Charleston County Family Court Records
Charleston County family court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at the Charleston County Judicial Center on Broad Street in downtown Charleston. The Family Court in Charleston County handles divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, domestic violence protection orders, juvenile delinquency matters, and all other domestic cases filed by county residents. Charleston County has one of the largest court systems in South Carolina. Search Charleston County family court case records online at sccourts.org or through the county's own public index, or contact the Clerk of Court to access records in person.
Charleston County Quick Facts
Searching Charleston County Family Court Records
Charleston County family court records are searchable online through the SC Judicial Branch Public Index at sccourts.org and through the Charleston County Clerk of Court Online Services portal. The county's Family Court Search allows users to search by party type and party name, with additional filters for filing date, event date, and disposition date. Charleston County also maintains a Family Court judgment search and case reports searchable by year and case number.
For copies of physical documents from Charleston County family court case files, visit or write to the Clerk of Court at the Judicial Center. Copy fees are $0.11 per page, with an optional $1.00 for certification. Payments are made by check or money order to the Charleston County Clerk of Court. Not all documents are available online, and some older records require in-person requests. Call ahead to confirm office hours and procedures before visiting.
Charleston County maintains comprehensive public records going back to the 1600s, making it one of the oldest court record repositories in the United States.
The Charleston County Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street provides records access, copy services, and information on court filing procedures for family court cases.
| Court |
Charleston County Family Court 100 Broad Street, Suite 143 Charleston, SC 29401 |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Court |
Charleston County Judicial Center 100 Broad Street, Suite 106 Charleston, SC 29401 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Copy Fee | $0.11 per page; $1.00 for certified copies |
| Online Search | sccourts.org/case-records-search |
| County Online Services | charlestoncounty.org/clerk-of-court |
Types of Family Court Cases in Charleston County
The Charleston County Family Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over domestic and juvenile matters under S.C. Code Ann. § 63-3-530. Charleston County is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit along with Berkeley County. As one of the most populous counties in South Carolina, Charleston County Family Court processes a large volume of case filings each year.
Case types filed in Charleston County include divorce, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support and modification, alimony, paternity, adoption, termination of parental rights, domestic violence protection orders, juvenile delinquency, and name changes. When viewing a Charleston County family court case record online, users can see upcoming hearing dates, case parties, judgments, associated cases, and financial information. Under S.C. Code Ann. Title 63 Chapter 15, the Charleston County Family Court applies the best-interests standard in all custody and visitation decisions.
Most Charleston County family court records are public. Adoption files and sealed juvenile records are confidential under South Carolina law and will not appear in any public index search. Orders of protection are accessible through the Family Court Search portal maintained by the county.
Charleston County Family Court Online Services
Charleston County offers more online court access tools than most South Carolina counties. The CourtPlus system allows registered users to save favorite cases and receive case updates. The Day Book Search lets users find judgments and lis pendens that have been filed but are still being processed before appearing in the main index. The Family Court Case Management System public portal at the SC DSS provides additional search options including child support case information and orders of protection.
The Charleston County Clerk of Court Online Services page provides direct links to Family Court Search, Circuit Court records, the Day Book, child support case information, and the CourtPlus registration portal.
Charleston County Family Court Filing Fees
Filing a new family court case in Charleston County costs $150 for most case types, including divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, and name change filings. This fee is set by state law and applies uniformly throughout South Carolina. No fee is required for DSS abuse and neglect cases, juvenile delinquency proceedings, and domestic abuse protection order petitions.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, ask the Charleston County Clerk of Court about the in forma pauperis process. Submit a sworn affidavit of financial hardship and the court will decide whether to waive the fee. SC Legal Services at sclegal.org provides free civil legal help to qualifying low-income Charleston County residents. The SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (803) 799-7100 can connect you with a family law attorney who handles Charleston County cases.
Free official South Carolina Family Court forms are available at sccourts.org. For child support questions, contact the SC DSS Child Support Division.
Nearby Counties
Charleston County is on the South Carolina coast in the Lowcountry region. These neighboring counties have their own Family Court divisions for their residents.