Charleston County Case Information

Charleston County case information begins with the Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street in Charleston. That office keeps civil, criminal, family, and probate files for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Every file carries a case number, a caption, and a docket sheet that lists each paper added since the first filing. This page shows how to search those files, read the parties, and follow a case to its end.

It lists the offices that hold the records, the fields shown on a search result, and the documents kept out of public view. Read on for party roles, hearing dates, and the wording that marks an open, pending, or closed file. The closing section covers update delays, sealed cases, and the steps to correct a wrong entry. A phone call to the clerk saves a wasted trip downtown.

Case Search Details

The county portal and the clerk’s index hold the case number, caption, and docket for most files.

• County online services and case search portal: https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/online-services.php
• Search by case number, party name, attorney, or filing date.
• Case numbers start with a year, a court code, and a sequence.
• Clerk of Court counter: 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston.
• Certified copies need a written request and a per-page fee.
• Public terminals at the courthouse are free to use.

Case Parties & Representatives

A case caption names the people and offices that stand on each side. The first row is the party who filed, the second is the party who answers. Roles differ by case type, and the same word can carry a different meaning in a family file and a criminal file. Read the caption with the case number in hand, then check the party rows for addresses, birth years, and lawyers.

A case number is the best place to begin if a receipt, a bond form, or a lawyer’s letter supplies one. A surname search can work, yet frequent names return many rows. Narrow the list with a middle initial, a birth year, or a range of filing dates. Put the number and the party’s full name on a slip. Counter staff pull a file by number, and a docket prints in a few minutes.

Plaintiff, Defendant & Party Roles

A civil caption names the plaintiff who filed and the defendant who answers. A criminal caption names the State of South Carolina as prosecutor and the accused as defendant. A probate file may list an estate, a personal representative, and heirs. Each party row can hold an address, a birth year, and a lawyer. The party roles decide who must be served with each new paper in the file.

Petitioner & Respondent Details

Family and appellate files use petitioner and respondent instead of plaintiff and defendant. The petitioner asks the court for an order, and the respondent answers it. A divorce, a custody request, and an appeal each follow that pattern. Some rows list a guardian ad litem for a minor child. Read the petition first since it names the relief sought, the grounds behind it, and the date set for a hearing.

Listed Attorneys of Record

The attorney of record is the lawyer who speaks for a party in court. That name appears in the caption block and again on each paper the lawyer signs. A bar number separates two lawyers who share a surname. Some parties proceed without a lawyer, and the row then shows a blank or the words pro se. Check the newest entry, since a party can change counsel during a case.

Linked Case Participants

One event can produce several files. A criminal charge may link to a bond case, a traffic ticket, and a later appeal. A civil claim can link to a related probate estate. The index may show these links as related case numbers or as a participant list. Write down every number in the group before you order copies, since one file often explains a gap in another.

Party rows and lawyer rows change more often than a caption suggests. A new address, a substitution of counsel, or a guardian appointment adds a line without removing the old one. Read the newest line first, then work backward to see what changed and when. The caption at the top of a printout may be years old. Ask the clerk to confirm the current party list before you mail a notice.

Case Activity & Docket Timelines

A docket is a dated list, and each line records one act by the court or by a party. The newest line sits at the bottom on some screens and at the top on others. Read the date column before the description column. A gap of months can mean a quiet case or a missing entry. Compare the docket with the case status label, since the two can disagree.

Civil, Criminal, Family & Probate Filings

Civil files hold contract claims, injury suits, foreclosures, and appeals from lower courts. Criminal files list charges, bonds, pleas, and sentences. Family files cover divorce, custody, support, and adoption, and many of those rows stay closed. Probate files cover estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships, and the Probate Court keeps them in its own office. Ask which docket holds your matter before you search at a counter or online.

Hearing Schedules & Court Appearances

A notice of hearing names a date, a time, and a courtroom. A scheduling order sets deadlines for motions, evidence exchange, and trial. A continuance moves the date and adds a new line, and the old line stays in place. Check the newest notice the night before you travel, since a courtroom change can appear late. Bring the case number and photo identification to the courtroom door.

Motions, Orders & Judgments

A motion asks the court to do something, and the other side may file a response. The docket shows the motion, the response, and any reply. An order decides one issue and carries a judge’s signature. A judgment ends a claim or a whole case. Read the last page of a long order first for the ruling, the signature, and the date it took effect in the case.

Active, Pending & Final Dispositions

Status words mark a stage, not a promise. Active and pending mean the court expects more action, such as a hearing or a trial date. Closed means a judge signed a final order and nothing else is scheduled. A disposed label covers a dismissal, a settlement, or a judgment. An appeal sends review to a higher court without erasing the file below it. Read the newest line before you trust a label.

Two clerks can label the same stage in different ways, so read the docket beside the status field. A reopened case may carry the old closed date in the header and a new hearing date below it. A remand from an appeals court adds lines without wiping the first trial. Note the date of each label and the entry that supports it before you quote a status to a court.

Court Documents & Official Files

Paper stays with the clerk even when the index shows a case. A public terminal displays docket text, and a copy request turns that text into a page you can carry. Some papers stay out of public view by rule or by court order, and a family financial statement is one example. Bring photo identification and a case number to the records window at Broad Street.

Available Online Filings

The county portal and the state court system publish docket text, party names, and some filed images. Coverage differs by court and by year, and older files may show a caption with no images. Both an indictment and a complaint usually remain on paper at the clerk’s office. Read the document list on the case page before you assume a file holds nothing. When an image is missing, ask the counter for a copy.

Document Filing History

Each filed paper carries a date, a title, and often a page count. The history shows a complaint, an answer, a motion, a notice, and an order in the order they arrived. A filing stamp on the first page is the clerk’s proof of the date. Some entries show only a fee receipt with no document. Look for gaps between the stamp date and the docket date, since data entry can lag.

Certified Copy Requirements

A certified copy bears the clerk’s signature and the court seal. An employer, a licensing board, or an appeals court often asks for one. Take the case number, the name of the paper, and photo identification to the records counter. Staff quote a per-page fee, and payment falls due at the order. A long file takes several business days, so check the fee and the wait by phone first.

Record Accuracy & Resolution

A blank result does not mean a case is absent. Most misses come from spelling, hyphenation, or an earlier name. A case number with a wrong year or a missing digit points to another file. Recent filings sit in a queue until the index catches up. Search part of the name, a broader date span, and the state portal. Phone the clerk with the case number and filing date after every attempt fails.

System Delays for Recent Activity

Clerks key new filings in batches, and a long weekend can leave the queue backed up. A bond hearing or a temporary order may come before any docket line. Note the arrest date, the agency report number, and the officer’s name. Call the clerk after five business days if the case still fails to show. A paper filed at the window can settle the question sooner.

Sealed, Restricted & Confidential Cases

The court can seal a whole file, curtail who reads it, or hide one document within a case that remains open. Files about juveniles, some family matters, and mental health care carry statutory limits. A sealed file can show up in the index as a number with no caption. A lawyer of record may request a copy from the court. Other requesters must file for an order that states a reason.

Correcting Inaccurate File Details

Bring proof when a name, a date, or a charge is wrong. A birth certificate, a signed order, or a letter from a lawyer helps staff trace the error. Ask the clerk for the correction route, since some fixes need a judge’s order and others are clerical. Keep a copy of the request and the date you filed it. Follow up in writing after ten business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most of these points reach the office at the window and by phone. Answers below follow South Carolina procedure and the offices named on this page. Counter staff can check a case number, a fee, or the title of a paper, and a lawyer can say how a rule fits one file. Office hours and fees shift, so phone ahead before you drive to Broad Street in Charleston.

How quickly do new court filings update online?

Most entries appear within one to three business days after the clerk accepts the paperwork. A holiday or a heavy backlog can stretch that window. Criminal files often show a bond line before the docket is complete. A civil suit may wait until the filing fee clears and the summons goes out. Call the clerk with the case number when nothing still shows after five full business days.

What case details are accessible to the public?

The public index shows the caption, the case number, the filing date, the party names, and the docket text. Some images appear online, but many papers stay on paper at the counter. Sealed files, juvenile matters, and some family records stay closed by law. A requester can read the docket at a public terminal without charge. Ask staff which images the system holds before you order certified copies at the window.

Why might specific case documents be restricted?

A judge restricts a document to protect a person named in it or to keep a private matter out of view. State law closes juvenile files and some family records. Mental health reports, financial statements, and addresses can stay sealed under a protective order. A party can ask the court to unseal a paper. Other requesters need a court order that states a reason and names the paper.

How can an inaccurate case entry be corrected?

Gather proof and take it to the clerk’s records window at 100 Broad Street. A birth certificate, a marriage record, or a signed order can show the right name or date. Clerical errors, such as a misspelled party, often need only a signed request. A wrong charge or a wrong disposition may need a judge’s order. Keep a copy of the request and note the date you sent it.