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The small-claims court in Beaufort County handles money disputes up to $7,500, with simplified procedures built for people without a lawyer.
Below is what you need for a small claims case in Beaufort County: the limit, filing fees, which courthouse to use, how to serve the other side, your deadlines, and how to file. When you're ready, Squabble prepares everything and files it for you.
Small claims are split between several hub courthouses across Beaufort County. The court assigns a case by ZIP code, following the defendant or the events.
Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.
Locations change. The court publishes its current small-claims address on its own page; Squabble confirms the courthouse for your case when you file.
About 201,775 people live in Beaufort County. Beaufort County covers 20 ZIP codes, including the Beaufort, Bluffton and Dale areas.
This court takes small-claims filings on paper, in person or by mail. Squabble prepares everything so your packet arrives filing-ready.
Small claims are heard at the courthouse, in person.
Two sets of evidence are needed, one for the judge and one for the other side, and some courts also take it electronically in advance.
In Beaufort County, South Carolina, small claims cases are heard in the South Carolina Magistrates Court, which handles claims up to $7,500. The county has a population of 201,775 and includes communities such as Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, Port Royal, Saint Helena Island, Daufuskie Island, Okatie, Sheldon, Dale, Lobeco, Seabrook, and Parris Island, covering ZIP codes including 29902, 29906, 29910, 29920, 29926, and 29940. Two locations serve county residents. The Beaufort County Magistrate Court sits at 102 Ribaut Road in Beaufort, 29902, and can be reached at (843) 255-5700. The Bluffton Magistrate Court (Beaufort County, Circuit 14) is located at 4819 Bluffton Parkway, 2nd Floor, in Bluffton, 29910-4638, with the telephone number (843) 255-5610. Electronic filing is not available in this county, so filings are handled in paper form at the courthouse. Beaufort County lies near Jasper County, Colleton County, and Hampton County, each of which maintains its own magistrate court locations.
More than one location takes small claims here. The court matches a case to a location by address.
Beaufort County covers these 12 towns and cities:
Beaufort, Bluffton, Dale, Daufuskie Island, Hilton Head Island, Lobeco, Okatie, Parris Island, Port Royal, Saint Helena Island, Seabrook, Sheldon.
ZIP codes:
Beaufort County holds about 201,775 people, 10th of the 46 counties in South Carolina. From Beaufort, Beaufort County Magistrate Court is roughly 13 miles from the Jasper County courthouse in Hardeeville and 16 miles from the Colleton County courthouse in Walterboro.
Neighbouring counties and the courts that serve them:
The small claims track exists for routine money disputes: fewer formalities, and a cap on what can be claimed.
Maximum claim
Venue follows the defendant: their county, not the county of the dispute.
A single argument stays a single case; it cannot be carved up to fit the limit.
Judgments take the form of money owed; other kinds of relief are heard elsewhere.
South Carolina allows attorneys at the hearing, but none is required. The procedures are designed for self-representation.
A claim involving a minor is brought by a court-appointed guardian.
This state requires notarized filing documents. Squabble prepares them notarization-ready.
This state expects your supporting evidence to be submitted with the filing, not just brought to the hearing.
Over the limit? Two routes exist: reduce the claim to the cap and stay here, or take the full sum to regular civil court. Reducing it normally forfeits the difference.
They are the same across all 20 Beaufort County ZIP codes, from 29901 onward. Beaufort County is under the same limits as nearby Jasper County and Colleton County.
Debts up to $7,500 belong in this court. These are the arguments people bring most frequently.
Beaufort County takes in Beaufort, Bluffton and Dale and the rest of the county. Beaufort County has about 201,775 residents.
It's built to be navigable without a lawyer. Here's the shape of a case from start to finish.
Fill in the claim, pick the courthouse that covers the dispute, and pay what the court charges.
Papers are delivered to the defendant, who may answer them or settle the matter first.
The hearing is informal and quick, sometimes by video, and the judge decides on the spot or sends the outcome later.
This is the route a Beaufort County case takes, whether it starts in 29901 or anywhere else among the county ZIP codes. Beaufort County Magistrate Court lists (843) 255-5700 as its number.
After you file, the other party must be formally notified. This is called service of process. You generally cannot serve the papers yourself. Courts in South Carolina generally rely on the sheriff or constable, email service where the court allows it, delivery arranged by the court, personal delivery by an approved server or certified mail.
The options usually include a sheriff or constable, a licensed process server, certified mail sent by the clerk, or any adult with no stake in the case. What is allowed, and what it costs, differs from county to county.
Courts set their own cut-off for how many days before the hearing notice must land. The clerk gives you that date along with the hearing date. Service within 10 days. Proof of service before hearing.
A completed proof of service records who delivered the papers and when, and it is filed with the court beforehand.
Service is where many self-filed cases stall. Squabble can coordinate professional Service of Process so it's done correctly and on time.
Addresses in Beaufort County include places such as Beaufort, Bluffton and Dale. A Beaufort County address carries one of its 20 ZIP codes, 29901, 29902 and 29903 among them.
You have a limited window to file, measured from when the dispute arose. File after it closes and your claim can be barred.
| Claim type | Deadline to file |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 3 years |
| Oral contract | 3 years |
| Property damage | 3 years |
| Personal injury | 3 years |
They do not change from one Beaufort County ZIP code to another, 29901 included. Beaufort County, population about 201,775, is covered by the table above.
Money owed under a contract in South Carolina generally accrues interest at 8.75% per year before judgment (S.C. Code §34-31-20).
A running total including interest can be worked out with the Squabble interest calculator.
The rate above is the one for Beaufort County, population about 201,775. Beaufort County is under the same state rate as nearby Jasper County and Colleton County.
Two checks first: the amount must fall within the ceiling, and the claim must still be in time.
State the party's full legal name, explain the events, and set out the calculation.
File at the Beaufort County hub courthouse for your dispute's ZIP code, or on paper, by mail or at the counter, and pay the $45 fee (or request a waiver if you qualify).
Once the court fixes a date, have the papers served and return the proof of service to the file.
Sort the documents and exhibits in advance so they can be handed up in order.
Attend, in the courtroom or by video where the court allows it, put your case, and hear the ruling.
Tell Eleanor what happened and Squabble builds the filing, Triple-Checks™ it for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files it on your behalf.
Start for FREE →A claim form opens the case, a proof of service records that notice was given, and a fee waiver applies where you qualify. Titles differ between courts, and Squabble uses the ones your courthouse expects.
Beaufort County has a population of about 201,775. Beaufort County takes in filings from 20 ZIP codes, 29901 first in the list.
Expect a short, informal hearing in which the judge asks the questions. Most people present their own case.
Beaufort, Bluffton and Dale are among the Beaufort County places a hearing can draw parties from. Beaufort County has about 201,775 residents.
The ruling establishes the debt. Recovery is a further step, supported by enforcement measures that are set by each state.
Some states permit part of the debtor's wages to be diverted to the judgment until it is cleared.
A court-ordered levy allows funds to be taken from the debtor's bank account.
Recording the judgment with the county can place a lien on the debtor's real property.
Courts can also summon the debtor to answer questions about income and property under oath. Until the balance is paid, interest usually continues to run at the statutory rate.
A Beaufort County judgment comes from one of its 2 listed courthouses. Beaufort, Bluffton and Dale are among the Beaufort County places a judgment debtor may live in.
Information reviewed August 2026. Courts change fees, limits and procedures, so check the current details before filing.
Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares your demand letter and court-ready documents, Triple-Checks them for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your Beaufort County case for you.
