Florence Deed Records and Property Record Search
Florence deed records are maintained by the Florence County Clerk of Court, which handles all property recording for Florence County. Florence is the county seat of Florence County and the largest city in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, with a city population of approximately 38,000 residents. Unlike many South Carolina counties that have a separate Register of Deeds, Florence County uses the Clerk of Court as the recording authority for all real property instruments, including deeds, mortgages, plats, and liens. All property instruments for land within the City of Florence are recorded at this office, which serves as the single repository for Florence County deed records.
Florence Quick Facts
Where Florence Deed Records Are Filed
Florence deed records are filed with the Florence County Clerk of Court. Florence County does not have a separate Register of Deeds; the Clerk of Court performs all recording functions for real property instruments in the county. This office is the recording authority for all deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, UCC filings, and related instruments for land within Florence County, including all parcels in the City of Florence. As the county seat, Florence is where the Clerk of Court office is located and where all recording services are centralized.
The Florence County government website provides access to county offices and services including information about the Clerk of Court. The SC Land Records portal provides online access to Florence County recorded documents. The SC Property Checker for Florence County offers a compiled view of ownership data and deed history for Florence parcels. Florence is situated at the crossroads of major interstate highways and serves as the commercial hub for the Pee Dee region, generating a consistent volume of real estate activity and deed recordings.
| Office | Florence County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| County Website | florenceco.org |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
| City Website | cityofflorence.com |
| SC Land Records | sclandrecords.com |
The City of Florence official website provides city services and contact information for residents, while the Florence County Clerk of Court handles all property recording and deed record maintenance for the city and county.
The City of Florence official website is the primary resource for local government services, while all Florence deed records are filed and maintained at the Florence County Clerk of Court office.
How to Search Florence Deed Records Online
The SC Land Records portal is the primary free tool for searching Florence deed records. This state-supported system provides name-based searches, book-and-page lookups, and instrument-type filters for Florence County documents without requiring registration. The portal is the recommended starting point for most Florence property searches and is updated as new instruments are filed at the Clerk of Court.
The Florence County government website at florenceco.org provides links to county office resources including the Clerk of Court. For a compiled view of ownership history and property data, SC Property Checker for Florence County is a useful supplemental tool. The SCIWAY directory of South Carolina recording offices lists contact information for Florence County and all other counties in the state, confirming that the Clerk of Court serves as the recording authority in Florence. For historical Florence County records, the SC Department of Archives and History provides additional research resources.
The SC Judicial Branch Register of Deeds directory shown below provides a statewide reference for recording offices and confirms Florence County's use of the Clerk of Court for all deed recording functions.
The SC Judicial Branch Register of Deeds directory lists recording office types for all South Carolina counties, including Florence County where the Clerk of Court serves as the recording authority for all Florence deed records.
What Florence Deed Records Contain
Recorded deeds in Florence follow the requirements of South Carolina recording law under Title 30 of the state code. Each deed names the grantor and grantee with their addresses, includes a legal description of the property, states the consideration paid or exchanged, and carries the recording date and instrument number assigned at filing. Legal descriptions reference recorded Florence County plats or use metes and bounds notation. Tax map numbers are frequently included to link the deed to the county assessor's parcel records.
All Florence deeds executed after July 1, 1976 must include a derivation clause under Section 30-5-35 of the South Carolina Code. This clause identifies the prior instrument by which the grantor acquired title, maintaining the chain of ownership in Florence County records. The grantee's mailing address is required. Additional content commonly found in Florence deed records includes easements, subdivision covenants, rights-of-way, deed restrictions, and plat references. Mortgages recorded for Florence properties name the lender and describe the security interest and loan terms. Once filed at the Clerk of Court, all instruments become part of the permanent public record and provide constructive notice to future buyers and lenders in Florence County.
Recording Florence Property Documents
Recording a property instrument at the Florence County Clerk of Court requires compliance with Title 30, Chapter 5 of the South Carolina Code. Section 30-5-30 requires that all deeds be acknowledged before a notary public or authorized officer before recording. The grantor must sign in the notary's presence, and the notarial acknowledgment must appear on the document before it is submitted to the Clerk of Court for filing.
The deed recording fee under Section 12-24-10 is $1.85 per $500 of the property's stated value. Base page fees of $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 per additional page also apply. Documents must be original, legible, and formatted with a three-inch top margin on the first page for the recording stamp. Original signatures are required. Section 30-5-90 requires that submitted instruments be processed within 30 days of receipt. Liens on Florence properties are governed in part by Section 30-7-70. Contact the Florence County Clerk of Court to confirm current fees and submission procedures before recording instruments for Florence County parcels.
- Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
- Mortgages and deeds of trust
- Plats and subdivision maps
- Mechanics liens and tax liens
- UCC financing statements
- Powers of attorney affecting real property
Getting Copies of Florence Deed Records
Certified copies of Florence deed records are available from the Florence County Clerk of Court. Certified copies carry the official seal and signature of the Clerk and are accepted in legal proceedings, mortgage transactions, and title insurance matters. Standard photocopies are available at a lower per-page rate for reference purposes only. Requests may be submitted in person during regular business hours or by mail.
When requesting a document, provide the grantor and grantee names, the recording date, and the book and page number or instrument number if known. For mail requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for the applicable fees. Contact the Florence County Clerk of Court through the county website at florenceco.org to confirm current copy fees and any requirements for records requests before submitting. For very early historical instruments that may predate the Clerk's digital records, the SC Department of Archives and History is a supplemental resource for historical Florence County deed research.
Florence Property Record Resources
Florence deed records at the Florence County Clerk of Court are public records under S.C. Code Section 30-4-10. Any person may inspect or obtain copies of recorded instruments without providing a reason for the request. This open-access policy covers all instruments at the Clerk of Court regardless of instrument type or recording date. Property owners who find a Social Security number visible on a recorded document may request that the online version be redacted, while the physical record remains unchanged.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds historical land records for Florence County and the Pee Dee region that may supplement county records for older title research. The SC Archives provides online research tools that are accessible from home without a visit to the Columbia facility. For a comprehensive listing of all South Carolina recording offices, the SCIWAY county recording office directory provides contact details for Florence County and all 46 counties. Residents with questions about deed preparation, title transfers, or other real property matters should consult a qualified South Carolina real estate attorney, as the Clerk of Court staff cannot provide legal advice on property transactions.
Florence County Deed Records
Florence County uses the Clerk of Court as the recording authority for all deed records, serving the county seat and the largest city in the Pee Dee region. The Clerk of Court records all property instruments for the City of Florence and all other areas within Florence County. For a full overview of the Florence County recording system, fees, and online access tools, visit the Florence County deed records page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Residents of nearby cities file deed records at their county's recording office. Select a city to learn more.