Richland County court records, South Carolina, are available through several channels. RichlandSCCourt.us allows you to find public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be searched through the official online portals of the state court system, directly at the Clerk of Court's office, or through public terminals installed in the courthouse.
Richland Court System & Jurisdictions
Several courts operate in Richland County, each handling specific categories of cases. Understanding the jurisdiction will help you find the necessary registry faster.
Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction. It handles criminal cases involving felonies, civil lawsuits over $7,500, and appeals from lower courts. The Circuit Court judge also handles divorce, child custody, and other family disputes through the Family Court division.
- Family Court — divorce, alimony, custody, adoption, juvenile delinquency cases, and protective orders.
- Probate Court — wills, estate administration, guardianship appointments, involuntary commitments. This court maintains a separate registry.
Smaller-scale cases are handled by magistrate courts.
- Magistrate Court — misdemeanors with a maximum penalty of up to 30 days or a fine of up to $500, civil claims up to $7,500, as well as issuing arrest warrants and preliminary hearings.
- Municipal Court (City of Columbia) — violations of city ordinances and traffic offenses within the city limits. Columbia Municipal Court records are maintained by Richland County.
Traffic cases are usually handled by the magistrate or municipal court, depending on the location of the stop.
Richland Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week, use the South Carolina Judicial Department's public index. This portal covers Circuit Court and Family Court cases — enter the party's last name or case number, and the system will show the scheduled hearing dates.
For Columbia Municipal Court, the schedule is available on the municipal court case view page.
Some practical tips:
- Call the Clerk of Court's office if the online calendar does not display the required date — some hearings are added with a delay.
- Magistrate courts often publish the schedule only on a bulletin board in the courthouse or provide it by phone.
- Probate Court maintains a separate schedule; check directly with the office.
The Circuit Court calendar is updated regularly, but changes are possible at the last moment — check the information the day before the hearing.
How to Get a Copy of a Richland Court Document
You can obtain a copy of a court document in three ways: online, in person, or by mail. The type of copy — certified or regular — depends on the intended use.
Certified copies are required for most official purposes: submission to another court, immigration procedures, criminal background checks by employers. The court clerk places a seal and signature on the document to confirm its authenticity.
Regular (non-certified) copies are suitable for personal review or personal archive.
In Person
Contact the Clerk of Court's office:
Bring identification with you. Provide the case number or full name of the party — this will speed up the search.
By Mail
Send a written request to the address above. Include:
- the full name of the party or case number;
- the type of document (court order, transcript, indictment, etc.);
- the number of copies and whether certification is needed;
- return address and a stamped envelope (optional).
Include a check or money order for the appropriate amount (see the fee table below).
Online
Through the judicial system's public index, you can view basic case information, but downloading a certified copy of a document is usually not possible — you need to contact the clerk for that.
Criminal history records are available separately through the CATCH system (Citizens Access to Criminal Histories) of the State Law Enforcement Division.
Access Restrictions
Not all records are public. Juvenile cases, Grand Jury materials, sealed or expunged records are closed to general access. Information about the expungement procedure can be found on the governor's website — although the governor does not have the authority for expungement, the page explains the legislative process.
Richland Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees are set according to the South Carolina Code of Laws and the Clerk of Court's internal fee schedule. Below are approximate amounts — check the current rates directly with the office, as they may change.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Registry search (by name) | Free through public terminal; a fee may be charged for a written request |
| Regular copy (per page) | $0.25 – $0.50 |
| Certified copy | $1.00 – $3.00 per document (first page); additional pages at a reduced rate |
| Criminal history check (SLED CATCH) | $25.00 for name-based check |
| Certified copy of divorce report (through DPH) | $12.00 |
Payment at the Clerk's office is accepted in cash, money order, or check payable to Richland County Clerk of Court. Some online services, including the county tax payment portal, are processed through SC.GOV with an additional transaction fee.
For divorce records, contact the Vital Records Department of Health or the Clerk of Court's office where the original decree is kept.
If you need information about inmates, the Richland County Detention Center public access system allows free searches by last name. For state-level inmates, use the Department of Corrections search.