South Carolina Court Records

South Carolina Court Record Lookup

South Carolina SC court records are crucial to executing a legal order made by a judge or magistrate in South Carolina, whether collecting child support, clearing one’s driving record, claiming an inheritance, or enrolling in a court-ordered treatment program. These records are public documents, available to anyone by performing South Carolina court records search.

Courts of limited jurisdiction

Magistrate courts are county-level courts with limited criminal and civil (up to $7,500) jurisdiction as well as traffic tickets and some landlord-tenant issues exceeding $7,500.

Municipal courts hear cases involving violations of municipal ordinances which are criminal and misdemeanor records with penalties not exceeding 30 days in jail.

Probate courts are located in each county. These courts have jurisdiction over estates and wills, guardianships, marriage licenses, care of the mentally ill and “chemically dependent.”

Family courts handle South Carolina child support and custody filings, divorce cases, domestic abuse, and similar issues. Anyone can obtain these South Carolina court records online through South Carolina court case lookup.

The Administrative Law Court hears complaints about the state’s professional licensure board and other state agencies.

Trial courts

State circuit courts are found in 16 circuits around the state and each is divided into two divisions: the court of common pleas for civil matters and the general sessions division for criminal complaints. This court also hears appeals of disputed decisions from state agencies and lower courts.

Records from these South Carolina courthouses may be searched online by conducting South Carolina court record lookup. Juvenile case information, as well as other South Carolina criminal records with names of crime victims, are likely to be restricted due to confidentiality laws.

In a recent year the courts saw more than 700 felony domestic violence cases, 36 hunting offenses, about 4,000 aggravated assault and battery cases (including two “by mob, resulting in death”); 11 carjackings, and almost 700 violent burglaries.

Appellate courts

An intermediate court of appeals hears disputed cases from lower courts. The state supreme court hears all death penalty appeals, disputed election issues, minors seeking abortions, public utility rate disputes, and certain grand jury situations.

Bankruptcy court

There is at least one U.S. District Court in each state that handles bankruptcy cases, multi-state lawsuits, violations of federal laws, and more. 

South Carolina Notable Court Cases

The most notable case originating from the South Carolina court system is Edwards v. South Carolina (1963). This case began as a result of African-American students peacefully assembling to protest at a Baptist church in 1961. They marched to the state house to express their grievances regarding their civil rights in the state. Petitioners were not violent, but refused to disperse and were arrested on charges of breach of the peace. South Carolina trial courts convicted the petitioners and the decision was upheld by the South Carolina Supreme Court, however, the U.S. Supreme Court dissented and determined that the state had infringed upon their right to free speech, free assembly and freedom to petition.