in writing can be recorded, it must meet the requirements of Section 30-5-30. The document must be acknowledged by the grantor before a notary public or other officer authorized to administer oaths, or proved by the affidavit of a subscribing witness.
Section 30-5-35 requires a derivation clause in the legal description of all deeds and mortgages. This clause identifies where the grantor received title. The mailing address of the grantee or mortgagee must also appear on the document. Failure to include either element can prevent recording.
Documents submitted to the Allendale County Clerk of Court should have a clean three-inch top margin on the first page. Recording fees are $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. The state deed recording fee is $1.85 per $500 of property value, administered by the South Carolina Department of Revenue. Under Section 30-5-90, the Clerk of Court must record accepted documents within 30 days.
Allendale County Property Tax Assessment
The Allendale County Tax Assessor values all real property in the county for ad valorem tax purposes. Assessment ratios under Title 12, Chapter 37 of the South Carolina Code are 4% for owner-occupied homes and agricultural property, and 6% for other real estate including commercial and investment properties.
State law requires a countywide reassessment every five years. During a reassessment, the Assessor reappraises all properties to current market value. Between cycles, Act 388 of 2006 limits taxable value increases to 15% for properties that have not transferred. If a property sells or otherwise transfers in a qualifying transaction, an Assessable Transfer of Interest (ATI) occurs. After an ATI, the property's assessed value is updated to full fair market value in the following tax year, without waiting for the next scheduled reassessment.
Historical Allendale County Property Records
Allendale County was created in 1919 from portions of Barnwell and Hampton counties. This relatively recent formation means that property records for land now in Allendale County that pre-date 1919 may exist in the archives of either Barnwell County or Hampton County. The Barnwell County records go back considerably further, with deed records dating to the late 1700s.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History maintains historical property records for all 46 counties, including deed books, plat records, and land grant documents. For Allendale County, the archives hold records from the county's formation forward, as well as records from its predecessor counties. Researchers tracing title chains that extend before 1919 will need to look at both Barnwell District and Hampton County records at the state archives.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch also maintains court records that can affect property title, including foreclosure proceedings and estate matters handled through the Master-in-Equity and Probate courts.
South Carolina Land Records and Online Access
The SC Land Records portal offers a centralized index for property records across South Carolina. The portal was created to help the public find relevant documents without contacting each county individually. Documents are indexed by party name and include a short legal description of the property.
In the SC Land Records system, documents are assigned a sequential identifying number known as the reel and page number. County offices scan recorded instruments into their systems and make the resulting images available for viewing at public access terminals. The SC Land Records portal connects users to these county systems from a single statewide entry point.
Note: Availability of Allendale County records through the SC Land Records portal depends on which years and document types the county has digitized and made available online.
Nearby Counties
Allendale County borders several other counties in the southern part of South Carolina. If the property you are researching is close to a county line, the recorded documents may be in a neighboring county's files.