Charleston County court cases sit with the Clerk of Court for the Ninth Judicial Circuit at 100 Broad Street in Charleston. A case number links a plaintiff, a defendant, and every paper added after filing. The same office keeps civil, criminal, family, and probate files, and each type follows its own numbering pattern. A search starts with a name or a number and ends with a docket sheet.
This page shows how to search those files, read party and lawyer details, and follow a case from filing to judgment. It lists the documents that appear online and the ones that stay on paper at the counter. It covers sealed files, certified copies, update delays, and the steps to take when a case number returns nothing at all. Call the clerk before a trip downtown in Charleston.
Court Case Search
The county portal and the clerk’s public index hold most case data, and both are free to search.
- County online services and court case search: https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/online-services.php
- Search by party name, case number, attorney, or filing date.
- Case numbers begin 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 Record Information
A case record has two layers. The index row gives the caption, the filing date, and the current status. The docket behind it lists every motion, hearing, and order in date order. Read the caption first to confirm the parties match your subject. Then read the docket from the first entry forward. A single case can hold hundreds of entries, so note the dates that matter before you request copies.
| Office detail | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Location | Charleston County Clerk of Court, 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401-2258 |
| Contact Number | (843) 958-5000 |
| Office Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (excluding county holidays) |
| Official Website Search Portal | https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/online-services.php |
Start with a case number when a bond form, a receipt, or a lawyer’s letter provides one. A name search works as well, yet common surnames return long lists. Add a middle initial, a birth year, or a filing range to narrow the rows. Write the number and the full party name on a request slip. Counter staff pull the file by number, and the docket prints in minutes.
Plaintiff, Defendant & Attorney Details
A civil caption names the plaintiff who filed and the defendant who answers. A criminal caption names the state as prosecutor and the accused as defendant. Family cases use petitioner and respondent instead. Each party row may list an address, a birth year, and a lawyer. The attorney of record is the lawyer who speaks for a party in court. Check the bar number when two lawyers share a surname.
Assigned Judge & Court Division
The docket header names the judge assigned to the case and the division that hears it. Charleston County civil matters may sit in the Circuit Court or in a lower court. Criminal felonies go to the Circuit Court, and lesser charges stay in magistrate or municipal court. A case can transfer between judges after a recusal or a scheduling change. Read the newest entry, since the header may show an older assignment.
| Index field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Case number | Court code, year, and sequence for the file |
| Caption | Party names and the type of case |
| Filing date | Day the clerk opened the file |
| Attorney of record | Lawyer who represents a party |
| Division | Judge group that hears the matter |
| Status | Open, closed, or under appeal |
Read the caption and the case number together before you trust a search result. Two captions can look alike when the parties share a surname, and a middle initial decides the match. The filing date narrows a common name to one year. The division tells you which courtroom holds the paper. A status label can lag, so check the newest docket line. Write the case number on every request.
Case Classifications & Activity
Every file carries a case type and a status. The type decides which court hears the matter and which rules apply. The status shows where the file sits today: newly filed, pending, closed, or on appeal. Court staff update the status after each hearing or order. A status can lag behind the paper file for several days, so read the newest docket entry when the two disagree.
Civil, Criminal, Family & Probate Dockets
Civil dockets cover contract disputes, injury claims, foreclosures, and appeals from lower courts. Criminal dockets list charges, bonds, pleas, and sentences. Family dockets hold divorce, custody, support, and adoption matters, and many of those files are restricted. Probate dockets cover estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships, and the Probate Court keeps them in its own office. Ask the clerk which docket holds your case before you search at the counter.
Filings, Motions & Hearing Timelines
Each docket line carries a file date and a description of the paper added. A motion appears when a party asks the court for an order. A rule to show cause, a notice of hearing, and a scheduling order each set a date. A hearing can be continued, and a continuance adds a new line without erasing the old one. Count business days from the newest entry when you track a deadline.
Orders, Judgments & Case Outcomes
An order decides one issue, and a judgment ends a claim or a whole case. A dismissal, a settlement, a verdict, and a default judgment are all outcomes. Some orders carry a signature date that differs from the file date. Read the last two pages of a long order for the ruling and the signature. A closed case can reopen on a motion, so confirm the status before you rely on an old printout.
| Status label | What it means |
|---|---|
| Active or pending | Open, with hearings or deadlines ahead |
| Closed | Final order signed; no events scheduled |
| Disposed | Claim ended by dismissal, plea, or judgment |
| Appealed | Under review by a higher court |
| Reopened | New motion filed after a final order |
Status words vary by court, and two clerks may label the same stage in different ways. Pending means the case is open and expects more action. Closed means a judge signed a final order and no further hearings are set. Disposed covers a dismissal, a settlement, or a judgment. An appeal moves review to a higher court and does not erase the original file. Ask the clerk to read the label with you.
Court Documents & Official Files
Paper stays with the clerk even when the index lists a case. The public terminal shows docket text, and a copy request turns that text into a document you can carry. Some papers, such as a financial statement in a family file, stay out of public view by rule or by order. Bring photo identification and a case number to the records window. Ask what the office can release before you pay for copies.
Available Online Documents
The county portal and the state court system publish docket entries, party names, and some filed papers. Coverage differs by court and by year. Older cases may appear only as a caption with no images. A criminal indictment and a civil complaint often stay on paper. Read the document list on the case page before you assume a file is empty. If an image is missing, the counter copy is the next step.
Sealed & Restricted Records
A judge can seal a file, limit who may read it, or restrict one document inside an open case. Juvenile matters, some family files, and mental health records carry limits by law. A sealed case may show only a case number in the index. A lawyer on the case can ask the court to release a copy. Other requesters need a court order that states a reason. Ask the clerk what the file allows.
Requesting Certified Copies
A certified copy carries the clerk’s signature and the court seal. Employers, licensing boards, and appeals courts often demand one. Bring the case number, the document name, and photo identification to the counter at 100 Broad Street. The clerk quotes a per-page fee, and payment is due when you order. A large file takes several business days. Confirm the fee by phone before a long trip.
Record Accuracy & Resolution
A search that returns nothing does not prove a case is absent. Spelling, hyphenation, and a maiden name cause most misses. A case number typed with a wrong year or a missing digit still fails. New filings wait in a queue before the index shows them. Test a partial surname, a broader date span, and the state portal. Call the clerk with the case number and the filing date when every attempt fails.
Recent Filing Update Delays
Clerks enter new filings in batches, and a holiday weekend can push the queue back. A bond hearing or a temporary order may happen before the docket entry exists. Keep the arrest date, the agency report number, and the name of the officer. Call the clerk after five business days if the case still does not appear. A paper filing at the window can confirm the case sooner.
Name Ambiguity & Number Errors
Two people can share a name, a birth year, and a county. The case number is the only sure link between a person and a file. Check the middle name, the suffix, and the address on the first page. A transposed digit in a case number sends you to a different case, so read each block aloud. Ask the clerk to confirm the match before you order a certified copy.
Unlisted Case Resolution
Start with the clerk and give every detail you hold: the name, the date, the charge, and the agency. Staff can search by party, by officer, or by filing date. The file may sit in a magistrate court, a municipal court, or another county. Ask which court held jurisdiction over the event. Request a written note when no record exists. That note helps an employer or a lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The same points surface at the records counter and over the phone. Each answer reflects South Carolina practice and the offices named on this page. A clerk can confirm a case number, a fee, or a document name, and a lawyer can explain how a rule applies to one file. Hours and fees change often, so call ahead before a trip to Broad Street downtown.
How long after filing does a case appear online?
Most cases appear within one to three business days after the clerk accepts the paperwork. A holiday or a backlog can add another day or two. Criminal cases often show a bond entry before the docket is complete. Civil complaints may wait until the filing fee is paid and the summons is issued. Call the clerk with the case number if nothing shows after five full business days.
Can public users view full court case documents?
No. The public index and the county portal show docket text, party names, and some images, yet many papers stay on paper. A complaint, an indictment, and a financial statement often need a counter request at the records window. Sealed and juvenile files stay closed to everyone but the parties and their lawyers. A certified copy costs a per-page fee, and staff can quote it by phone before you order.
What is the difference between pending and closed case status?
Pending means the court still expects action, such as a hearing, a motion, or a trial date. Closed means a judge signed a final order and no further events are scheduled. A closed case can reopen when a party files a new motion, and an appeal moves review to a higher court without erasing the file. Read the newest docket line to confirm the label before you rely on it.
Who confirms missing or unlisted court case files?
The Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street confirms whether a file exists. Give the name, the filing date, the case number if you have one, and the agency that made the arrest. Staff can check magistrate, municipal, and circuit indexes. If the case sits in another county, the clerk can point to that office. Ask for a written note when no record turns up for your file.