Richland County Magistrate Court Court cases in Richland County, Columbia, SC
Richland County Magistrate Court - Olympia is a county Magistrate (Summary) Court in Columbia, South Carolina, within the South Carolina Unified Judicial System. It serves as a limited-jurisdiction court handling lower-level matters, including: civil small-claims actions up to $7,500, landlord-tenant/evictions, and claim-and-delivery; minor criminal offenses and county ordinance violations punishable by up to 30 days' imprisonment or up to a $500 fine, or both; and most traffic infractions. The court also issues arrest and search warrants, conducts bond hearings, and holds preliminary hearings in criminal cases bound for the Court of General Sessions. It does not handle Family Court matters such as divorce, custody, or child support.
Richland County Magistrate Court Contact and Location Information
| Court Type: | Magistrate Court |
| County: | Richland |
| Street Address: | 2500 Decker Blvd. |
| City: | Columbia |
| Zip Code: | 29223 |
| Phone: | 803-576-2300 |
| Fax: | 803-576-2392 |
| Hours: | Monday - Friday 8:30AM - 5:00PM |
| Website URL: | https://www.richlandcountysc.gov/Government/Courts-and-Judicial-System/Magistrates |
| Forms & Filing: | https://www.sccourts.org/forms/searchType.cfm |
| Dockets / Schedule / Calendar: | https://publicindex.sccourts.org/Richland/SummaryCourtDockets/SummaryDocketSearch.aspx |
| Jury Service: | https://www.richlandcountysc.gov/Government/Courts-and-Judicial-System/Clerk-of-Court/Jury-Information |
| Languages: | Multiple |
| Linkedin: | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanette-mcbride-0a443b6a/ |
| ADA: | the Ombudsman |
| ADA Phone: | 803-929-6000 |
| ADA Fax / Email: | 803-929-6009, ombudsman@richlandcountysc.gov |
| About / Additional Info: | The mission of the Magistrate Court is to provide the citizens of Richland County with a fair and impartial Summary Court. The fourteen full time and three part-time magistrates perform the following:Issue criminal arrest and search warrants,Conduct bail bond hearings four times daily to determine how a defendant should be released from detention,Conduct preliminary hearings for General Sessions level cases,Conduct jury trials for all magistrate level cases,A magistrate may impose a fine with court assessments of up to $5242.50 and/or a penalty of up to a 180 day sentence. The civil jurisdiction is $7500.00. |
Services and Case Types Handled in Richland County Magistrate Court
Richland County Magistrates Court - Olympia serves as a local court of limited jurisdiction. It:
- Accepts civil filings up to $7,500 (small claims, contract/property damage, landlord-tenant evictions, claim-and-delivery).
- Handles traffic offenses and misdemeanor criminal cases within magistrate limits; issues arrest/search warrants, conducts bond court, and holds non-jury and jury trials.
- Conducts preliminary hearings for criminal matters bound to General Sessions.
- Processes applications for civil restraining orders (harassment/stalking); domestic violence Orders of Protection are handled in Family Court.
- Manages jury services, including summons, qualification, deferrals, and juror reporting for magistrate trials.
- Schedules and conducts hearings (evictions, traffic/criminal, civil motions and trials).
- Provides public-facing services: fine/fee payments, payment plans, case information, forms, and scheduling assistance.