Access Dorchester County Court Docket Records
Dorchester County court docket records are kept by the Clerk of Court at the Dorchester County Courthouse in St. George. The Clerk manages all official case filings for Circuit Court and Family Court across the county. You can search Dorchester County court dockets online through the South Carolina Public Index or visit the courthouse directly. This page explains how to search for court filings, what docket records contain, and how to reach the Clerk's office for assistance with court records in Dorchester County.
Dorchester County Quick Facts
Dorchester County Clerk of Court
The Honorable Cheryl Graham has served as Clerk of Court for Dorchester County since January 1, 2001. She is a former President of the South Carolina Association of Clerks of Court. The Clerk's office maintains all Circuit Court records, manages the court docket, and processes case filings for Dorchester County. The Circuit Court is located on the second floor of the courthouse at 5200 East Jim Bilton Boulevard, St. George, SC 29477.
The Clerk of Court has three main phone lines: the main office at (843) 563-0160, the criminal clerk at (843) 563-0231, and the civil clerk at (843) 563-0108. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. An e-filing system is available for attorneys through the South Carolina E-Filing platform (SCEF). Attorneys can also access the Attorney Access Portal for case management online.
Full courthouse details for Dorchester County are listed at sccourts.org/courts/courthouse-search/dorchester/. This page shows current judicial officer assignments, court contact numbers, and other details about the Dorchester County courthouse.
| Clerk of Court | The Hon. Cheryl Graham |
|---|---|
| Address |
Dorchester County Courthouse 5200 East Jim Bilton Boulevard St. George, SC 29477 |
| Main Phone | (843) 563-0160 |
| Criminal Clerk | (843) 563-0231 |
| Civil Clerk | (843) 563-0108 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Judicial Circuit | First Judicial Circuit |
| Family Court | 212 Deming Way, Summerville, SC 29483 |
Dorchester County Circuit Court Structure
The Dorchester County Circuit Court is South Carolina's court of general jurisdiction for the county. It operates in two divisions. The Court of Common Pleas handles civil matters including contract disputes, personal injury claims, and appeals from lower courts. The Court of General Sessions handles felony criminal cases including indictments, bond hearings, and sentencing.
Circuit Court judges in Dorchester County serve six-year staggered terms and rotate on a schedule set by the Chief Justice based on recommendations from Court Administration. Court dates and judicial assignments change regularly. The Jury Coordinator can be reached at (843) 563-5784 for questions about jury duty in Dorchester County.
The Family Court in Dorchester County is located at a separate address: 212 Deming Way, Summerville, SC 29483. This court handles divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, and juvenile matters. All Family Court case filings are maintained by the Clerk of Court.
Note: Court files older than 20 years may be archived and require additional retrieval time when you request them from the Clerk's office.
Searching the Dorchester County Court Docket
The South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index is the primary tool for online searches of Dorchester County court dockets. You can search by case number, party name, business name, or filing date range. The system returns case status, parties involved, attorneys of record, scheduled hearing dates, and all docket entries for a case. Access the Dorchester County Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/dorchester/publicindex/.
Available court agency filters include Circuit Court General Sessions, Circuit Court Common Pleas, and Family Court. Additional case type filters help narrow results. Confidential and sealed records are not visible through the online system. Home address information is redacted from public display as of January 1, 2026. Municipal Court records may also be searchable depending on local participation in the system.
You can also search the statewide case records system at sccourts.org/case-records-search/ for cases across all 46 South Carolina counties. Court rosters showing upcoming hearings in Dorchester County are at sccourts.org/court-roster-search/. Select the court agency, roster type, and begin date to find scheduled court dates.
What Dorchester County Court Records Contain
Dorchester County court records include a wide range of official documents maintained by multiple courts. The Clerk of Court keeps records for Circuit Court and oversees access to records from Family Court, Probate Court, Magistrate Courts, and Municipal Courts. More information about courthouse contacts and court divisions is available through the SC Judicial Branch courthouse directory for Dorchester County.
Court records in Dorchester County include case files, docket sheets, judicial orders, hearing transcripts, evidence logs, and sentencing records. Public records include civil case files, criminal case files after formal charges have been filed, court dockets, and final judgments. Restricted records that are not available to the public include juvenile records, sealed family court records, adoption records, and grand jury materials.
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act governs access to court records in Dorchester County under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30. The Clerk of Court must respond to public records requests within 10 business days.
In-Person Court Docket Requests in Dorchester County
Visiting the Dorchester County Courthouse at 5200 East Jim Bilton Boulevard in St. George is the most direct way to access detailed court records. To make an in-person request, visit the Clerk of Court office, complete a request form, provide case details, show your photo ID, and pay any applicable fees. Staff can search by name or case number and assist with copy requests.
The fee schedule for Dorchester County court records includes $0.25 per page for standard copies, $5.00 for certified copies per document, and $15.00 per hour for search services after the first hour. Written requests require the requestor's name, specific case information, a description of the records needed, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Copy and certified copy requests must be made in person or by mail. Online certified copies are not available through the Public Index.
The Dorchester County Clerk runs separate phone lines for the criminal division and civil division to help callers reach the right staff. Call (843) 563-0231 for criminal (General Sessions) records and (843) 563-0108 for civil (Common Pleas) records. For Family Court records, contact the Family Court office in Summerville at 212 Deming Way.
CDR Codes and Court Rosters in Dorchester County
Charge Disposition Reporting codes appear on criminal case dockets across South Carolina, including Dorchester County. CDR codes classify the offense type in General Sessions cases. You can look up code definitions at sccourts.org/cdr-codes/. Knowing what a CDR code means helps you understand what a criminal docket entry in Dorchester County refers to.
Court rosters list scheduled hearings for the Dorchester County courts. Both Jury Roster and Non-Jury Roster newsletters are available. Search the roster system at sccourts.org/court-roster-search/ by selecting Dorchester County as the court agency. The roster is regularly updated and shows current cases on the active docket.
Cities in Dorchester County
Dorchester County includes several communities. The Family Court is located in Summerville, which is the largest city in the county. Circuit Court is headquartered in St. George, the county seat.
Summerville is the largest city in Dorchester County. The Dorchester County Family Court is located at 212 Deming Way in Summerville.
Nearby Counties
Dorchester County is in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina and shares borders with several neighboring counties. If you are unsure which county a case was filed in, check the address of the parties at the time of filing.