Richland County Court Docket Records
Richland County court docket records cover civil, criminal, and family cases filed at the courthouse in Columbia, the state capital of South Carolina. The Clerk of Court manages the filing system and provides public access to court dockets for Richland County. You can search the Richland County court docket online using the South Carolina Public Index or visit the courthouse at 1701 Main Street in person. This page covers how to find and access Richland County court docket records, what they contain, and where to obtain copies of court filings.
Richland County Quick Facts
Richland County Clerk of Court
The Honorable Jeanette W. McBride serves as Richland County Clerk of Court. The office is located at 1701 Main Street, Room 205, Columbia, SC 29201. The mailing address is PO Box 2766, Columbia, SC 29202. The office phone is (803) 576-1950 and fax is (803) 576-1785. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Clerk of Court provides administrative support for all Circuit and Family Court proceedings in Richland County. Staff process civil and criminal filings, maintain case dockets, schedule trials and hearings, manage jury services, and handle public requests for records. E-filing for attorneys is available through the South Carolina E-Filing system (SCEF). Copy fees are $0.50 per page for standard copies and $5.00 for the certification fee on certified copies. Record checks require a valid photo ID.
Richland County is in the 5th Judicial Circuit and has five resident Circuit Court judges: The Hon. Daniel Coble, The Hon. Robert E. Hood, The Hon. Thomas W. McGee III, The Hon. Jocelyn Newman, and The Hon. Christopher D. Taylor. The county also has six Family Court judges. The Master-in-Equity is The Honorable Stephanie N. Lawrence at 2500 Decker Blvd., Columbia. The Probate Court is presided over by The Honorable Amy W. McCulloch. The Register of Deeds is The Honorable John Hopkins at PO Box 192, Columbia, phone (803) 576-1910.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch provides the full directory for the Richland County Courthouse, listing all judges, magistrates, municipal courts, and contact information for the Columbia area.
| Courthouse |
Richland County Courthouse 1701 Main Street, Room 205 Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 576-1950 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | PO Box 2766, Columbia, SC 29202-2766 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Clerk Website | richlandcountysc.gov |
| Public Index | publicindex.sccourts.org/richland |
Search the Richland County Court Docket
The South Carolina Public Index is the primary tool for searching Richland County court docket records online. The 5th Judicial Circuit Public Index covers Circuit Court and Family Court cases for Richland County. You can search by case number, party name (individual or business), or filing date range. Case type and subtype filters help narrow results further. No registration is required for basic access. Visit publicindex.sccourts.org/richland to start your search.
The Richland County Clerk of Court website at richlandcountysc.gov provides direct links to the case search system and information about all court divisions serving the county. Court rosters showing scheduled hearings and pending cases are available through the public index system as well. Municipal Court records for participating Columbia-area courts may also appear in the system.
The statewide case records search at sccourts.org/case-records-search lets you search Richland County filings alongside other counties. For definitions of docket entry codes, the CDR codes reference explains what each shorthand label means. The court roster search at sccourts.org/court-roster-search shows upcoming hearings for each 5th Circuit judge.
Note: Full case files are not available online. In-person visits to the Clerk's office at 1701 Main Street are required to review complete case documents.
Richland County Court Divisions
Richland County operates several court divisions under the 5th Judicial Circuit. As the county seat of South Carolina's state capital, Columbia, Richland County has one of the largest court systems in the state. Each division handles specific case types and generates its own docket entries.
The Circuit Court has two divisions. Common Pleas handles civil cases including contract disputes, personal injury claims, and property matters. General Sessions handles criminal cases including felonies and serious misdemeanors. The county has five resident Circuit Court judges, more than most South Carolina counties. Family Court covers domestic matters: divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, and juvenile proceedings, with six resident Family Court judges serving the county. The Probate Court handles wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. The Master-in-Equity at 2500 Decker Blvd. handles complex civil matters including mortgage foreclosures.
Richland County has an extensive Magistrate Court system with 11 locations across the county. Bond Court is at 201 John Mark Dial Drive, Columbia, phone (803) 576-3281. Other magistrate courts serve the Blythewood, Dentsville, Dutch Fork, Eastover, Hopkins, Upper Township, and Waverly areas. Columbia Municipal Court at 811 Washington Street handles traffic and criminal cases for the city, phone (803) 545-3041.
The South Carolina Supreme Court, based in Columbia, holds both appellate and original jurisdiction and is responsible for promulgating rules governing all courts including those in Richland County.
What Richland County Docket Records Show
A court docket is the official log of all activity in a case from the day it is filed until it closes. Each entry in the Richland County court docket shows what happened and when. These records are public under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10.
Richland County court docket records typically include the case number and type, names of all parties and their attorneys, the date the case was filed, all motions and orders entered, scheduled trial dates, the final disposition or judgment, and any appeals. Circuit Court civil dockets show the complete history of lawsuits from the initial complaint through judgment. General Sessions dockets cover criminal charges, arraignments, pleas, and verdicts. Family Court dockets record filings from initial petitions through final orders.
South Carolina court case numbers follow the format: Year-Case Type-County Code-Sequential Number. For example, a civil case filed in 2024 in Richland County would begin with 2024-CP-40. Knowing this format helps when you search the Richland County docket for a specific case. The Richland County government portal at richlandcountysc.gov provides additional county service information.
Accessing Richland County Court Filings
You can access Richland County court docket records online through the Public Index or in person at the courthouse at 1701 Main Street. Online searches are free for basic case information. In-person visits let you review full case files and request certified or standard copies. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for standard copies and $5.00 for certification.
Richland County is one of the most populous counties in South Carolina. The county seat, Columbia, serves as both the state capital and the home of the University of South Carolina. As a result, the Richland County court system handles a high volume of filings across all case types. The Clerk of Court office employs staff across multiple locations in the county to serve the public efficiently. Child support payments are processed through the State Disbursement Unit rather than through the Clerk of Court directly.
Note: Some Richland County case records may be sealed or restricted. Juvenile proceedings, adoption cases, and certain mental health hearings are confidential and do not appear in public docket searches.
Cities in Richland County
Richland County includes the state capital and several surrounding communities. Court docket records for residents and businesses in these areas are filed at the Richland County Courthouse.
Columbia is the county seat and the capital of South Carolina. All Circuit Court and Family Court filings for Richland County are processed through the courthouse at 1701 Main Street in Columbia.
Nearby Counties
Richland County borders several other South Carolina counties. Each county maintains its own Clerk of Court and Public Index for court docket searches.