Charleston County Clerk of Court (SC): Records & Court Services

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Charleston County, South Carolina Court Records Guide

Charleston County Clerk of Court (SC): Records & Court Services

The Charleston County Clerk of Court is the local court-records office for Circuit Court and Family Court matters in Charleston County, South Carolina. The office supports Common Pleas, General Sessions, and Family Court records, filings, fees, jury service, copies, certification, and public case access.

Use this guide to search Charleston County court records, request copies, find the correct office at 100 Broad Street, understand public access limits, avoid jury scams, and know when a request belongs with the Register of Deeds instead of the Clerk of Court.

Search Circuit Court Records Search Family Court Records Official Clerk Website

Independent guide last reviewed September 2026. Confirm current fees, hours, case access rules, and court instructions on the official Charleston County Clerk of Court website before filing, mailing payment, or visiting.

Quick Facts: Charleston County Clerk of Court

Official office Charleston County Clerk of Court.
Clerk of Court Julie J. Armstrong is listed by Charleston County as Clerk of Court.
Office hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except county holidays.
Common Pleas / General Sessions 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401.
Circuit Court phone 843-958-5000.
Family Court 100 Broad Street, Suite 143, Charleston, SC 29401.
Family Court phone 843-958-4400.
General email clerkofcourt@charlestoncounty.org.
Simple rule: use the Clerk of Court for court cases, dockets, court filings, certified court copies, Family Court, Common Pleas, General Sessions, jury service, and court payments. Use the Register of Deeds for deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, and property-recording searches.

How to Request Charleston County Court Record Copies

The Clerk of Court says many documents and exhibits filed in General Sessions, Common Pleas, and Family Court may be viewed upon request during normal business hours, unless access is restricted by law or court order. Copies may be requested in person or by mail.

A strong records request should include a specific case number, the names of the parties, the court division, and a clear description of the document you need. If you do not include enough information, staff may not be able to locate the correct file.

Common Pleas requests Mail or visit Clerk of Court / Common Pleas, 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401.
General Sessions requests Mail or visit Clerk of Court / General Sessions, 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401.
Family Court requests Mail or visit Clerk of Court / Family Court, 100 Broad Street, Suite 143, Charleston, SC 29401.
What to include Case number, party names, court division, document name, approximate date, and your contact information.

Official FAQ sourceCharleston County Clerk of Court FAQs

After opening this link:

  1. Open the FAQ and find the question about getting copies of court documents.
  2. Review which court division holds the record: Common Pleas, General Sessions, or Family Court.
  3. Write down the mailing address for the correct division before sending a request.
  4. Include the case number and names of the parties involved.
  5. Prepare payment by cashier’s check or money order if mailing a copy request.
  6. Call the correct office first if you need a certified copy, sealed record guidance, or a time-sensitive record.
Copy-cost reminder: Charleston County’s FAQ lists a $0.10 per-page copy fee and a $1.00 certification fee. Family Court copy requests by mail may require different handling, so confirm the current amount before mailing payment.

Charleston County Clerk of Court Google Map, Address, Phone, and Offices

The Clerk of Court offices are at 100 Broad Street in downtown Charleston. Common Pleas and General Sessions are listed in Suite 106, while Family Court is listed in Suite 143. Use the Google Map below for directions, but confirm parking, building access, and security rules before going.

Charleston County Clerk of Court

Common Pleas / General Sessions:
100 Broad Street, Suite 106
Charleston, SC 29401

Family Court:
100 Broad Street, Suite 143
Charleston, SC 29401

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Circuit Court phone: 843-958-5000

Family Court phone: 843-958-4400

Open 100 Broad Street in Google Maps

Common Pleas

100 Broad Street, Suite 106
Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: 843-958-5000

Civil Circuit Court matters, filings, judgments, appeals from lower courts, and civil court records.

General Sessions

100 Broad Street, Suite 106
Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: 843-958-5000

Criminal Circuit Court matters, fines, fees, bonds, docket questions, and public criminal case information.

Family Court

100 Broad Street, Suite 143
Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: 843-958-4400

Divorce, custody, visitation, support, alimony, adoption-related matters, juvenile matters, and orders of protection.

Official office pageCharleston County Clerk of Court Office

After opening this link:

  1. Check the office hours and county holiday link before visiting.
  2. Use the division links for Circuit Court, Family Court, Jury Service, or Online Services.
  3. Use the posted phone numbers for Common Pleas / General Sessions or Family Court.
  4. Email clerkofcourt@charlestoncounty.org only for appropriate Clerk of Court questions, not legal advice.

What the Charleston County Clerk of Court Does

The Clerk of Court serves both Circuit Court and Family Court. The office is responsible for docket management, receipt of fees, fines and costs, maintenance of court records, submission of reports to state agencies, jury-related support, and courtroom staffing while court is in session.

In Charleston County, Circuit Court includes Common Pleas for civil matters and General Sessions for criminal matters. Family Court handles domestic and family-related cases, including divorce, legal separation, custody, visitation, support, alimony, adoption, termination of parental rights, and certain juvenile matters.

Court records Maintain Common Pleas, General Sessions, and Family Court records, including docket and filing information.
Civil filings Receive Common Pleas civil actions, appeals, lis pendens filings, and related civil court paperwork.
Criminal court Handle General Sessions records, fines, fees, bonds, criminal docket information, and related court processing.
Family Court Handle Family Court filings, orders of protection, child/spousal support processing, and Family Court records.
Jury service Provide juror information, online juror summons response, reporting instructions, and scam warnings.
Notary enrollment Enroll South Carolina notaries commissioned in Charleston County, with original certificate and photo ID.

Official overviewCharleston County Clerk of Court General Information

After opening this link:

  1. Read the Clerk of Court overview to confirm whether your task belongs with Circuit Court or Family Court.
  2. Review the Common Pleas, General Sessions, and Family Court descriptions.
  3. If your record is a deed, mortgage, plat, or lien, switch to the Register of Deeds instead.
  4. If your record is a municipal court or magistrate court ticket, contact the court listed on the ticket or case notice.

Charleston County Clerk of Court Fees, Payments, and Filing Notes

Fees depend on the court division and the type of request. The Clerk’s FAQ and filing-fee pages list copy costs, certification costs, civil filing fees, appeal fees, lis pendens fees, notary enrollment fees, and payment-method rules.

$0.10 Per-page copy fee listed by the Clerk’s FAQ.
$1.00 Certification fee for an official copy with seal, according to the Clerk’s FAQ.
$150.00 Common Pleas / domestic relations filing fee listed on the filing-fee page.
$10.00 Lis pendens filing fee listed by the Clerk.
$150.00 Civil appeals from Small Claims, Probate Court, evictions, and administrative agencies.
$10.00 Notary enrollment fee listed in the Clerk’s FAQ.
Card fees apply Credit-card portal and convenience fees may be added for eligible in-person Circuit Court transactions.
Confirm first Family Court copies, mail requests, support payments, purge payments, and bond payments may have different rules.

Official feesCharleston County Clerk of Court Filing Fees

After opening this link:

  1. Find the fee category that matches your filing or request.
  2. Check whether your case belongs in Common Pleas, Family Court, General Sessions, or another court.
  3. Confirm whether payment must be cash, money order, cashier’s check, or card.
  4. If mailing, make payment payable as instructed by the Clerk and include the case number.
  5. Call the correct office before sending payment if the total is unclear.
Payment caution: court officials will not call and demand confidential personal information or money over the phone to fix a missed jury summons. Treat unexpected payment threats as a possible scam and verify directly with the Clerk.

Charleston County Family Court Records, Support Payments, and Orders of Protection

Charleston County Family Court handles domestic and family matters such as divorce, legal separation, custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, alimony, adoption, termination of parental rights, name changes, juvenile matters, and orders of protection.

Family Court records may have access restrictions. Divorce decrees and other Family Court records can generally be requested in person or by mail, but sealed and confidential files may require a court order or may only be accessible to specific parties.

Divorce decrees Request from Family Court with the case number if known, party names, and approximate date information.
Child and spousal support Routine support payments are handled through the South Carolina State Disbursement Unit, not ordinary Clerk payment windows.
Purge payments Family Court purge payments must be made at the Judicial Center in Family Court when ordered.
Orders of protection Family Court handles qualifying family-related protection orders; restraining orders for non-family matters may involve Magistrate Court.

Official Family CourtCharleston County Family Court

After opening this link:

  1. Choose the correct Family Court service, such as Family Court Case Search, Orders of Protection, Family Court Dockets, or support payment information.
  2. Use CourtPlus for online public Family Court case access where available.
  3. For divorce decrees or certified records, contact Family Court at 100 Broad Street, Suite 143.
  4. For child or spousal support payment questions, follow the State Disbursement Unit instructions.
  5. For urgent protection issues, follow official Family Court or law-enforcement guidance rather than relying only on online records.

Support paymentsSouth Carolina State Disbursement Unit

After opening this link:

  1. Use this state resource for regular child or spousal support payment information.
  2. Follow the state mailing or online-payment instructions for routine support payments.
  3. Use the customer service phone number listed by the state if you need payment status help.
  4. Do not send purge payments to the State Disbursement Unit if the Family Court order specifically requires payment at the Judicial Center.

Jury Service, Online Juror Summons, and Jury Scam Warning

Charleston County Clerk of Court provides jury-service information and an online juror summons response option. If you receive a jury summons, follow the summons instructions and the official jury service page.

Be alert for jury scams. Charleston County warns that scammers may pretend to be court officers or law enforcement, claim that a warrant was issued for missing jury duty, and demand payment or personal information by phone.

Official jury serviceCharleston County Circuit Court Jury Service

After opening this link:

  1. Read the current reporting instructions for the week shown on the official page.
  2. Use your summons information to respond through the online juror summons system if available.
  3. Check whether you are required to appear, have been excused, or need to request a postponement.
  4. Review the jury-scam warning before responding to any phone call or message demanding money.
  5. Call the Clerk directly if you are unsure whether a jury notice is real.
Scam warning: do not give bank details, Social Security numbers, card numbers, or prepaid card information to someone who calls claiming you missed jury duty. Verify through the official Clerk of Court phone number.

Charleston County Clerk of Court vs Register of Deeds

Many people looking for “Charleston County records” actually need the Register of Deeds, not the Clerk of Court. The Clerk of Court maintains court records. The Register of Deeds records land titles, liens, mortgages, plats, and other property-transaction documents.

Use the Clerk of Court for

  • Common Pleas civil court records.
  • General Sessions criminal court records.
  • Family Court records and divorce decrees.
  • Jury service and online juror summons.
  • Court filings, court copies, certifications, and court payments.
  • Notary enrollment and court-related forms.

Use the Register of Deeds for

  • Deeds and property ownership recordings.
  • Mortgages and satisfactions.
  • Liens and property-related miscellaneous documents.
  • Plats, book/page searches, and land-record images.
  • UCC, state, and federal tax lien search tools.
  • Property-record copy and recording questions.

Different officeCharleston County Register of Deeds

After opening this link:

  1. Use this office if your document is a deed, mortgage, lien, plat, satisfaction, or other property-related recording.
  2. Choose the correct search tool, such as name/date, book/page, deed type/date, or plat search.
  3. Check the image record dates and index date ranges shown on the search page.
  4. Return to the Clerk of Court only if the record is a court case filing, judgment, divorce decree, or other court document.

Expungements, Background Checks, and Criminal Record Questions

The Clerk of Court does not handle every criminal-record question directly. Charleston County’s FAQ directs expungement questions to the Expungement Coordinator for the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. For statewide criminal background checks, the Clerk points users to SLED CATCH.

Expungement contact Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Charleston County phone: 843-958-1900.
Background checks Use SLED CATCH for South Carolina criminal background check information.
Disposition copies For certified court dispositions, contact the Clerk division connected to the case.
Not legal advice Eligibility questions should be reviewed with the Solicitor’s Office or a qualified attorney.

Official expungement officeNinth Circuit Solicitor Expungement Information

After opening this link:

  1. Review whether the charge or disposition may qualify for expungement through the Solicitor’s Office.
  2. Use Charleston County as the county if the charge originated there.
  3. Gather certified dispositions or Clerk of Court records if the instructions require them.
  4. Track the expungement process through the Solicitor’s official tools when available.
  5. Do not assume a case is expunged until an official expungement order has been completed and processed.

Background checksSLED CATCH Criminal Background Check

After opening this link:

  1. Use SLED CATCH when you need a statewide South Carolina criminal background check resource.
  2. Read the identity and fee instructions before searching.
  3. Use certified court records from the Clerk if you need official case disposition documents.

Forms, E-Filing, and Court Help

The Clerk’s forms page connects users to local forms and court resources. South Carolina e-filing is generally for members of the South Carolina Bar, so self-represented litigants should carefully read court instructions before preparing filings.

Official formsCharleston County Clerk of Court Forms

After opening this link:

  1. Choose the form category that matches your court division.
  2. Read the instructions before completing or signing any form.
  3. Confirm filing fees and payment method before filing.
  4. Ask the Clerk about procedural questions, but do not expect legal advice from Clerk staff.

Official e-filingSouth Carolina Courts E-Filing Portal

After opening this link:

  1. Review whether your filing type is eligible for e-filing.
  2. Confirm whether you must be a South Carolina Bar member to use the portal for that filing.
  3. Use Charleston County and the correct court division when starting a filing.
  4. Save submission confirmations, rejection notices, and accepted-filed notices.

Before You Call or Visit: Practical Checklist

  • Identify the court division first: Common Pleas, General Sessions, Family Court, Magistrate Court, Municipal Court, or Register of Deeds.
  • Search online first if you only need basic public case information.
  • Write down the case number, party names, filing year, and document title before requesting copies.
  • Use Suite 106 for Common Pleas and General Sessions; use Suite 143 for Family Court.
  • Bring photo ID when checking sensitive Family Court, support, or case-party information.
  • Do not send payment by mail until you confirm the correct fee and payee.
  • For legal advice, contact an attorney or the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service, not Clerk staff.
Best user path: search the public case system first, confirm the exact case number, then request copies or certifications from the correct Clerk division.

Independent Guide and Record-Use Notice

This page is an independent informational guide for Charleston County Clerk of Court services. It is not the official Charleston County Clerk of Court website, and it does not provide legal advice, case strategy, attorney referrals, or official court action.

This website is not a consumer reporting agency. Do not use this guide or linked court-record tools for employment screening, tenant screening, credit decisions, insurance eligibility, or any Fair Credit Reporting Act purpose.

Charleston County Clerk of Court FAQs

1. How do I search Charleston County court records online?

Use the Charleston County Public Index for Circuit Court records such as Common Pleas and General Sessions. For Family Court, use the Family Court search link provided by Charleston County, including CourtPlus where available.

2. Where is the Charleston County Clerk of Court located?

Common Pleas and General Sessions are located at 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401. Family Court is located at 100 Broad Street, Suite 143, Charleston, SC 29401.

3. What is the phone number for the Charleston County Clerk of Court?

For Common Pleas and General Sessions, call 843-958-5000. For Family Court, call 843-958-4400.

4. How do I get copies of Charleston County court documents?

Copies may generally be requested in person or by mail from the correct court division. Include the case number, party names, court division, and requested document. Some records are sealed or confidential and may not be available to the public.

5. How much are Charleston County court record copies?

The Clerk’s FAQ lists a $0.10 per-page copy fee and a $1.00 certification fee. Confirm the current fee before mailing payment, especially for Family Court or certified copy requests.

6. Can the Clerk of Court give legal advice?

No. Clerk staff can provide procedural and records information, but they cannot give legal advice, tell you what to file, or recommend an attorney.

7. Does the Charleston County Clerk of Court handle deeds and mortgages?

No. Deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, and property-related recordings are handled by the Charleston County Register of Deeds, not the Clerk of Court.

8. Where do I pay Charleston County child or spousal support?

Routine child or spousal support payments are handled through the South Carolina State Disbursement Unit. Court-ordered purge payments may need to be made at Family Court, so follow the specific court order.

9. Who handles expungement questions in Charleston County?

The Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office handles expungement questions for qualifying criminal records. Charleston County’s Clerk FAQ directs expungement questions to the Solicitor’s Office at 843-958-1900.

10. Is this the official Charleston County Clerk of Court website?

No. This is an independent guide. For official case searches, copies, fees, jury service, court forms, and office updates, use the official Charleston County Clerk of Court links provided in this article.

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