Richland County Court Records
Richland County court records are kept by the Clerk of Court at the Richland County Judicial Center in Columbia, South Carolina. As home to the state capital, Richland County has one of the largest and most active court systems in South Carolina. You can search Richland County court records for free through the South Carolina Public Index, or visit the courthouse during business hours to request documents in person. This guide covers how to find court records in Richland County and what each office holds.
Richland County Court Records Quick Facts
Richland County Clerk of Court
The Honorable Jeanette W. McBride serves as the Richland County Clerk of Court. Her office handles one of the highest caseloads in South Carolina, with over 5,000 civil cases, more than 10,000 criminal warrants, and over 5,000 domestic and juvenile cases filed each year. The office is divided into two areas: one for Circuit Court records covering civil and criminal matters, and one for Family Court records covering domestic and juvenile cases. Court is held 46 weeks per year.
The Clerk of Court is located at the Richland County Judicial Center, 1701 Main Street, Room 205, Columbia, SC 29201. Mail goes to PO Box 2766, Columbia, SC 29202. The main phone number is (803) 576-1947. For criminal records specifically, call 803-576-1939. For fine payments, call 803-576-1949. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The full county website is at richlandcountysc.gov.
The SC Judicial Branch clerk directory shows the current assignment and contact details for the Richland County Clerk of Court, including links to the Public Index and court roster pages.
Search Richland County Court Records Online
To search Richland County court records online, visit the Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/richland. You can search by first name, middle name, and last name, or by case number or filing date. Filters let you narrow results by court agency and case type. A separate Family Court search is available at publicindex.sccourts.org/richland/familycourt. Common Pleas court rosters are also available on the Richland County website for scheduled court appearances.
The Public Index displays case summaries and status, party and attorney information, docket entries, hearing schedules, financial information, and disposition details. This is a free tool available 24 hours a day. General Session Motion Rosters are also accessible through the county's online system. For certified copies of any document, you must contact the Clerk of Court directly. The SC Judicial Branch case records search links to all county public indexes including Richland County.
Third-party sites aggregate Richland County court data from public sources. These can help with quick lookups but should not be used as substitutes for official records from the Clerk of Court.
Richland County Circuit Court Records
The 5th Judicial Circuit serves Richland County and Kershaw County. Richland County has five resident Circuit Court judges: Hon. Daniel Coble, Hon. Robert E. Hood, Hon. Thomas W. McGee III, Hon. Jocelyn Newman, and Hon. Christopher D. Taylor. An at-large judge, Hon. Milton G. Kimpson, also serves the circuit. These judges handle criminal felony cases in General Sessions and civil disputes in Common Pleas.
Circuit Court records in Richland County include complaints, answers, motions, orders, judgments, indictments, arrest warrants, plea agreements, and sentence sheets. The filing fee to start a civil case is $150 under the statewide Circuit Court fee schedule. Other fees include $50 for a motion to reopen, $5 for docketing a judgment, and $15 for a payment plan setup. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Under South Carolina Code § 14-3-410, Circuit Court judges are elected and rotate on a set schedule across circuits.
For General Sessions appearances or criminal records, call 803-576-1800 or 803-576-1939 respectively. Common Pleas civil court can be reached at 803-576-1947.
Richland County Family Court Records
Richland County has six Family Court judges: Hon. Michelle M. Hurley, Hon. Gwendlyne Y. Jones, Hon. M. S. Rankin, and Hon. C. V. Stricklin, Jr. as resident judges, plus at-large judges Hon. Rosalyn Frierson-Smith and Hon. Monét S. Pincus. The Family Court handles divorces, child custody and support orders, adoptions, protective orders, and juvenile proceedings for Richland County residents.
Family Court records are available through the Public Index. Use the family court filter to find divorce decrees, custody orders, and related filings. Juvenile records are not accessible to the general public. For certified copies of Family Court documents including divorce decrees, contact the Clerk of Court. The Family Court filing fee to start any case is $150. Family Court direct line is (803) 576-3320. The SC Family Court page covers statewide rules and procedures. Under § 30-2-330 of the South Carolina Code, certain personal details in court records receive protection from broad disclosure.
Note: Motion to change child support costs $30, and motion to change custody or placement costs $50 in Richland County Family Court.
Richland County Magistrate Court Records
Richland County operates one of the largest Magistrate Court systems in South Carolina. Chief Magistrate Hon. Diedra W. Hightower oversees the system, reachable at (803) 576-1580. The county has more than 20 magistrates serving locations across the county, including Central Court, Columbia Magistrate, Dutch Fork, Eastover, Hopkins, Lykesland, Olympia, Pontiac, Blythewood, and more.
Magistrate Court handles misdemeanor criminal charges, traffic violations, and small civil claims up to $7,500. The Bond Court serves the county 24 hours a day at 201 John Mark Dial Drive, Columbia, SC 29209, reachable at (803) 576-3281. The Central Court at 2500 Decker Boulevard handles general magistrate matters. Many Magistrate Court records appear in the Public Index. The SC Magistrate Court page explains the types of cases these courts handle.
Richland County Probate and Other Records
The Probate Court for Richland County is led by Hon. Amy W. McCulloch and can be reached at (803) 576-1984. The court address is PO Box 192, Columbia, SC 29202. The Probate Court handles estate records, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and marriage licenses. Estate records filed after October 2000 are available through an online Subscription Management System, but only interested parties are approved to view them. For older estate records, contact the Probate Court directly.
The Register of Deeds for Richland County is The Honorable John Hopkins. The office phone is (803) 576-1910 and the fax is (803) 576-1613. Property records including deeds and mortgages are stored there. For the Richland County Master-in-Equity, contact Hon. Stephanie N. Lawrence at (803) 576-1900. This court handles complex civil cases referred from Circuit Court. The SC Probate Court page provides additional context on probate procedures statewide.
For statewide criminal background checks, the SLED CATCH system charges $25 plus a $1 online fee. South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act under § 30-4-10 et seq. and § 14-9-150 of the Code govern public access to court records. Written FOIA requests go to the Clerk of Court office and must receive a response within 10 business days.
Nearby Counties
Richland County is in the center of South Carolina and borders Lexington, Kershaw, Fairfield, Newberry, and Calhoun counties. Columbia, the county seat, is also the state capital. Cases for residents of these neighboring counties are filed in each county's respective court system.