Charleston County, SC Public Records

Edisto Island Magistrate Court (Closed - See Ravenel Magistrate Court)
Jurisdiction: Misdemeanor, Civil Actions under $7,500, Eviction, Small Claims, Traffic, Ordinance
The court on Edisto Island is closed; jurisdiction and case files reside with the Ravenel Magistrate Court.
North Charleston Magistrate Court-North Area 2
2145 Melbourne Ave, #100
North Charleston, SC 29405 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 8:30AM-1PM 2PM-5PM EST
P: 843-745-2215
F: 843-745-2334
Jurisdiction: Misdemeanor, Civil Actions under $7,500, Eviction, Small Claims, Traffic, Ordinance
Access civil, judgment, criminal and traffic records at https://jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/publicindex/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
City Small Claims Court
PO Box 941
Charleston, SC 29402 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 8:30AM-4:30PM, Closed 12PM-1PM EST
P: 843-724-6720
F: 843-724-6785
Couriers: 995 Morrison Rd
Charleston, SC 29403
Jurisdiction: Small Claims
Small Claims Court - North
PO Box 60037
Charleston, SC 29419 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 8:30AM-4:30PM EST
P: 843-202-6610, 843-202-6650
F: 843-202-6652
Couriers: 4045 Bridge View Dr, 1st Fl
Public Service Bldg
Charleston, SC 29405
Jurisdiction: Small Claims
Ravenel/Adams Run Area Magistrate Court
5962 Hwy 165, #200
Ravenel, SC 29470-5514 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 8:30AM-12:30PM 1:30PM-4:30PM EST
P: 843-889-8332
F: 843-889-9202
Jurisdiction: Misdemeanor, Civil Actions under $7,500, Eviction, Small Claims, Traffic, Ordinance
Holds case files for closed court on Edisto Is. Access civil, judgment, criminal and traffic records at https://jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/publicindex/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
McClellanville Magistrate Court
10009 Hwy 17 N
McClellanville, SC 29458 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 9AM-N 1PM-4PM M,W,TH EST
P: 843-887-3334
F: 843-887-3901
Jurisdiction: Misdemeanor, Civil Actions under $7,500, Eviction, Small Claims, Traffic, Ordinance
Access civil, judgment, criminal and traffic records at https://jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/publicindex/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
City of Charleston Magistrate Court
PO Box 941
Charleston, SC 29403 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 8:30AM-N; 1PM-4:30PM EST
P: 843-724-6720, 843-724-6719
F: 843-724-6785
Couriers: 995 Morrison Dr
Charleston, SC 29403
Jurisdiction: Small Claims, Evictions
East Cooper Magistrate Court
PO Box 584
Mt Pleasant, SC 29464 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 8:30AM-4:30PM EST
P: 843-856-1205
F: 843-856-1188
Couriers: 1189 Sweetgrass Basket Pkwy, #300
Mt Pleasant, SC 29466
Jurisdiction: Misdemeanor, Civil Actions under $7,500, Eviction, Small Claims, Traffic, Ordinance
Search the court's public index free free at https://jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/publicindex/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
West Ashley Magistrate Court
PO Box 31861
Charleston, SC 29417 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 8:30AM-4:30PM M-F EST
P: 843-766-6531
F: 843-571-4751
Couriers: 1720 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Unit 11
Charleston, SC 29407
Jurisdiction: Civil Actions under $7,500, Eviction
Civil Actions can be searched online via the court's public index found at https://jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/publicindex/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
Wadmalaw/Johns Island Magistrate Court
1527 Main Rd, #100
Johns Island, SC 29455 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 8:30AM-12:30PM, 1:30-4:30PM EST
P: 843-559-1218
F: 843-559-2378
Jurisdiction: Misdemeanor, Civil Actions under $7,500, Eviction, Small Claims, Traffic, Ordinance
Access civil, judgment, criminal and traffic records at https://jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/publicindex/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
James Island Magistrate Court
615 Riverland Dr
James Island, SC 29412 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 8:30AM-12:30PM; 1:30-4:30PM M-TH EST
P: 843-795-1140
F: 843-406-2753
Jurisdiction: Misdemeanor, Civil Actions under $7,500, Eviction, Small Claims, Traffic, Ordinance
Access civil, judgment, criminal and traffic records at https://jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/publicindex/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
North Charleston Magistrate Court- North Area 1
PO Box 70456
North Charleston, SC 29405 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 8:30AM-4:30PM EST
P: 843-202-6610
F: 843-202-6620
Couriers: 4045 Bridge View Dr,
III Public Service Bldg, 1st Fl, Ste B125
North Charleston, SC 29405
Jurisdiction: Misdemeanor, Civil Actions under $7,500, Eviction, Small Claims, Traffic, Ordinance
Access civil, judgment, criminal and traffic records at https://jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/publicindex/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
North Charleston Magistrate Court - North Area 3
6185 Rivers Ave, Ste E
North Charleston, SC 29405 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 8:30AM-N, 1PM-4:30PM EST
P: 843-553-4003
F: 843-572-0013
Jurisdiction: Misdemeanor, Civil Actions under $7,500, Eviction, Small Claims, Traffic, Ordinance
Access civil, judgment, criminal and traffic records at https://jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/publicindex/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
Centralized Bond Hearing
3831 Leeds Ave, Ste 200
North Charleston, SC 29405 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 9AM-12AM M-F, See website for weekend hours. EST
P: 843-746-9822
F: 843-746-9960
Jurisdiction: Bonds
Access civil, judgment, criminal and traffic records at http://jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/publicindex/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
Probate Court
84 Broad St, 3rd Fl
Charleston, SC 29401 https://ccprobate.charlestoncounty.or
Hours: 8:30AM-5PM EST
P: 843-958-5030, 843-958-5180
F: 843-958-5044
Jurisdiction: Probate, Guardianship/Conservatorship
Access to Estate and Wills records from 1983 forward is available at https://www.southcarolinaprobate.net/charlestonprobatesearch/. The marriage license division is at 843-958-5183.
Circuit Court
100 Broad St, #106
Charleston, SC 29401-2258 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
Hours: 8:30AM-5PM EST
P: 843-958-5000
F: 843-958-5020
Jurisdiction: Felony, Misdemeanor, Civil, Small Claims, Juvenile, Eviction
Restricted Records: No adoption, juvenile, sealed or expunged records released

Charleston County, SC Vital Records

Contact the Charleston County Office of the Register Mense Conveyances if you would like to find vital records, such as birth, death, marriage, divorce, and real estate records.

Charleston County
Register Mense Conveyances
101 Meeting St, Rm 201
O.T. Wallace County Office Bldg
Charleston, SC 29401 https://www.charlestoncounty.org/depa
8:30AM-5PM EST
Phone: 843-958-4800
Fax: 843-958-4803
Recorded Documents

Charleston County Vital Certificates

If you would like to obtain a hard copy of a birth, death, marriage, divorce, or other vital record, you can do so by searching for and requesting a vital certificate. Vital certificates are hard copy documents, the same as those used by the United States government.

Get a vital certificate.

Charleston County Population Records

Total Land Area (2000): 918.51 sq mi
Population (2009): 355,276
  • Females: 51.7%
  • White: 66.3%
  • Black/African American: 30.5%
  • Asian: 1.6%
  • Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.1%
  • Hispanic or Latino Origin: 4.1%
  • White, Not Hispanic: 62.9%
Population Change (2000-2009): 45,177
Foreign-Born Population (2000): 3.6%
Language other than English spoken at home (2000): 6.4%
Persons Below Poverty Level (2008): 15.4%
High School Graduates (2000): 81.5%
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (2000): 30.7%
Persons per Household (2000): 2.42
Housing Units (2000): 141,031
Homeownership Rate (2000): 61%
Migration Flow to Charleston County, SC from (2007-2008):

Charleston County Records

Total Earnings by Industry, in thou. dol. (2007):
  • Total: $12,722,020
  • Construction: $890,891
  • Retail Trade: $989,898
  • Professional and Technical Services: $1,295,603
  • Healthcare: $1,216,162
  • Banking: $647,967
  • Retail Trade: $989,898
  • Accommodations and Food Services: $616,267
  • Manufacturing: $796,719
  • Farms: $-409
  • Government: $3,425,487
Employed (2000): 142,550
Unemployed (2000): 9,018
Unemployment Rate (2009): 9.1%
Annual Payroll per Employee (2007): $38,702
Local Government Employment (2007): 15,850
Local Government Revenue (2007): $1,009,419 (thou. dol.)
Local Government Debt (2007): $1,422,312 (thou. dol.)

Charleston County Birth, Death Records

Births (2007): 5,177
  • Per 1,000 population: 15
Deaths (2007): 2,862
  • Per 1,000 population: 8.3
Infant Deaths (2007): 59
  • Per 1,000 population: 11.4

Charleston County Criminal Records

Violent Crimes (2008): 2,975
  • Murder and non-negligent manslaughter: 32
  • Forcible rape: 179
  • Robbery: 954
  • Aggravated Assault: 1,810
Property Crimes (2008): 15,432
  • Burglary: 2,914
  • Larceny-Theft: 10,892
  • Motor Vehicle Theft: 1,626

Charleston County Genealogy Records