Greenwood County Property Records Access
Greenwood County property records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Greenwood, South Carolina. The Clerk records and indexes all real estate instruments filed in the county, including deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, and other documents affecting real property. Greenwood County is located in the western Piedmont region of South Carolina, and its property records reflect a mix of residential, commercial, and agricultural land use. The Clerk's office is the official source for verified property information in Greenwood County.
Greenwood County Property Records - Quick Facts
Greenwood County Clerk of Court
Greenwood County handles all property recording through the Clerk of Court. Under Section 30-5-10 of the South Carolina Code, Greenwood County is not among the counties designated to maintain a separate Register of Deeds. All recording functions belong to the Clerk. This office maintains the official public record of all real property instruments filed in Greenwood County.
The Clerk of Court office is located in Greenwood, the county seat. Staff there can help you search for recorded documents, retrieve copies, and answer questions about the recording process. The index is searchable by grantor and grantee name. Each recorded instrument is assigned a reel and page number that identifies it in the county's system. After a document is recorded, the original is returned to the submitting party. Digital images and microfilm remain on file permanently.
| Office |
Greenwood County Clerk of Court P.O. Box 1006 Greenwood, SC 29648 Phone: (864) 942-8541 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | greenwoodcounty-sc.gov |
The official Greenwood County website at greenwoodcounty-sc.gov provides general county government information. For specific information on recording procedures, current fees, and document requirements, contact the Clerk of Court directly at (864) 942-8541.
Recording Office Overview
The Greenwood County Clerk of Court serves as the official custodian of property records for the county.
The Greenwood County Clerk of Court serves as the official custodian of all real property instruments for the county and provides information about recording services online.
The Clerk records every real property instrument filed in the county in the order it is received. Under Section 30-5-90, each instrument must be recorded within thirty days of being lodged with the office. The Clerk assigns a sequential number to each document, creating a time-ordered index that establishes priority among competing instruments. This recording system is the foundation of clear property title in Greenwood County.
Document Requirements for Recording
Before any deed, mortgage, or other instrument can be recorded in Greenwood County, it must comply with Section 30-5-30. This requires proper acknowledgment before a notary public or other officer authorized to administer oaths, or proof by affidavit of a subscribing witness. Bring a fully executed and notarized document to the Clerk's office along with the correct recording fee.
Deeds executed after July 1, 1976 must include a derivation clause as required by Section 30-5-35. This clause states how the grantor acquired the property. The mailing address of the grantee must also appear on the deed. Both requirements apply regardless of the property's value or the type of deed. Missing either element can cause a document to be returned unfiled.
Common instruments recorded with the Greenwood County Clerk of Court include:
- General warranty deeds and limited warranty deeds
- Quitclaim deeds
- Mortgages and deeds of trust
- Releases and satisfactions of mortgage
- Plats and boundary surveys
- Judgment and mechanic's liens
- Powers of attorney for real estate transactions
Fees for Recording Greenwood County Property Documents
Greenwood County follows the statewide deed recording fee administered by the South Carolina Department of Revenue. The fee is $1.85 for every $500 of the property's stated value, starting with transactions of $100 to $500. The Clerk collects the fee at the time of recording. The state portion of $1.30 per $500 is remitted monthly through the MyDORWAY electronic filing system by the 20th of the following month.
Greenwood County retains $0.55 of the $1.85 fee for each $500 increment. In addition to the deed recording fee, all instruments are subject to a $15 first-page recording fee. Pages beyond the first carry a lower per-page charge. The total cost to record a deed in Greenwood County depends on the property's value and the number of pages in the instrument.
Note: Some transfers may qualify for exemptions from the deed recording fee, including transfers to government entities and certain family transfers. Consult an attorney or the SCDOR guidance before assuming your transaction is exempt.
Searching Greenwood County Property Records
The SC Land Records portal provides an online index of recorded documents for many South Carolina counties, potentially including Greenwood County. You can search by grantor or grantee name to find recorded instruments. The portal returns the document type, parties, recording date, and instrument number. Use that information to request copies from the Clerk of Court.
The SC Land Records portal offers an online index of recorded documents for many South Carolina counties, including Greenwood, allowing name-based searches from any internet connection.
In person, the Clerk of Court office in Greenwood provides public access to the index and document images. Staff can assist you in locating instruments using the grantor-grantee index. If you are researching older records, staff can help you navigate the finding aids for historical deed books and microfilm.
Court records related to Greenwood County property, including foreclosures, judgments, and lis pendens filings, are available through the SC Judicial Branch public index. These are separate from property records but critical for a full title examination. Check both systems when researching the status of Greenwood County real estate.
Greenwood County Property Assessment
The Greenwood County Assessor's Office values all real property in the county for ad valorem taxation. Under Title 12, Chapter 37, the assessment ratio for owner-occupied primary residences is 4% of fair market value. Investment properties, commercial land, and second homes are assessed at 6%. Agricultural land may qualify for the 4% rate with proper documentation filed with the Assessor.
South Carolina law requires countywide reassessments every five years. Between reassessments, Act 388 limits the increase in taxable value to no more than 15% for property that has not sold or transferred. When property changes hands, the ATI provision applies. The Assessor places the property on the tax rolls at full fair market value beginning the year after the transfer. Buyers in Greenwood County should contact the Assessor's Office before closing to get an estimate of taxes after the ATI adjustment takes effect.
Homeowners who purchase in Greenwood County as their primary residence must apply for legal residence status to receive the 4% assessment ratio. The application is filed with the Assessor's Office. Submit the application as soon as possible after purchase to ensure the reduced rate applies beginning with the next tax year. The 4% rate provides significant savings compared to the default 6% rate applied to property without a legal residence designation.
Historical Records and State Archives
Greenwood County was established in 1897 from parts of Abbeville and Edgefield counties. Property records before 1897 are found in Abbeville County's Clerk of Court and Edgefield County's Clerk of Court. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds historical records covering the region before county formation, including colonial plat books, state land grants, and early survey records.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds colonial plat books, state land grants, and pre-county-formation records essential for researching Greenwood County ownership history before 1897.
The SC Archives maintains the Surveyor General's records, including Colonial Plat Books from 1731 through 1775 and State Plat Books from 1784 through 1868. These volumes document the original land grants that form the foundation of title in the area that is now Greenwood County. For research into historical ownership, the archives provide access to records that predate county formation and fill gaps in the local record set.
The South Carolina property tax statutes in Title 12 establish the framework for assessment and taxation that the Greenwood County Assessor follows. Understanding both the recording system and the tax system is helpful for anyone buying, selling, or researching real estate in Greenwood County.
Nearby Counties
Greenwood County borders Abbeville, Laurens, Saluda, Edgefield, and McCormick counties. Confirm which county holds the records for any property near a county boundary.