Allendale County, South Carolina: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $7,500 (magistrate court (statewide civil jurisdiction commonly used) only). Court: Allendale Magistrate.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$7,500 (magistrate court (statewide civil jurisdiction commonly used) only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. State court directory
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in South Carolina	3 years.
State deposit return deadline	30 calendar days after the later of (i) termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession, or (ii) demand by the tenant. ordinary return/itemization deadline (whichever event is later starts or completes the 30-day clock).
Penalty formula	tenant may recover the property and money in an amount equal to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees. Bad faith required: No.
Deposit statute	S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410

Where to file

Allendale Magistrate

Courthouse city: Allendale

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

State court directory

Court page checked 2026-09-20

See how to file in South Carolina for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Allendale County

County median gross rent: $691 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
1 bedroom	$459
2 bedrooms	$505
3 bedrooms	$813

Rent estimates for the other bedroom sizes were suppressed or not published by the Census Bureau.

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $505; two months is $1,010. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $505.

State legal maximum deposit in South Carolina: No fixed statewide dollar or multiple-of-rent cap. If landlord rents more than four adjoining units and uses different deposit standards without required disclosure, excess over lowest comparable deposit is not subject to damage deductions.

Total households in Allendale County: 3,163.

Renter households: 1,118 (35.3% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 31.3%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Allendale County, $505 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $7,500 (magistrate court (statewide civil jurisdiction commonly used) only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Allendale
Fairfax
Sycamore
Ulmer

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.

Courthouse details

Address: 398 Barnwell Highway, Allendale, SC 29810-2744

Phone: (803) 584-3755

Address and phone checked against the court's own page on 2026-09-21

Court contact source

Statewide help

South Carolina Legal Services
Free civil legal help for eligible South Carolina residents, including housing and eviction matters. The statewide phone line takes applications; it does not give legal advice during intake.
Phone: (888) 346-5592

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a South Carolina security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records. Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 30 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in South Carolina: 3 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses South Carolina law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

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A print-ready PDF of the South Carolina letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
South Carolina small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

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Free South Carolina template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under South Carolina law (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [30 calendar days, see the note above] after the later of (i) termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession, or (ii) demand by the tenant.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Allendale County?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. State court directory

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in South Carolina: 3 years.

Where do I file?

Allendale Magistrate. Courthouse city: Allendale. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.