Charleston County Court Records
Charleston County court records are files and other documentary materials containing details about legal proceedings in the Circuit, Family, Probate, Magistrate, and Municipal Courts. They include motions, witness statements, court orders, jury verdicts, and court transcripts in digital and physical formats.
Court records also comprise information that can be used to identify and locate court cases. These include case party details (names and dates of birth), filing date, case number, citation number, presiding court, case type, and case title.
Additionally, documents such as property records, arrest reports, and tax filings from other government agencies are often filed as part of court proceedings to support a claim.
Interested parties may contact the county’s Clerk of Court or staff of specific local courts to inspect or copy Charleston County court records. The public often initiates court records searches to follow up cases, discover important information, such as owed fines, and run criminal background checks.
Are Charleston County Court Records Public?
Yes. According to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, public bodies, including courts, must allow the public to inspect and copy records produced during their official activities. For courts, these include records generated and collated during criminal and civil proceedings.
However, state law and some court rules prevent general access to certain records, such as personal data, juvenile records, information from active police investigations, mental health documentation, and records from child-related proceedings, such as adoption, custody, and visitation.
What Information is Available in Charleston County Court Records?
Court records generated in Charleston County comprise the following:
- Case information: Case title, case number, party names, court address, filing date, case status, and name of the presiding judge
- Case events: Hearing dates and specific case actions (document filings, hearings, judgments, etc.)
- Case filings: Names of filed documents, the documents themselves, document numbers, etc.
- Court decisions: Jury verdicts, opinions, bench verdicts, orders, and sentencing
Charleston County Court Records Search
Court records in Charleston County are available through different custodians. Identifying the office to approach involves understanding the nature of the case that produced the court record.
The Clerk of Court maintains and distributes records from the Circuit and Family Courts. The Circuit Court’s General Sessions court handles criminal cases, and the Court of Common Pleas hears civil cases outside the jurisdiction of other courts. The Family Court oversees family law matters, such as divorce and child-related proceedings.
While the Master-In-Equity Court acts as a standalone court, it serves as a division of the Circuit Court, handling most civil, non-jury matters, such as foreclosures. The Clerk of Court’s office maintains the equity court’s records.
The local Magistrate Courts handle civil cases where the amount in contention does not exceed $7,500. They also hear criminal matters punishable by no more than 30 days in prison and fines not exceeding $500. However, cases with fines worth up to $1,000 and 1 year imprisonment may be assigned to these courts by the Circuit Court if the case parties agree. Members of the public can contact the Magistrate Court’s administration using the following details to inquire about inspecting or ordering court documents:
4045 Bridge View Drive
Suite B-143
North Charleston, SC 29405
Municipal courts have similar criminal jurisdictions as magistrate courts, except that they operate within city boundaries and lack civil jurisdiction. They also hear cases regarding municipal code violations.
Finally, the County’s Probate judge has exclusive jurisdiction over cases related to the probate of wills, administration of estates for deceased persons, guardianships, conservatorships, and related disputes.
Interested parties can contact each record custodian by mail, phone, or in person to seek details about accessing physical or electronic court records.
Online Records Search
The Charleston County Clerk of Court runs a dedicated case records search platform through a third-party vendor. It features basic case information for proceedings handled by the Circuit and Family Courts.
Additionally, the county’s Public Case Index web portal provides online access to case information for proceedings handled by the Circuit, Master-In-Equity, and Summary (Magistrate) Courts. Individuals can search by name or case number to view case information, including
- Party details, case titles, and case numbers
- Case statuses
- Assigned judges
- Criminal case details (charges, bonds, arrest dates, etc.)
- Disposition details
- Court agency (General Sessions, Common Pleas, Magistrate, or Master-In-Equity court)
- Filing dates
Furthermore, the Family Court Case Management System (FCCMS) holds information about certain publicly accessible cases heard in the local family court. It is a statewide portal, but individuals can select Charleston County to narrow their search results.
Lastly, while Municipal Court cases are not widely available online, one can view case records from the dedicated Charleston Municipal Court online database. This system displays information similar to the Public Case Index web portal for cases under the municipal court’s jurisdiction.
Fees for Court Records in Charleston County
The following fees are levied by different court record custodians in Charleston County:
- Clerk of Court (Circuit, Family, and Master-In-Equity Courts):
- Exemplification: $10
- Plain copies (computer, xerox, or microfilm): 10 cents per copy
- Transcript of judgment (includes Magistrate court): $35 each
- Record retrieval: $4 per record
- Probate Court:
- Plain copies (paper and microfilm): 50 cents per copy
- Certified copy of estate records: $5 per record
- Certified copy of marriage license: $5
- Exemplified/authenticated copy: $20
Individuals can contact their specific Magistrate and Municipal Courts to learn about court record fees.
Charleston County Courthouse Locations
Individuals can locate and contact Charleston County Courts using the following information:
Charleston County Circuit Court
Charleston County Judicial Center
100 Broad Street
Charleston, SC 29401-2236
Office: (843) 958-5000
Fax: (843) 958-5020
100 Broad Street
Suite 266
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-5070
Fax: (843) 958-5077
Centralized Bond Hearing Court
3831 Leeds Avenue
Suite 200
North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 746-9822
Fax: (843) 746-9960
Centralized Preliminary Hearing Court
3831 Leeds Avenue
Suite 100
North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 745-2390
Fax: (843) 745-2395
City of Charleston Magistrate Court
101 Meeting Street
3rd Floor
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 724-6719
Fax: (843) 724-6785
East Cooper Magistrate Court
1189 Sweetgrass Basket Parkway
Suite 300
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 856-1205
Fax: (843) 856-1188
James Island Magistrate Court
615 Riverland Drive
Charleston, SC 29412
Phone: (843) 795-1140
Fax: (843) 406-2753
McClellanville Magistrate Court
Magistrate Patrick Smith
10009 Highway 17 North
McClellanville, SC 29458
Phone: (843) 887-3334
Fax: (843) 887-3901
North Area Magistrate Court 1
4045 Bridge View Drive
Suite B-125 (1st Floor)
North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 202-6610
Fax: (843) 202-6620
North Area Magistrate Court 2
Magistrate Thomas O. Sanders
2145 Melbourne Avenue
Suite 100
North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 745-2215
Fax: (843) 745-2334
North Area Magistrate Court 3
6185 Rivers Avenue
Suite E
North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 553-4003
Fax: (843) 572-0013
North Area Small Claims Court
4045 Bridge View Drive
North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 202-6650
Fax: (843) 202-6652
Ravenel/Adams Run Area Magistrate Court
Magistrate Martelle Morrison
5962 Highway 165
Suite 200
Ravenel, SC 29470
Phone: (843) 889-8332
Fax: (843) 889-9202
City Small Claims Court
101 Meeting Street
3rd Floor
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 724-6720
Fax: (843) 724-6785
Wadmalaw/Johns Island Magistrate Court
1527 Main Road
Suite 100
Johns Island, SC 29455
Phone: (843) 559-1218
Fax: (843) 559-2378
West Ashley Area Magistrate Court
1720 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
Unit 11
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: (843) 766-6531
Fax: (843) 571-4751
Municipal Courts within Charleston County
City of Charleston Municipal Court
180-B Lockwood Boulevard
Charleston, SC 29403
Phone: (843) 724-7460
Fax: (843) 724-7171
City of North Charleston Municipal Court
2500 City Hall Lane
North Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: (843) 740-2602
Town of Mount Pleasant Municipal Court
100 Ann Edwards Lane
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 884-6796
Fax: (843) 856-2514
Town of Summerville Municipal Court
200 S Main Street
2nd Floor
Summerville, SC 29483
Phone: (843) 875-2010
Fax: (843) 851-4119
City of Isle of Palms Municipal Court
1207 Palm Boulevard
Isle of Palms, SC 29451
Phone: (843) 886-8946
Town of Sullivan’s Island Municipal Court
2056 Middle Street
Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
Phone: (843) 883-5734
Fax: 972-466-5321
City of Folly Beach Municipal Court
21 Center Street
2nd Floor
Folly Beach, SC 29439
Phone: (843) 588-2447
Fax: (864) 640-8785
Town of Kiawah Island Municipal Court
4475 Betsy Kerrison Parkway
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Phone: (843) 768-9166
Town of Seabrook Island Municipal Court
2001 Seabrook Island Road
Seabrook Island, SC 29455
Phone: (843) 768-9121
Ravenel Municipal Court (also serves the Town of Hollywood)
5962 Highway 165
Suite 200
Ravenel, SC 29470-5514
Phone: (843) 889-8332
Fax: (843) 889-9202
Criminal Records Access in Charleston County
Charleston County criminal records provide information about a person’s arrest, criminal prosecution, sentencing, incarceration, and post-conviction.
There are various agencies and offices to contact for criminal records access, depending on the particular case. If a person was arrested and later released, their information may be retained exclusively by the arresting agency, such as a municipal police department or the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, and state agencies like SLED.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Department (SLED) offers a criminal history check service called Citizens Access to Criminal History (CATCH). Using the system involves providing the name of the search subject and paying the required $25 fee. Only entities permitted by state law can run the more accurate and thorough fingerprint-based checks.
If a person was arrested and later charged, formal documentation about the case will be available in the criminal case records. Charleston County criminal case records are available directly from the local court system. The case type determines the custodian to approach: The Circuit Court’s General Sessions division handles felonies and misdemeanors punishable by more than 30 days in prison and fines of more than $500. Magistrate courts deal with other types of cases, and may be assigned prosecutions where the severest punishment is one year imprisonment or a $5,000 fine. Municipal courts also handle the same criminal cases as Magistrate Courts, but within specific city boundaries.
Charleston County Probate Records
A Charleston County probate records search produces information and documents about proceedings handled by the local Probate Court. This court has jurisdiction over marriage licenses, the administration of the estates of deceased persons, guardianships of incapacitated persons, and conservatorships of minors and incapacitated individuals. The court is also responsible for settlements under $25,000 and involuntary commitments to institutions for mentally ill persons and substance abusers.
For access to estate records, wills, and other probate court filings, one can contact the Probate Court directly. Additionally, the court offers online portals for searching marriage licenses, as well as wills and estate records:
- The Marriage License Search system allows members of the public to find marriage details by inputting the name of one party. Results show the marriage license number and couple information, such as name, age, birthplace, and address.
- The Estate and Wills Search website allows individuals to perform name searches. It shows details of probate cases, such as a list of documents filed in each case, filing dates, and party names.
Charleston County Family Court Records
The Charleston County Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over domestic relations cases, such as child custody and support, parental rights, adoption, visitation, division of marital assets, divorce, legal separation, alimony, and related cases.
Records generated and collected during these cases are under the Clerk of Court’s custody. One can use the clerk’s dedicated case search portal to find basic details about family court proceedings. The statewide FCCMS managed by the Department of Social Services also allows the public to view family case records for free.
Copying or inspecting court documents requires a visit to the office. The clerk also allows members of the public to send requests for copies by mail to the following address:
Clerk of Court/Family Court
100 Broad Street
Suite 143
Charleston SC 29401
Federal Court Records in Charleston County
Federal court cases originating in Charleston County fall under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, specifically its Charleston Division. The court hears federal criminal prosecutions, civil litigations involving federal law, constitutional questions, and disputes between parties from different countries or states.
The federal clerk of court maintains and provides federal case records to the public. Individuals can access public terminals at the Charleston courthouse during the clerk’s operating hours to search the party index and view case dockets.
To view records remotely, members of the public can register to use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. While registration is free, searching for and viewing case files incur a charge: 10 cents per page for pages generated during a search ($3 max) and $2.40 per audio file. There are no maximum fees for court transcripts and case reports.
