SC · Resolve a warrant

How do I resolve a warrant and turn myself in in South Carolina?

Commercial bail available

You have options. Here is the calm, step-by-step way to resolve a warrant in South Carolina and turn yourself in on your own terms.

Last verified 2026-07-23Release Commercial bailJurisdiction South Carolina

The path to resolving a warrant in South Carolina

You do not have to wait to be caught off guard. This is the ordered, on-your-own-terms way to handle it — each step points to an official source.

Step 1

Confirm the warrant and identify the issuing court

Contact the clerk of the magistrate, municipal, or general sessions court in the county where the charge is, or the county sheriff's warrants division, to confirm a bench or arrest warrant and to get the case or warrant number, the charge, and any scheduled date. Some sheriffs, such as Charleston County, also run an online warrant search.
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Step 2

Ask the court about recalling or lifting a bench / failure-to-appear warrant

South Carolina magistrate and municipal courts issue many bench warrants for missed appearances or unpaid fines. For such a warrant, ask the clerk how that court re-sets the matter and how the warrant can be lifted; filing a motion to recall or quash the warrant is one available procedural option. This is noted only as an option, not as a recommended strategy. In South Carolina, the warrant this applies to is typically a bench warrant / failure-to-appear (FTA) warrant — issued by a magistrate, municipal, or circuit judge for a missed appearance, unpaid fine, or violation of a court order, and only the court that issued it can recall or re-set it.
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Step 3

Arrange to surrender through the sheriff's warrants division

Depending on the warrant and the court's instructions, you may resolve it by appearing in court or by surrendering at the county detention center through the sheriff's warrants division. Call ahead to confirm the correct location, hours, and procedure before going. In South Carolina, this is a matter of timing, not a legal outcome. Missed appearances or unpaid fines in magistrate/municipal cases can escalate, and failure to pay certain traffic tickets can lead to a driver's-license suspension.
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Step 4

Bond hearing before a magistrate or municipal judge follows

After booking you are generally brought before a magistrate or municipal judge for a bond hearing on bailable offenses. The judge may set a personal-recognizance bond (no money) or a surety bond. A surety bond can be posted as cash with the court or through a licensed bondsman, whose premium is capped by statute.
Official source

Turning yourself in on your own terms in South Carolina

Addressing a warrant on your own terms means choosing the timing and location within the court's procedures, typically during regular court or jail-intake business hours, rather than being taken into custody unexpectedly during a traffic stop or at home or work. This is a logistical consideration about timing and preparation only and does not predict any legal result.

What to bring

A valid government-issued photo ID
Any court paperwork, citation, or the case or warrant number you have
If a surety bond may be set, funds to post cash with the court or to pay a licensed bondsman's statutorily capped fee
A written list of any medications you take
Contact information for a family member or friend who can help
Do not bring weapons, drugs, or other prohibited items into a court or jail

What to expect

Expect booking (fingerprints, photograph, and a records check) and a bond hearing before a magistrate or municipal judge who sets release conditions.

Processing times vary by county.

This is logistical information only.

In South Carolina, the matter being addressed is generally a bench warrant / failure-to-appear warrant.

How bail and release work in South Carolina

Commercial bail available

In South Carolina, commercial bail exists. If a judge sets money bail, it can be posted in cash with the court or through a licensed bail agent for a fee — and a judge may also release you on your own recognizance or on conditions.

South Carolina allows money bail, and commercial bail bondsmen legally operate here.

They are licensed and regulated by the South Carolina Department of Insurance under S.C.

Code Title 38, Chapter 53, in three categories: surety bondsmen (appointed by an insurer), professional bondsmen (who pledge their own cash or securities with the court), and runners.

After arrest a person is generally brought before a magistrate or municipal judge for a bond hearing on bailable offenses; the judge may release the person on a personal-recognizance (PR) bond with no money, or set a surety bond.

A surety bond can be satisfied by cash posted with the court or through a licensed bondsman for a fee.

By statute the bondsman's premium is capped.

By South Carolina law (S.C. Code Section 38-53-170(e)), a bondsman's premium may not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the bond, with a minimum fee of the greater of 100 dollars or 10 percent of the bond. This premium is non-refundable. Cash posted directly with the court is returned at the end of the case (less any costs) if all required appearances are made. Ask the court about a personal-recognizance bond before assuming a paid bond is required.

Your rights. You have the right to talk to a lawyer about your situation, and if you cannot afford one, you can ask the court about a public defender.

A few cautions before you go

Confirm the warrant directly with the issuing court clerk or the county sheriff's warrants division before acting; do not rely on unofficial third-party 'warrant lookup' or bail-lead websites, and note that sheriff warrant listings carry a not-current disclaimer.
Ask the court about a personal-recognizance bond before paying a bondsman; if you use a bondsman, the premium is capped by statute (no more than 15 percent, non-refundable).
A warrant does not expire on its own; ignoring it leaves you subject to arrest at any law-enforcement contact, and unpaid fines or missed appearances in magistrate/municipal cases can escalate or affect driving privileges.
Call the court or detention center ahead of time to confirm the correct location, intake hours, and surrender procedure, which vary by county.

Contact the issuing court or county sheriff in South Carolina

A warrant is issued by a court and served by the county sheriff — they are who can confirm it and tell you the exact way to resolve it. Start with these official South Carolina sources.

Not sure you actually have a warrant?

Before you act, confirm whether one exists. warrant.guru walks through exactly how to check in South Carolina.

Check for a warrant in South Carolina Looking for someone in jail or prison? Find them

Common questions about resolving a warrant in South Carolina

How do I resolve a warrant in South Carolina?

Confirm the warrant with the court that issued it or the county sheriff, then work through these steps: Confirm the warrant and identify the issuing court; Ask the court about recalling or lifting a bench / failure-to-appear warrant; Arrange to surrender through the sheriff's warrants division; Bond hearing before a magistrate or municipal judge follows.

How do I turn myself in in South Carolina?

Does South Carolina have commercial bail bondsmen?

Yes. Commercial bail exists in South Carolina: licensed bail agents operate here, and if a judge sets money bail it can be posted in cash with the court or through a licensed bail agent for a fee. A judge may also grant own-recognizance or conditional release.

What should I bring if I turn myself in in South Carolina?

A valid government-issued photo ID; Any court paperwork, citation, or the case or warrant number you have; If a surety bond may be set, funds to post cash with the court or to pay a licensed bondsman's statutorily capped fee; A written list of any medications you take; Contact information for a family member or friend who can help; Do not bring weapons, drugs, or other prohibited items into a court or jail.

Sources & last verified

Everything here links out to official government or public-reference sources. We don't store or republish records.

Last verified 2026-07-23 · 6 sources