Charleston County, established in 1769, is named after Charles II of England. Charleston County covers an area of approximately 1,357 square miles and has a population of over 400,000 residents. Located on the southeastern coast of South Carolina, Charleston County has its county seat in Charleston City.

Courts in Charleston County

Charleston County's court system comprises Circuit, Family, Probate, Magistrate, and Municipal courts. The Charleston County District Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases and is divided into two branches. The Court of Common Pleas handles civil matters, while the Court of General Sessions presides over criminal cases. The court also hears appeals from the lower courts.

The Family Court in Charleston County specializes in matters involving children and families. They preside over child custody, child support, adoption cases, domestic abuse, divorce, and alimony cases. The Probate Courts handle matters related to the administration of deceased estates, adjudicating cases such as conservatorship and guardianship of minors, wills, and trusts.

The Magistrate Courts, known as Summary Courts, handle minor civil and criminal cases, including small claims for $7,500 or less, landlord/tenant disputes, and traffic violations. The Municipal Courts operate within municipalities in Charleston County and preside over cases arising from municipal ordinances. They handle criminal offenses, including traffic violations and municipal code violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Charleston County

Public court records are the documents filed after civil and criminal proceedings that are publicly available to Charleston County residents. The Clerk of Court provides electronic access to Charleston County public court records through CourtPlus. Record seekers may also access and obtain copies of Charleston County court records in person at the courthouses.  The Court also permits mail requests for the documents.

Types of Public Court Records in Charleston County

Access to court records allows the public to stay informed about legal matters in the county. The following court records are publicly available in Charleston County:

• Civil Court Records: Small claims, foreclosures, property disputes, defamation cases, and personal injury claims
• CriminalCourt Records: Felonies and misdemeanor records, including arson, burglary, vandalism, and public intoxication
• Probate Records: Conservatorships, guardianships, trusts, wills, and estates
• Family Law Records: Child custody, child support, annulment, divorce, legal separation, division of marital property, and alimony
• Traffic Records: Traffic citations, driving with expired licenses, including driving under the influence, speeding tickets, and illegal parking

Confidential Court Records in Charleston County

Confidential court records in Charleston County refer to the papers from judicial proceedings restricted from public access. Confidential court records contain sensitive information, sealed by the courts to protect the privacy of the individual named on the court document. However, parties involved in the case, attorneys, judges, and law enforcement agencies may access confidential court records. Confidential court records in Charleston County include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Trade secrets and proprietary business information
• Substance abuse treatment records

Likewise, personal information on a court record is confidential and closed to the public. Personal identifiers are redacted from public court records to prevent identity theft and protect individuals from potential harm or harassment. Confidential information excluded from public court records includes:

• Social Security number
• Drivers license number
• Vehicle plate number
• Financial account information
• Birthdates

Juvenile Delinquency in Charleston, SC

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Charleston County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in South Carolina often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2015, a total of 1803 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Charleston County. Of that total, 92% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1650 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Charleston County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Charleston County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Charleston County, SC

https://sc.gov/

County Seat:	Charleston
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1769
Total Square Miles:	1,358
2019 Population:	401,438
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Charleston County, SC Courts