Find Court Records in Charleston County

Charleston County court records cover one of the most active court systems in South Carolina. The county seat is the City of Charleston, and the Clerk of Court maintains records for Circuit Court and Family Court cases filed here. You can search case information for free through the Charleston County Public Index, which operates separately from the statewide system. This page explains how to search Charleston court records, where records are kept, and how to get copies of documents you need.

Charleston County Clerk of Court

The Honorable Julie J. Armstrong serves as Clerk of Court for Charleston County. Her office is at 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401. The office handles all Circuit Court and Family Court records in the county. With a large staff divided among specialized divisions, the office processes thousands of new cases each year across civil, criminal, and family court dockets.

Family Court for Charleston County is also at 100 Broad Street, but handled through a separate division at (843) 958-4900. The Clerk's office stores records from 1988 to the present online, with older historical records going back to the early history of Charleston available through in-person requests. Charleston County is one of a handful of South Carolina counties that maintains its own independent case management system separate from the statewide Public Index.

The Charleston County Clerk of Court official website at clerkofcourt.charlestoncounty.org provides access to online services, records request forms, fee schedules, and court docket information for both Circuit Court and Family Court matters.

The official clerk's website allows registered users access to enhanced services including warrant number searches, Day Book entries, judgment rolls, and lis pendens filings not available through basic public searches.

How to Search Charleston County Court Records

Charleston County uses its own public index system rather than the statewide portal. You can search Circuit Court and Family Court case records through the Charleston County Public Index at jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/publicindex. The search is free and does not require registration. You can filter results by party name, case number, SC Bar number, case type, and case status.

The Charleston Public Index offers enhanced features including a mobile-optimized interface and access to the Circuit Court Day Book. Registered users can access judgment rolls, lis pendens filings, and pending cases not visible in basic searches. Records go back to 1988 for most case types. Home address information has been removed from online results as of January 1, 2026, in line with South Carolina's privacy protections under § 30-2-330.

The Charleston County Public Index at jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/publicindex gives anyone free access to search Circuit and Family Court cases by name, case number, or attorney bar number. It is one of the most feature-rich county court search tools in South Carolina.

The Public Index displays docket entries, party information, attorney assignments, and court actions for cases filed in Charleston County, updated continuously as new activity occurs.

Note: Copy fees for records from the Charleston County Clerk's office are $0.11 per page, with an additional $1.00 per document for certified copies. A search fee of $31.00 per name applies when you ask the Clerk's staff to perform the search on your behalf.

Charleston Circuit Court Records

Charleston County is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Berkeley County. Circuit Court in Charleston handles both General Sessions and Common Pleas cases. General Sessions covers felony criminal matters, serious misdemeanors, and grand jury indictments. Common Pleas covers civil disputes above the $7,500 threshold that separates it from magistrate jurisdiction.

As one of the largest and most active circuit courts in South Carolina, the Charleston County courthouse at 100 Broad Street handles a significant case volume. The Circuit Court filing fee is $150 for new case filings. The Clerk maintains all court documents including indictments, plea agreements, motions, judgments, and sentencing records. These are all public under S.C. Code § 14-9-150, which addresses the public nature of court records.

Several circuit judges are assigned as resident judges for the 9th Circuit, and additional at-large judges rotate through to handle larger caseloads. Court calendars and judge assignments are posted through the SC Judicial Branch website.

Charleston County Family Court Records

The Family Court for Charleston County handles divorce, child custody, child support, adoptions, domestic violence orders, and juvenile delinquency matters. The Family Court office is at 100 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401, reachable at (843) 958-4900. The Family Court filing fee schedule is set at the state level.

Most Family Court cases in Charleston are part of the public record, with important exceptions. Juvenile records are confidential by law. Adoption files are sealed. Certain aspects of abuse and neglect proceedings are also withheld from public access. Child support payments for Charleston County cases go through the South Carolina State Disbursement Unit at PO Box 100302, Columbia, SC 29202-3302. Call 800-768-5858 for child support service inquiries.

Note: Attorneys who represent clients in Charleston Family Court can access a separate online portal using their Attorney Information System credentials through the SC Judicial Branch.

Magistrate Court Records in Charleston County

Charleston County has multiple Magistrate Court locations spread across the county. Magistrate courts handle traffic citations, misdemeanor criminal cases, bond hearings, small claims, and civil disputes up to $7,500. Preliminary hearings for felony arrests take place in magistrate court before cases move to Circuit Court.

Magistrate records are not part of the Clerk of Court's office and must be accessed at the respective magistrate court location. Some magistrate records do appear in the Public Index system. For traffic ticket searches, the SC Judicial Branch provides a statewide traffic ticket lookup at sccourts.org. Bond court operates around the clock for after-hours arrest processing.

Appeals from magistrate court decisions go to the Circuit Court and result in de novo trials. This means the entire case is reheard from scratch at the Circuit Court level.

Charleston County Probate Court Records

The Probate Court in Charleston County oversees estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, marriage licenses, and mental health commitments. Charleston County Probate Court holds records that go back centuries, making it a rich source for genealogical research. Most probate records are open to public inspection, with exceptions for certain sealed proceedings.

Marriage licenses are issued by the Charleston County Probate Court. Both parties must appear in person with valid identification. Certified copies of marriage records are available for a fee. Estate filings become part of the public record after the court approves the final accounting. Probate Judge contacts and court information are available through the SC Judicial Branch county directory.

Criminal Records and Background Checks in Charleston

For a full South Carolina criminal history, use the SLED CATCH system. This name-based database costs $25 plus a $1 online convenience fee and returns results immediately. SLED CATCH covers criminal convictions and records from across the entire state, not just Charleston County. The system is run by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and is the official statewide criminal history resource.

For Charleston-specific records and warrant checks, the Clerk of Court Public Index and the Charleston County Sheriff's Office are good local resources. The Charleston Police Department Records Division handles incident reports and arrest records for matters occurring within the city limits of Charleston. Records requests to the police department follow the South Carolina FOIA process under § 30-4-10 et seq.

Public Records Access and FOIA in Charleston County

The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act gives the public the right to inspect and copy government records held by agencies including courts and county offices. Requests to the Charleston County Clerk of Court can be made in person at 100 Broad Street, by mail, or by email at clerkofcourt@charlestoncounty.org. The Clerk's office has 10 business days to respond to a FOIA request and 30 calendar days to fulfill it.

Copy fees for records obtained through FOIA are $0.11 per page from the Charleston County Clerk's office. Certified copies cost an additional $1.00 per document. When staff must perform an extensive records search on your behalf, a $31.00 search fee applies per name searched. Electronic records may be provided in native digital format when readily available.

For FOIA requests involving Charleston city records, submit to the City of Charleston Clerk of Council at 80 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401. City and county records are maintained separately. The SC Judicial Branch website provides additional guidance on court record access for all 46 South Carolina counties.

Note: Some historical records dating before 1988 may not be available online and require an in-person visit or mail request to the Clerk of Court in Charleston.

Nearby Counties

Charleston County shares the 9th Judicial Circuit with Berkeley County. Neighboring Dorchester County is part of the 1st Circuit. All maintain separate court records systems.

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