Richland County Court Records
The Richland County Circuit Court generates court records from litigations, court actions, and legal events occurring in the county courthouses. Richland County constitutes South Carolina's 5th Judicial Circuit and is considered the second most populated and technologically advanced county in the state. Over 5,000 civil cases, 10,000 criminal warrants, 5,000 domestic cases, and juvenile cases are filed each year. Court is held 46 weeks a year.
Every court record produced in Richland County provides an extensive walkthrough of each court proceeding, verdict, and document related to the case. They also play a vital role in preserving an accurate historical record of legal cases. Judges, attorneys, and members of the public are able to gain accurate knowledge and understanding of the Richland Judicial System.
Section 14-17-595 authorizes Richland Clerks of Courts to create, manage, and preserve court records as instituted by the Laws of the South Carolina Supreme Court. Richland County Office of the Circuit Clerk maintains both on-site and online court records. All physical and electronic records can be accessed by interested and eligible persons under the general provisions of Section 14-5-10 for Circuit Courts (otherwise called Courts of Records) in the state.
Are Court Records Public in Richland County
Yes. The majority of Richland Court records are considered public records under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10, otherwise known and cited as the "Freedom of Information Act". However, records labeled confidential by judicial regulations and state ordinances are not publicly available.
A person has an exclusive right to inspect, copy, or receive any court record, except as otherwise provided by §30-4-40.
Here is a list of confidential records in Richland County:
- Trade secrets
- Personation information whose public disclosure would constitute an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy
- Matters specifically exempted from disclosure by statute or law.
- Correspondence or work products of legal counsel for a public body and any other material that would violate attorney-client relationships
- Photographs, videos, and other visual images, and audio recordings of and related to the performance of an autopsy
Inspection and viewing of all court records are free. However, the custodian of the court record may charge a fee of 25 cents/page. Other charges may apply as included in the Richland County Freedom of Information Act Fee Schedule.
Where to Conduct a Richland County Case Lookup
An individual looking for how to find court records in person, by mail, or online utilize the following means:
- Visit the courthouse where a legal proceeding was filed and held
- Submit an FOIA request
- Visit the Office of the Richland Circuit Clerk
- Use the Case Records Search Portal
- Use the Richland County Data Premier Online Data Services (SMS)
How to Conduct a Richland County Case Records Search
There are different methods of viewing and retrieving copies of court records filed and preserved by the individual judicial jurisdiction in Richland County. Members of the public can employ what works best for them, either to obtain case files for a legal proceeding, or obtain comprehensive details regarding the events, or the progress and decision of the court regarding a case.
The Richland Courthouse
Requesters can visit the physical address of the courthouse where the case was filed and decided. Richland's judicial system maintains several trial courts in charge of specific case records. This includes the Circuit court, Magistrate courts, Family court, Master-in-Equity, and Probate Court.
The Richland Clerk of Court's Office
Interested persons can inspect and obtain authorized copies of court records from the Richland Clerk of Court’s Office. Requesters may visit the office during official work hours, send mail, or place a phone call. The Clerk of Court's Office is divided into two: the Circuit Court which maintains civil and criminal cases and the Family Court which maintains juvenile and domestic cases.
Members of the public can submit their requests through any of the court forms: General Session Court forms, Common Pleas forms, and Family Court forms.
Submit an FOIA Request
The Freedom of Information Act permits members of the public to view, inspect, and make copies of all public court records maintained within the county.
Here is how to submit an FOIA request:
- Fill out an online FOIA request form
- Email your request to ombudsman@richlandcountysc.gov
- Mail or fax your request to:
Richland County Ombudsman’s Office
P.O. Box 192
Columbia, SC 29204
Fax: (803) 929-6009
The Richland County FOIA request form contains a fee schedule for making physical copies of the court records.
Use the Case Records Search Portal
Members of the public can access the South Carolina Case Records Search to find case records for each county within the state’s judicial system.
- Visit the website
- Choose from the list of counties and proceed to Richland’s Public Index
- On the Public Index, the requester can search court records using the following details: party’s name, case number, or case type,
- Click on the "Search" button
The portal will supply a comprehensive list of cases related to the provided queries, with their case number, party names, filling details, and other essential information for the case type and court hearing.
Richland County Data Premier Online Data Services (SMS)
The Subscription Management System is an online exclusive subscription plan developed by the Richland County Information Technology Department to provide public access to recorded documents retained by Richland County departments. Departments currently offering this are the Register of Deeds and Probate Court. Here is a user guide and Frequently Asked Questions regarding the SMS.
Richland County Civil Court Case Records
Richland County civil court case records are files or transcripts generated during civil court cases. For instance: estate disputes, personal injury, small claims, and divorce.
These cases are primarily filed and decided in the civil divisions of the Richland County Circuit Court. The county's Family Court attends to cases that relate to familial and domestic relationships, such as child custody issues. The Magistrate's Court decided civil cases involving landlord-tenant issues and injury or property damage in which the claim is under $7,500. The Master-in-Equity Court handles non-jury cases of more than $5,000. The Probate Court handles trust and estate litigation.
Interested individuals can contact the Clerk of Courts office at Phone: (803) 576-1947. One can also search the county Public Index and third-party websites to find civil case records in Richland County.
Richland County Criminal Court Case Records
An offender in Richland County may be prosecuted in the County’s Circuit Court. Criminal court case records typically include non-civil details of a legal proceeding held and decided in a Court of Exclusive Judicial Jurisdiction.
Members of the public who wish to inspect or purchase copies of these criminal case records for vital legal reasons may contact the Clerk of Courts office in person or search the online databases provided above.
Note: Magistrate Courts also handle traffic and criminal cases where the fine is no more than $2,000 and/or 90 days.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Requesters may visit the Richland Public Index website to view and inspect court records online for free. However, official copies of court records are only available at a nominal fee. There are also third-party websites that provide these court records online for free or a nominal subscription fee.
Courts in Richland County
Here are the addresses of the courthouses in Richland County, South Carolina:
Richland County Clerk of Court
Richland County Judicial Center
1701 Main Street
Room 205 (29201)
Columbia, SC 29202
Fax: (803) 576-1785
Family Court
1701 Main Street
1st Floor West Wing
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 576-3320
Fax: (803) 576-3347
Magistrate Court
201 John Mark Dial Drive
Columbia, SC 29209
Phone: (803) 576-3281
Fax: (803) 576-3303
Master-in-Equity
Richland County Judicial Center
1701 Main Street, Room 212
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 576-1900
Fax: (803) 576-1865
Probate Court
Richland County Judicial Center
1701 Main Street
2nd Floor Suite 207
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 576-1961
