Union County Deed Records and Property Document Access
Union County deed records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Union, South Carolina. Union County uses the Clerk of Court as its recording authority for all real property instruments, including land titles, mortgages, plats, and liens. Located in Upstate South Carolina, Union County is bordered by Cherokee, York, Spartanburg, Laurens, and Chester counties. Whether you need to search a current deed, review a chain of title, or locate a recorded lien, the Clerk of Court is the official custodian of these records. All instruments are open to the public under South Carolina law.
Union County Quick Facts
Where Union County Deed Records Are Kept
Union County deed records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in the county seat of Union. Several smaller South Carolina counties assign recording functions to the Clerk of Court rather than maintaining a separate Register of Deeds office. Union County follows this structure, meaning the Clerk of Court handles both court administration and the recording and custody of all real property instruments, including deeds, mortgages, plats, and liens. Every document filed with the Clerk becomes part of the permanent public record.
The Union County Government website provides contact information for county offices, including the Clerk of Court. The county seat of Union is the administrative center for all recording activity in the county. Researchers visiting in person will find deed index books, plat maps, and related instruments maintained within the courthouse. The Clerk's office can assist with identifying the correct index and directing researchers to the appropriate record books or digital tools available on-site.
| Office | Union County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Union, SC |
| Recording Function | Clerk of Court handles all recording |
| Website | unioncountysc.gov |
| Public Records | Yes |
The SCIWAY directory of South Carolina county Register of Deeds offices, shown below, provides a statewide reference that includes Union County and identifies the correct recording authority for every county in South Carolina.
The SCIWAY directory is a convenient reference for locating recording office contact information across all 46 South Carolina counties, including those like Union that use the Clerk of Court for deed recording.
Note: Union County does not have a separate Register of Deeds. All deed recording functions are performed by the Clerk of Court, and all inquiries about recorded instruments should be directed to that office.How to Search Union County Deed Records Online
Online access to Union County deed records is available through state-level search tools. The SC Land Records portal provides free public access to recorded instruments from participating South Carolina counties. Users can search by grantor or grantee name, book and page reference, or instrument type. Coverage for Union County may vary by date range, and some older records may need to be accessed in person at the Clerk of Court office in Union.
The SC Property Checker for Union County compiles property and deed record data into a searchable format that can help identify current owners, review transfer histories, and access parcel details. The SCIWAY directory at sciway.net lists the contact information for the Union County Clerk of Court alongside all other South Carolina recording offices, and is a helpful resource for quickly finding office hours and contact details.
Shown below is the SC Property Checker view for Union County, which organizes deed record data from the Clerk of Court into a publicly searchable interface.
Using online resources before visiting the courthouse can identify the specific instrument number or book and page reference needed for a records request.
What Union County Deed Records Contain
Recorded deeds in Union County include all elements required under South Carolina law. The grantor and grantee are identified by full name and address. A legal description of the property is required, either in metes and bounds or by reference to a recorded plat and lot number. The consideration, representing the stated value of the transfer, appears on most deeds. Upon filing, the Clerk of Court assigns an instrument number, book, and page reference that serve as the permanent record locators in the deed index.
Section 30-5-35 of the South Carolina Code requires that all deeds executed after July 1, 1976, include a derivation clause. This clause names the prior instrument or proceeding by which the grantor obtained title. The derivation clause ensures that Union County property records maintain a continuous and traceable ownership chain. The grantee's mailing address is also a required element. These requirements apply equally to deeds filed with the Clerk of Court in counties like Union as they do in counties with a separate Register of Deeds.
Additional content that may appear in Union County deed records includes easements, right-of-way grants, deed restrictions, and access rights. Tax map numbers are commonly cited to connect the deed to the county assessor's parcel database. Union County has a mix of older textile-era residential properties, agricultural tracts, and more recent residential development, and deed language varies accordingly across these different property types.
Note: Deed records in Union County may use older metes-and-bounds descriptions for rural and older residential parcels that predate the county's modern plat-based subdivision system.Documents Recorded in Union County
The Union County Clerk of Court records all instruments affecting real property within the county's boundaries. The office handles standard warranty and quitclaim deeds as well as mortgages, deeds of trust, plats, subdivision maps, mechanics liens, property tax liens, and UCC financing statements. Powers of attorney affecting real property and deeds of gift are also part of the recording system. The Clerk maintains a comprehensive index of all recorded instruments organized by party name and recording date.
Union County's recording volume reflects the county's size and economic activity. While not among the largest recording jurisdictions in the state, the Clerk's office maintains a complete and continuous record of all real property transactions within the county for the full period of the county's history.
- Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
- Mortgages and deeds of trust
- Plats and subdivision maps
- Mechanics liens and property tax liens
- UCC financing statements
- Powers of attorney affecting real property
- Deeds of gift and family conveyances
Union County Deed Records Recording Requirements
Recording requirements for Union County instruments follow Title 30, Chapter 5 of the South Carolina Code. Section 30-5-30 requires that every deed be acknowledged before a notary public or authorized officer before the Clerk of Court can accept it for recording. The acknowledgment confirms that the grantor executed the instrument voluntarily and that the signature is genuine. Instruments presented without proper acknowledgment will not be recorded.
The state deed stamp tax under Section 12-24-10 is $1.85 per $500 of the stated consideration. This fee is typically the grantor's responsibility. Per-page recording fees are also collected at the time of submission. Under Section 30-5-90, all submitted instruments must be recorded within 30 days of acceptance. Timely recording protects the grantee's interest and establishes priority over any subsequent purchaser or lienholder who may not have knowledge of the earlier transfer.
Lien priority and recording in Union County follow the rules established under Section 30-7-70. Recording with the Clerk of Court provides constructive notice to all future parties searching the title to Union County property. The date and time of recording determine the lien's position in the priority chain relative to other instruments on the same parcel.
Historical Union County Deed Records and Title Research
Union County was formed from the old Union District in the nineteenth century and has a recording history that reflects both its industrial textile heritage and its roots as an agricultural community. Land records for Union County extend back through the district-era system, and title researchers working on older parcels may need to trace ownership through Union District records that predate the current county system. The area's textile history has also left a legacy of mill village properties and industrial land holdings that appear in the deed record archive.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History maintains historical land grant records, colonial-era plats, and early district instruments for the Union County area. These materials are accessible online through the SCDAH's research portal and are an essential resource for genealogical and title research involving older Union County properties. The SCDAH collections provide access to instruments that predate the county's formal recording system and are needed to trace ownership back beyond the nineteenth century.
Union County's rural character means that many older land parcels have been held within the same family for generations, with ownership transfers often occurring through estate proceedings, family deeds, or informal instruments that were recorded at intervals over many decades. Researchers constructing a chain of title for an older Union County parcel may need to review both the deed index and the probate court records held separately by the county to get a complete ownership history.
Note: For Union County parcels with long family ownership histories, probate records may be essential for tracing title transfers that occurred through estate proceedings rather than recorded deeds.Certified Copies and Fees in Union County
Certified copies of Union County deed records can be obtained from the Clerk of Court in person or by mail. Certified copies carry the official seal and are accepted in legal proceedings, title work, and estate matters. Standard uncertified copies are also available at a lower per-page fee. Contact the Clerk of Court before visiting or submitting a mail request to confirm the current fee schedule and accepted payment methods, as fees are subject to change.
When requesting a document, providing the grantor and grantee names, the recording date, and the book and page reference will help office staff locate the record promptly. For older records without a full index reference, a property description and approximate date range are helpful. Mail requests should include a return envelope, the specific document information, and payment in the form accepted by the Clerk of Court.
Public Access to Union County Property Records
Deed records in Union County are public records. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Section 30-4-10 guarantees any person the right to inspect or obtain copies of public documents held by the Clerk of Court. No reason or justification is required to request deed records. This open-access policy applies equally to all filed instruments, including both current records and older historical documents that predate the electronic index system.
South Carolina law allows individuals whose Social Security numbers appear on a recorded document displayed online to request that the Clerk of Court redact the number from the publicly visible digital copy. The physical record on file is not changed, but the online version will be updated so that the Social Security number no longer appears in any publicly accessible display. This protection applies to all recording parties in Union County and throughout the state.
Nearby Counties
Union County is bordered by Cherokee, York, Spartanburg, Laurens, and Chester counties in Upstate South Carolina, each maintaining their own deed record systems.