Charleston County Court Records

Charleston County Court records are official documentation of civil and criminal cases that go through the court system. These records typically include transcripts, dockets, books, papers, files, audio and video recordings, and electronic records and data. Per Section 30-4-20(C) of the South Carolina Code of Laws, courts preserve court records to promote transparency and accountability and facilitate appeals and judicial reviews.

Are Court Records Public in Charleston County?

Yes. Court records in Charleston County are deemed public records under the state’s Freedom of Information Act. Hence, any member of the public can submit a public record request to a local courthouse to obtain or look up court records.

However, certain records may be subject to exemptions or restrictions ordered by court rules or laws to protect confidential or sensitive information. Per SC Code § 30-4-40, a list of records that are considered confidential and not subject to public disclosure includes:

• Arrest and bench warrants before service
• Records of a personal nature, such as social security numbers, driver’s licenses, and bank account numbers
• Expunged or sealed records
• Juvenile files
• Grand jury materials
• Abuse and neglect files.

Charleston County Court Records Search

Persons looking to perform a court record search in Charleston County have the following options:

• Contact the office of the clerk of court where a case was filed or heard
• Search the Charleston County Public Index or any other electronic portal provided by the court
• Search the South Carolina judicial branch's public records search portal for court records across the state, including Charleston
• Use a third-party court records website.

Charleston County Court Records Search by Name

A search of Charleston County court records by name can be conducted either in person at the Charleston County Clerk of Court's Office or online via the Clerk of Court Public Index portal or CourtPlus. These name-based searches typically require the full name of a party involved in a case, such as the defendant or the plaintiff (in criminal cases, the defendant's name; in civil cases, the plaintiff's or defendant's name).

Online name-based searches on the Public Index or CourtPlus are free and typically provide access to most court documents filed in a case unless they are sealed or restricted. To perform a name-based search on CourtPlus:

• Visit CourtPlus website
• Enter the last and first name of the involved party
• Choose the case type (Common Pleas for civil cases, General Sessions for criminal cases, Family court for family law matters)
• Select the party type (defendant or plaintiff)
• Click "search cases" to initiate the retrieval of the case documents.

Individuals seeking physical copies of case files or certified court records may visit the Clerk of Court's Office but will be required to cover any applicable costs.

Charleston County Courts

The Charleston County court system consists of a circuit, magistrate, and municipal courts, including a probate court, which has jurisdiction over wills and estates, and the family court, which oversees matters related to divorce, child custody, and child support.

Circuit courts handle major felonies and significant civil cases. Magistrate courts deal with misdemeanors, traffic violations, landlord-tenant disputes, etc. Municipal courts operate at the city and town levels to adjudicate minor matters like municipal ordinance violations and city/town traffic tickets.

The location and contact information of Charleston Courts are listed below:

Charleston County Circuit Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions
100 Broad Street, Suite 106
Charleston, SC 29401-2258
Phone: (843) 958-5000
Fax: (843) 958-5020

Charleston County Family Court
100 Broad Street, Suite 143
Charleston, SC 29401-2265
Phone: (843) 958-4400

Probate Court - Commitment & Guardianship Division
Judicial Center
100 Broad Street, Suite 469
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-5180
Fax: (843) 958-5191

Probate Court - Estate Division
Historic Courthouse
84 Broad Street, Third Floor
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-5030
Fax: (843) 958-5044

Probate Court - Marriage License Division
Judicial Center
100 Broad Street, Suite 469
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-5183
Fax: (843) 958-5191

Charleston County Magistrates Court - Centralized Bond Hearing Court
3831 Leeds Avenue, Suite 200,
North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 746-9822
Fax: (843) 746-9960

Charleston County Magistrates Court - Centralized Preliminary Hearing Court
3831 Leeds Avenue, Suite 100,
North Charleston, SC 20405
Phone: (843) 745-2390
Fax: (843) 745-2395

Charleston County Magistrates Court - City of Charleston
995 Morrison Drive,
P.O. Box 941,
Charleston, SC 29402
Phone: (843) 724-6719
Fax: (843) 720-6785
Phone: (843) 724-6720 (Small Claims).

Charleston County Magistrates Court - East Cooper
1189 Sweetgrass Basket Parkway, Suite 300,
Mount Pleasant, SC 29465
Phone: (843) 856-1205
Fax: (843) 856-1188

Charleston County Magistrates Court - James Island
615 Riverland Drive,
P.O. Box 12226,
Charleston, SC 29422
Phone: (843) 795-1140
Fax: (843) 406-2753

Charleston County Magistrates Court – McClellanville
10009 Highway 17 North,
McClellanville, SC 29458
Phone: (843) 887-3334
Fax: (843) 887-3901

Charleston County Magistrates Court - North Area 1
Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Services Building
4045 Bridge View Drive, Suite B125,
P.O. Box 60037,
North Charleston, SC 29419
Phone: (843) 202-6610
Fax: (843) 202-6620

Charleston County Magistrates Court - North Area 2
2145 Melbourne Avenue, Suite 100,
North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 745-2215
Fax: (843) 745-2334

Charleston County Magistrates Court - North Area 3
6185 Rivers Avenue, Suite E,
North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 553-4003
Fax: (843) 572-0013

Charleston County Magistrates Court - North Area Small Claims
Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Services Building
4045 Bridge View Drive, Suite B146,
P.O. Box 70235,
North Charleston, SC 29415
Phone: (843) 202-6650
Fax: (843) 202-6652

Charleston County Magistrates Court - Ravenel/Adams Run Area
5962 Highway 165, Suite 200,
Ravenel, SC 29470
Phone: (843) 889-8332
Fax: (843) 889-9202

Charleston County Magistrates Court - Wadmalaw/Johns Island
1527 Main Road, Suite 100,
Johns Island, SC 29455
Phone: (843) 559-1218
Fax: (843) 559-2378

Charleston County Magistrates Court - West Ashley Area
1720 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, Unit 11,
P.O. Box 31861,
Charleston, SC 29417
Phone: (843) 766-6531
Fax: (843) 571-4751

Charleston Municipal Court
180 Lockwood Boulevard,
Charleston, SC 29403
Phone: (843) 724-7460
Fax: (843) 724-7171

Folly Beach Municipal Court
21 Center Street,
P.O. Box 48,
Folly Beach, SC 29439
Phone: (843) 513-1842
Fax: (843) 588-2476

Hollywood Municipal Court
5962 Highway 165,
Ravenel, SC 29470
Phone: (843) 889-8332
Fax: (843) 889-9202

Isle Of Palms Municipal Court
1207 Palm Boulevard,
P.O. Box 508,
Isle Of Palms, SC 29451
Phone: (843) 886-8946
Fax: (843) 886-8005

Kiawah Island Municipal Court
21 Beachwalker Drive,
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Phone: (843) 768-9166
Fax: (843) 768-4764

Lincolnville Municipal Court
141 West Broad Street,
Lincolnville, SC 29458
P.O. Box 436,

McClellanville Municipal Court
405 Pinckney Street,
McClellanville, SC 29458
Phone: (843) 887-3712

Mount Pleasant Municipal Court
100 Ann Edwards Lane,
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 884-6796

North Charleston Municipal Court
2500 City Hall Lane,
P.O. Box 190016,
North Charleston, SC 29419
Phone: (843) 740-2601

Ravenel Municipal Court
5962 Highway 165,
Ravenel, SC 29470
Phone: (843) 889-8332

Seabrook Island Municipal Court
2001 Seabrook Island Road,
Seabrook Island, SC 29455
Phone: (843) 768-9121

Sullivans Island Municipal Court
2050-B Middle Street,
P.O. Box 427,
Sullivan's Island, SC 29482
Phone: (843) 883-5734

Charleston County Circuit Court Case Search

Charleston County Circuit Court is the highest trial court, adjudicating major civil and criminal cases in the county's judicial system. The availability and public access to criminal and civil court records of cases handled in the circuit court are discussed in a subsequent section.

Charleston County Magistrate Court Records

Charleston County Magistrate Courts are courts of limited jurisdiction that handle less serious criminal matters, traffic cases, landlord-tenant disputes, and small civil claims up to a certain dollar amount.

Requests for Charleston County magistrate court records should be directed in person or in writing to the specific magistrate courthouse where a case was filed or heard. Alternatively, where applicable, individuals can utilize the electronic record portal available from the websites of magistrate courts in Charleston to find records within their custody.

Charleston County Criminal Records

Under the provisions of the state law, access to Charleston County criminal records maintained by law enforcement agencies is limited to only a subject’s conviction and arrest information. Access to full and detailed records information is only available to law enforcement agencies and the record subject.

Individuals interested in obtaining criminal records in the county should reach out to the county's local law enforcement agencies, such as the county sheriff's office or police department, to request arrest and conviction information on a person of interest.

To obtain criminal records information from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, the options are:

• Visit the Charleston County Sheriff's Office in person to obtain information on arrests made by its officers.
• Use the warrant search tool provided by the county sheriff's office to determine whether there is an active warrant of arrest for a person of interest.
• Complete and submit a Criminal Records Check Form by mail or by visiting the county sheriff’s office. Each criminal history will cost $5, payable in cash, by check, or money order.

Charleston County Sheriff’s Office
3691 Leeds Avenue
North Charleston, SC 29405.

Alternatively, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) provides statewide criminal records through its Citizens Access to Criminal Histories (CATCH) portal. Individuals can conduct name-based searches and obtain information about convictions and arrests in Charleston County using the SLED CATCH portal for $25 (plus a $1 convenience fee). Or, they can send a completed SLED Record Check Form along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a $25 payment by mail to:

SLED Records Department
P.O. Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221-1398.

Charleston County Criminal Court Case Lookup

To look up information on criminal court cases heard in Charleston County, individuals should direct their request to the Clerk of Court of the Charleston County Circuit Court. The Clerk’s Office provides copies of records for criminal cases heard in the General Sessions Court of the Circuit Court.

For mail and in-person case lookup:

Charleston County Clerk’s Office
100 Broad Street, Suite 106
Charleston, SC 29401.

Mail requests must contain details about the specific case whose records are being sought, such as the case number and names of the parties involved. For either request method, requesters will need to pay fees to obtain copies of the criminal court records. The cost is 11 cents per page, plus an additional $1 for certification. Alternatively, requesters can utilize the Charleston County Clerk of Court Public Index or CourtPlus to look up the county’s circuit court records.

Get Charleston County Civil Court Records

Charleston County civil court records are documents and files related to legal proceedings on civil disputes between two or more parties. These records typically include filings and materials like motions, court opinions, transcripts, sworn statements, and judgments.

The Circuit Court Common Pleas adjudicates civil disputes in the county, and the Clerk of Court, who is the records custodian, fulfills mail and in-person requests for the court records.

To access Charleston County civil court records in person or by mail, contact the Clerk of Court's office, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm. Requestors must provide the case number and names of the parties involved.

Clerk of Court/Common Pleas
100 Broad Street
Suite 106
Charleston, SC 29401.

Fees involved are 11 cents per page for record copies, with an optional $1 extra for certified copies. Fees are payable by check or money order to the Charleston County Clerk of Court. Alternatively, interested parties may lookup civil court case records online via the Clerk of Court Public Index or CourtPlus with name or case-based searches.

Charleston County Family Court Records

The Charleston County Family Court is a specialized court that adjudicates matters related to family law, including divorce, adoption, child custody, paternity, domestic violence, and juvenile delinquency cases.

Charleston County Family Court records are documents filed or created during the adjudication of cases in the family court. These records are generally open to the public unless restricted by law or court order. For instance, court records with information on cases involving minors or domestic violence victims may be redacted or sealed from public disclosure.

Interested persons can typically access the family court records by visiting the courthouse and requesting to view or obtain copies of specific case files. Alternatively, interested parties may use the Clerk of Court Public Index or CourtPlus to look up family records by case number or name. Name-based searches require the party’s full name and their party type—plaintiff or defendant. On the other hand, case number-based searches require a case number, case type, and case year information to produce results.

Persons who lookup Charleston County family court records can generally expect to find information on the parties involved in a case, documents or materials filed in the case, and decisions or resolutions of the court, etc. These details can help the public monitor case proceedings or determine resolutions of family court cases in the county's legal system.

Charleston Dissolution of Marriage Records

To obtain records related to the dissolution of marriage in Charleston County:

• Reach out to the office of the Clerk of Court
• Visit the Clerk of Court Public Index Portal or CourtPlus and conduct name-based or case-based searches.

In-person or by-mail requests require providing information on the parties involved, the case number, or the date of marriage dissolution. While case-based searches require the case number, case type, case year information, etc.

Charleston County Marriage and Divorce Records

Charleston County marriage records are official documents containing information about the marriage of two individuals, including their names, ages, the date and location of the marriage, and the authority that officiated the ceremony. On the other hand, Charleston County divorce records contain documents or information that serve as legal proof of the dissolution of a marriage.

The Charleston County Clerk of Court is the county's custodian of divorce and marriage records. Interested parties may visit or send mail requests to the Charleston County Clerk of Court to obtain information about marriage or divorce records in the county. Visits and mail requests should be forwarded to:

Charleston County Clerk of Court/Family Court
100 Broad Street
Suite 143
Charleston, SC 29401.

Additionally, interested parties can find information about Charleston County marriage and divorce records from the county’s vital records office. Or may use the state’s DHEC vital records services to request marriage certificates and divorce records by phone, mail, online, or in person.

Alternatively, for marriage records, interested parties may conduct a Marriage License Search and/or visit or send written requests to the marriage license division of the Charleston County Probate Court at:

Charleston County Marriage License Division
100 Broad Street
Suite 469
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-5183

Generally, a valid photo ID and payment are required to obtain copies of marriage and divorce records from the Clerk of Courts and Vital Records Office. Where a record is sealed or restricted, only those named on the records or their representatives can have access to the records.

Charleston Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records are vital records in Charleston County. They serve different purposes, including establishing identity and citizenship or obtaining Social Security numbers, as well as processing inheritance and estate matters.

Interested parties can obtain Charleston birth and death records from the vital records office of the DHEC. These records are available online, in person, by mail, or by phone. The steps, requirements, and costs involved in obtaining these records using any of the aforementioned methods are listed in the birth and death records pages of the vital records office.

Additionally, interested parties may obtain birth and death records from the DHEC’s vital records office location in Charleston County at:

Teddie E. Pryor, Sr. Social Services Hub
3685 Rivers Avenue
N. Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 953-0032

Note, however, that only authorized persons may obtain copies of birth and death records. For instance, only individuals listed on the birth certificate, their parent(s), legal guardian(s), or authorized representatives are authorized to receive a copy of the birth record.

Conversely, only immediate family members of the deceased or their legal representative may obtain a certified copy of a death certificate. Other parties will receive a statement confirming the occurrence of the death, including details such as the date and location of the death.

Charleston County Probate Court Records

Charleston County Court records are official files and documents received or created by the probate court in relation to cases adjudicated in the court. The probate court hears cases relating to estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and trusts.

To obtain copies of Charleston County probate court records, interested parties may visit the probate courthouse that received the probate filing during business hours to request the specific records needed. Fees for finding, copying, and certifying these records will apply. Alternatively, record seekers may use the Estate and Will Search Portal to find probate records.

Probate Court - Commitment & Guardianship Division
Judicial Center
100 Broad Street, Suite 469
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-5180
Fax: (843) 958-5191

Probate Court - Estate Division
Historic Courthouse
84 Broad Street, Third Floor
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-5030
Fax: (843) 958-5044

Charleston County Property Records

Charleston County property records contain real estate and personal property information, including their ownership, assessment, and taxation. The county Register of Deeds is the official recorder and custodian of land and real estate documents, including titles and liens, etc. Also, the ROD’s office is responsible for making these publicly accessible.

Interested parties may lookup the county’s property records online via the ROD Documents Search page or Real Property Records Search. Alternatively, they may visit the Register of Deeds office during business hours to lookup Charleston County property records.

Register of Deeds Office
O.T. Wallace County Office Building,
101 Meeting Street, Room 200
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-4800

Charleston County Court Records Online

Besides government sources, third-party online resources like courtrecords.us can be a convenient option for members of the public. These websites, owned by independent companies, collect and aggregate public records from various sources, including courthouses, and make them available for a fee.

These websites offer quick and convenient means to access records without the need to physically visit the courthouse. Also, most allow users to search for records across different jurisdictions using names.

However, third-party sites pose the risk of providing incomplete or not up-to-date records as they're not affiliated with the government. As a result, users are advised to verify any information obtained from these websites with official sources.