Richland County Court Records
What Is Richland County Court Records
Court records in Richland County, South Carolina, are official documents generated by the judicial system in the course of legal proceedings. These records encompass a broad range of materials, including case files, dockets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, and sentencing records. Each document type serves a distinct function: dockets provide a chronological index of filings and hearings, while pleadings and motions capture the arguments of the parties, and orders and judgments reflect the court's official rulings.
Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained by Richland County. Property records, for example, are held by the Register of Deeds and reflect ownership, liens, and transfers of real estate. Vital records—such as birth and death certificates—are administered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Court records, by contrast, are generated exclusively through judicial proceedings and are maintained by the clerk of the relevant court.
The following courts in Richland County maintain official court records:
- Circuit Court (Fifth Judicial Circuit) — civil and criminal matters
- Family Court — domestic relations, child custody, adoption, and juvenile matters
- Probate Court — estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health commitments
- Magistrate Courts — misdemeanors, small claims, and civil matters under jurisdictional limits
- Municipal/City Courts — traffic violations and local ordinance offenses
- Master-in-Equity Court — complex civil and equitable matters referred by the Circuit Court
Records maintained across these courts cover civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and small claims matters. Under South Carolina Code § 30-4-20, public records are broadly defined to include all documents, papers, and files created or received by a public body in the course of its official duties.
Are Court Records Public In Richland County
Court records in Richland County are presumptively open to the public under South Carolina law. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (§ 30-4-10 et seq.) establishes that all citizens are entitled to inspect and copy public records of public bodies, including judicial offices, subject to specific statutory exemptions.
The following categories of records are generally available for public inspection:
- Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
- Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
- Judgments and court orders
- Docket sheets and hearing schedules
- Sentencing records in criminal matters
- Probate filings, including wills admitted to record
It is important to distinguish between state and federal court records. Records from the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina—which has a courthouse in Columbia—are governed by federal law and are accessible through the federal PACER system, not through Richland County's state court portals. State court records, by contrast, are governed by South Carolina statutes and the rules of the South Carolina Supreme Court, which has established administrative policies governing public access to judicial records.
Certain records are exempt from public disclosure, including records sealed by court order, juvenile records, adoption records, and documents containing sensitive personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, which must be redacted pursuant to South Carolina Court Administration guidelines.
How To Find Court Records in Richland County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Richland County court records through several official channels, depending on the court and the nature of the case.
In-Person Access: The Clerk of Court for the Fifth Judicial Circuit maintains physical case files at the Richland County Judicial Center. Members of the public may inspect records during regular business hours by visiting the clerk's office. Staff can assist in locating case files by party name, case number, or filing date.
Online Access: The South Carolina Judicial Department provides online access to court records through its public index portal. Users may search by party name or case number for cases filed in Circuit Court, Family Court, and other courts of record.
Written Request: Members of the public may submit a written public records request to the Clerk of Court pursuant to § 30-4-30, which requires public bodies to respond within ten business days. Requests should identify the case number or parties involved and specify the documents sought.
Certified Copies: Certified copies of court documents may be obtained from the Clerk of Court for a fee established by statute. Certification is required for official legal purposes such as appeals, immigration proceedings, or background checks.
How To Look Up Court Records in Richland County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Richland County court records, organized by court type.
South Carolina Judicial Department Public Index: The primary statewide portal for Circuit Court, Family Court, and Probate Court records. Users may search by first name, last name, or case number. The portal displays docket entries, party information, and case status. Access is available at no cost for basic searches.
Columbia Municipal Court Records: Richland County maintains all records for Columbia Municipal Court cases. Members of the public may view Columbia Municipal Court case information through the City of Columbia's official portal by selecting Columbia Municipal Court from the available options.
South Carolina DSS and Family Court Portal: The South Carolina Judicial Department Public Index provides access to family court case information, subject to applicable privacy restrictions on juvenile and adoption matters.
PACER (Federal Cases): Cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina are accessible through the federal PACER system at pacer.uscourts.gov. A per-page fee applies to document downloads, though registered users receive a quarterly fee waiver for charges under $30.
Steps to Search the SC Judicial Department Public Index:
- Navigate to the South Carolina Judicial Department's public index portal
- Select the county (Richland) from the dropdown menu
- Enter the party's last name and first name, or the case number
- Review the list of matching cases and select the relevant matter
- View docket entries, hearing dates, and available documents
How To Search Richland County Court Records for Free?
South Carolina law guarantees the right of public inspection of court records at no charge. Under § 30-4-30, public bodies may not charge a fee for the inspection of public records; fees may only be assessed for the actual cost of copying or certifying documents.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- SC Judicial Department Public Index — free online search for Circuit Court, Family Court, and Probate Court dockets
- Columbia Municipal Court Portal — free online case lookup for municipal court matters
- In-person inspection at the Richland County Clerk of Court — no fee to view physical case files during business hours
Fees apply when requesting printed or certified copies. The standard copy fee is set by South Carolina statute and is subject to periodic adjustment by the General Assembly.
What's Included in a Richland County Court Record?
The contents of a court record vary by case type, but generally include the following categories of documents:
Civil Court Records:
- Complaint and summons
- Defendant's answer and counterclaims
- Motions and supporting memoranda
- Discovery orders
- Judgments and final orders
- Notices of appeal
Criminal Court Records:
- Arrest warrant or indictment
- Charging documents
- Bail and bond orders
- Plea agreements
- Trial transcripts
- Sentencing orders and probation terms
Family Court Records:
- Petitions for divorce or separation
- Child custody and visitation orders
- Child support calculations and orders
- Adoption decrees (restricted)
- Domestic violence protective orders
Probate Court Records:
- Petitions to open an estate
- Wills admitted to probate
- Inventories and appraisals of estate assets
- Accountings and final settlements
- Guardianship and conservatorship orders
Traffic and Magistrate Court Records:
- Citations and charging documents
- Disposition and fine records
- Failure-to-appear notices
How Long Does Richland County Keep Court Records?
Richland County courts retain records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and the South Carolina Supreme Court. Retention periods vary by record type and court.
- Circuit Court civil judgments: Permanently retained
- Circuit Court criminal case files: Permanently retained for felony convictions; ten years for misdemeanor matters
- Family Court orders: Permanently retained for custody and support orders; shorter periods apply to certain temporary orders
- Probate Court records: Permanently retained for wills and estate settlements
- Magistrate and Municipal Court records: Generally retained for five to ten years, depending on case type and disposition
- Traffic citations: Retained for a minimum of three years
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes the official General Records Retention Schedule for Local Government governing these periods. Courts are required to follow these schedules under state administrative mandate.
Types of Courts In Richland County
Richland County is served by a hierarchy of state courts, from courts of limited jurisdiction at the local level to the appellate courts of the State of South Carolina.
Richland County Clerk of Court / Fifth Judicial Circuit Court 1701 Main Street, Room 101, Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 576-1750 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Richland County Clerk of Court
Richland County Family Court 1701 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 576-1750 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Richland County Family Court
Richland County Probate Court 1701 Main Street, Room 220, Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 576-1870 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Richland County Probate Court
Richland County Magistrate Court 5900 Bluff Road, Columbia, SC 29209 (803) 576-2000 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Richland County Magistrate Court
Columbia Municipal Court 1519 Washington Street, Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 545-3000 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Columbia Municipal Court
U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina (Columbia Division) 1845 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 765-5816 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
The court hierarchy in South Carolina proceeds as follows: Magistrate and Municipal Courts handle matters of limited jurisdiction; Circuit Court serves as the court of general jurisdiction for civil and criminal matters; the South Carolina Court of Appeals reviews Circuit and Family Court decisions; and the South Carolina Supreme Court serves as the court of last resort for all state matters.
What Types of Cases Do Richland County Courts Hear?
Each court in Richland County exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of cases as defined by South Carolina law.
Circuit Court (Civil Division): Civil disputes involving amounts exceeding $7,500, contract claims, tort actions, real property disputes, and appeals from Magistrate Court.
Circuit Court (Criminal Division): Felony criminal prosecutions, including violent crimes, drug offenses, white-collar crimes, and appeals of misdemeanor convictions from lower courts.
Family Court: Divorce and legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support enforcement, adoption proceedings, juvenile delinquency matters, and domestic violence protective orders.
Probate Court: Decedent estates (testate and intestate), guardianships and conservatorships for minors and incapacitated adults, mental health commitment proceedings, and trusts.
Magistrate Court: Civil claims up to $7,500, misdemeanor criminal offenses, landlord-tenant disputes, and preliminary hearings in criminal matters.
Municipal Court: Traffic violations, local ordinance infractions, and misdemeanor offenses occurring within the city limits of Columbia.
Master-in-Equity Court: Complex civil matters referred by the Circuit Court, including mortgage foreclosures, partition actions, and accounting disputes.
How To Find a Court Docket In Richland County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and actions taken in a case. Members of the public may access Richland County court dockets through the following methods:
Online Search via SC Judicial Department: The South Carolina Judicial Department's public index allows users to search active and closed dockets for Circuit Court, Family Court, and Probate Court cases by party name or case number.
In-Person at the Clerk of Court: Dockets for all courts of record are available for inspection at the Richland County Clerk of Court during regular business hours. Staff can retrieve docket sheets upon request.
Columbia Municipal Court Portal: Municipal court dockets may be accessed through the City of Columbia's online case information system, which allows searches by defendant name or citation number.
Steps to locate a docket:
- Identify the court in which the case was filed
- Gather the case number or the full legal name of a party
- Access the appropriate online portal or visit the clerk's office in person
- Enter the search criteria and review the docket entries returned
- Note hearing dates, filing deadlines, and the status of pending motions
Which Courts in Richland County Are Not Courts of Record?
A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, whose acts and judicial proceedings are enrolled in permanent records, and whose judgments carry a presumption of validity. Courts not of record, by contrast, do not maintain a verbatim transcript of proceedings, and appeals from such courts are typically heard de novo—meaning the appellate court conducts an entirely new hearing rather than reviewing a transcript.
Under South Carolina law, Magistrate Courts and Municipal Courts are generally classified as courts not of record. This classification is established under the South Carolina Constitution and the South Carolina Code § 22-1-10, which governs the jurisdiction and operation of magistrate courts. Because these courts do not produce official verbatim transcripts of proceedings, appeals from Magistrate Court and Municipal Court are heard de novo in the Circuit Court.
The practical consequence for members of the public is that detailed transcripts of hearings held in Magistrate or Municipal Court may not be available. Records from these courts are generally limited to charging documents, dispositions, and fine records rather than full case files with pleadings and transcripts.
Courts of record in Richland County include the Circuit Court, Family Court, Probate Court, and the Master-in-Equity Court. These courts maintain complete case files, and their judgments are subject to appellate review on the record.