Magistrates

General Information

Please allow five days from the issuance of a Uniform Traffic Ticket to be processed.

Traffic tickets may be paid with money orders, certified checks or cashiers checks, made payable to the court, or credit cards (Master Card, Visa, and Discover) or with cash. Credit cards must be in the name of the person presenting the card for payment. Identification will be required. THE COURTS DO NOT ACCEPT PERSONAL CHECKS.

The Anderson County Summary Court Judges (Magistrates) have countywide jurisdiction and are committed to assisting the citizens of Anderson County. Magistrate’s offices are located throughout Anderson County to serve your area. Please see the Summary Court Judges Directory for contact information.

All Summary courts are under the guidance of the South Carolina Court Administration. Each county has a chief magistrate appointed by the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Magistrates issue arrest warrants, search warrants, bench Warrants, set bonds, and hear criminal, traffic, and civil cases, as well as preliminary hearings.

Generally, traffic and criminal jurisdiction of magistrates involve cases with a maximum fine of $500 and/or 30 days in jail. Assessments and court costs may be added to this $500 fine. In some specific cases, the fine or jail time may be more.

Magistrates civil jurisdiction is limited to $7,500 or less and may include such matters as:

- - Summons and complaints (small claims) – The plaintiff may combine as many claims as the plaintiff has against a defendant in one case and may sue more than one defendant in one case if the claim involves all of the defendants. In a short and plain written manner, the complaint should state the facts constituting the cause of action, i.e., what the plaintiff claims and why the claim is made. The defendant’s answer may deny in total or in part any or all of the material allegations made in the plaintiff’s complaint and/or allege any new matter constituting a defense and also a notice, in a plain and direct manner, a counterclaim.
  - Landlord/tenant actions – A landlord may bring an action of ejectment against a tenant in these situations: (1) when the tenant fails or refuses to pay the rent when due, (2) when the term of tenancy or occupancy ends, or (3) when the terms or conditions of the lease are violated. Once an action for ejectment is begun for failure to pay rent, the landlord is under no obligation to accept past rent if offered by the tenant.
  - A Notice to Quit the Premises; Summary Ejectment of Trespassers – may be used to remove a person from the premises when there is no landlord/tenant relationship. Examples that could be used would include the following: 1) an ex-lover who will not leave the premises; 2) an adult son or daughter who refuses to leave the parent’s home; 3) a girlfriend who owns a house and wants to evict the boyfriend.

Personal service on the defendant is required:

- - Sales of abandoned property – An owner of any storage place or repair shop who stores or repairs any property or furnishes any material for repairs has a lien on that property in the amount of the bill for storage or repairs. At public sale, a party petitioning the court under this statute must place a minimum bid of $1.00 on the article being sold. If no higher bid is offered, the article must be awarded to that party at no cost.
  - Claim and delivery. – When the recovery of personal property is desired, the plaintiff may institute an action of claim and delivery along with the action that will ultimately determine ownership of the personal property.

Additionally, magistrates may also issue:

- - Emergency Orders of Protection when Family Court is not in Session—A person shall file with a magistrate during nonbusiness hours or at other times when the Family Court is not in Session and allows a household member to seek a restraining order against a spouse, former spouses, persons who have a child in common, or a male and female who are cohabiting or have formerly cohabited.
  - Restraining Orders—Any person may seek a restraining order against an individual who is engaged in harassment or stalking. The person seeking an order must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant has been engaged in harassment or stalking.

Magistrates provide these services in different areas of the county for the convenience of the citizens. For these services, citizens would see the Magistrate in the area in which the person lives that they are attempting to take to court. The public must contact their local law enforcement agency for an arrest warrant.

ABSOLUTELY NO WEAPONS ARE TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE BUILDING. You may be subject to search or scanning devices.

When appearing in court, please dress appropriately for the courtroom. Inappropriate attire includes hats, tank tops, shorts, flip-flops, etc. Electronic devices such as cellphones, pagers, and computers must be set on silent mode or turned off completely. Summary courts are not designed for children. If you are involved in a court proceeding, please arrange for another caretaker to stay with your children.

Courts

Civil Court

Magistrate Courts, also referred to as Summary Court or Small Claims Court, in Anderson County have countywide jurisdiction of civil matters involving claims that are $7,500 or less. The Civil Division of Magistrate Courts handles matters of summons and complaint (small claims), claim and delivery (repossession of personal property), landlord-tenant actions, judicial sales (vehicles, mobile homes, trailers), contract actions, restraining orders under the harassment and stalking statute, emergency Orders of Protections when Family Court is NOT in session and interpleader actions. Magistrate Courts do not settle real property disputes and civil matters involving amounts greater than $7500.00.

Persons appearing in Magistrate’s Court are entitled to a trial by Judge or a trial by jury upon proper request. Magistrates are empowered to summon juries and conduct jury trials.

Civil Filings accepted Monday – Friday until 4:30 PM

Traffic Court

Anderson County has a central Traffic Court located in the Ronnie Townsend Building, 2404 N Main St, Anderson SC. Traffic cases initiated by the SC Highway Patrol (SCHP), Anderson Country Sheriff Office (ACSO), and State Transport Police are heard in this court.

Pay ticket by MAIL: We accept money orders, cashiers checks, and certified checks payable to Summary Court, 2404 N. Main Street, Anderson SC 29621. Please enclose a copy of your citation or the ticket number (located in the lower right hand corner), court date, and officer on your money order. If you would like your receipt mailed to you, you will need to enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for that purpose.

Pay ticket IN PERSON: You can pay your ticket in person by cash, money order, certified check, or cashier’s check. Summary Court also accepts credit card payments (Visa, Master Card, and Discover.) You will need to be the cardholder to use a credit card. Identification will be required. Only $1.00 will be accepted in coins. Debit cards are accepted, but NO personal checks.

Pay ticket ONLINE: Payment processing may take up to 3 business days to post in the Trial Court office. If you are making an online payment for a ticket that has suspended your driver’s license, the Notice of Withdrawal of Suspension (DL-53) will be mailed to you when payment is posted. Please call Summary Court at 864.260.4156 to update your address if you pay online. We need the updated address to mail the DL-53 (Withdrawal of Suspension). We do not send faxes to the DMV.

Criminal Court

Most types of criminal cases that fall within Magistrate’s Court jurisdiction involves cases with a maximum fine of $500, plus fees and assessments, and/or 30 days in jail. In some cases S.C. Law gives a Magistrate jurisdiction where the punishment is more than 30 days in jail and a fine of more than $500. Persons appearing in Magistrate’s Court are entitled to a trial by Judge or a jury trial after one has been requested. Magistrates are empowered to summon juries and conduct jury trials.

Locations

Anderson County Summary Court & Central Traffic Court

Address:
2404 North Main Street
Anderson, SC 29621

Phone Numbers:
864.260.4156 or 864.260.4055

Fax Number:
864.260.4144

Office Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 pm – 5:00 pm

*Civil Filings Accepted Monday – Friday until 4:30 pm*

Criminal Bond Court: Tuesday at 9 am

Sheriff’s Deputy Court: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday

SC Highway Patrol Court: Monday through Thursday

State Transport Police Court: 1st & 2nd Tuesday of month

County Ordinance Court: Last Monday of the month

Hon. William D. Sharp, Chief Judge

Hon. S. Matthew Lollis, Associate Chief Judge

Hon. Wynée Eubanks

Hon. Carey B. Murphy

Hon. Stacy Blair

Hon. Anne J. Thayer

Hon. Jill S. McDonald

Anderson County Bond Court

Physical Address:
2404 North Main Street
Anderson, SC 29621

Phone: 864.231.3119 | Fax: 864.231.3118

Bonding Hours:
Daily 6:30 am & 4:00 pm

Judge: Hon. Ronald Gambrell

Judge: Hon. J. Wesley White

Belton Summary Court

Belton Summary Court is currently vacant and not accepting civil filings until a replacement is made.

If you need to file civil paperwork, please visit the Williamston Summary Court or Honea Path Summary Court for assistance.

All pending cases have been transferred to Anderson Summary Court.

Physical Address:
Belton City Hall
306 Anderson Street
Belton, SC 29627

Phone Number: 864.338.5810 | Fax: 864.338.7495

Office Hours:
Monday & Tuesday 8:30 am-2:00 pm
Wednesday 8:30 am-3:00 pm
Thursday 8:30 am-1:00 pm

Friday – Closed

Criminal Bond Court:
Tuesday at 9:00 am

Judge: Vacant

Pendleton Summary Court

Physical Address:
2404 North Main St
Anderson, SC 29621

Mailing Address:
2404 North Main St
Anderson, SC 29621

Phone Number: 864-260-4156 | Fax: 864-260-4144

Office Hours:
Criminal: Monday – Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm
Civil: Monday – Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Honea Path Summary Court

Physical Address:
204 South Main Street
Honea Path, SC 29624

Phone Number: 864.260.1096 | Fax: 864.231.3131

Office Hours:
Monday – Thursday
8:30 am-2:00 pm

Friday – Closed

Criminal Bond Court:
Monday at 10:00 am

Judge: Hon. J. Darrell Green, Jr

Powdersville-Piedmont Summary Court

Physical Address:
4 Civic Court
Easley, SC 29642

Mailing Address:
PO Box 51312
Piedmont, SC 29673

Phone Number: 864.269.5947 | Fax: 864.269.5952

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 am-12:00 pm
1:00 pm-5:00 pm

*Closed for lunch from 12pm to 1pm

Criminal Bond Court:
Tuesday or Wednesday at 2:00 pm

Judge: Hon. S. Thompson Tucker

Starr-Iva Summary Court

Physical Address:
7725 Highway 81 South
Starr, SC 29684

Phone Number: 864.231.3149| Fax: 864.231.3161

OFFICE HOURS BEGINNING AUGUST 1ST, 2025:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8 am – 4 pm
Tuesday 8:30 am – 5 pm
Thursday 8:30 am – 4 pm

*No filings after 3:30pm

UPCOMING OFFICE CLOSURES:

August 8, 2025 CLOSED

August 22, 2025 CLOSED

September 3, 2025 – September 6, 2025 CLOSED

September 16, 2025 – CLOSING AT 3PM

Judge: Hon. Linda C. Dudley-Graham

Williamston Summary Court

Physical Address:
12 West Main Street
Williamston, SC 29697

Phone Number: 864.847.5560 | Fax: 833.609.0695

Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday
8:30 am-4:30 pm

Friday – Closed

Criminal Bond Court:
Wednesday at 10:00 am

Judge: Hon. Mary Frances Cole

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Countywide Jurisdiction

Magistrates

Countywide Jurisdiction

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General Information

Courts

Civil Court

Traffic Court

Criminal Court

Magistrates Civil Jurisdiction Resources

Locations

Anderson County Summary Court & Central Traffic Court

Anderson County Bond Court

Belton Summary Court

Pendleton Summary Court

Honea Path Summary Court

Powdersville-Piedmont Summary Court

Starr-Iva Summary Court

Williamston Summary Court

Hon. William D. Sharp

Office Address

Hon. S. Matthew Lollis

Office Address