Finding the right court in South Carolina starts with one question: which level of court handles your problem? A speeding ticket, a landlord dispute, a will, a custody case and a felony charge each belong in a different courthouse, and sometimes a different town. The state runs a single judicial system, but residents reach it through a patchwork of county offices and city or town courts. This page explains how that system is built, who runs each piece, and how to reach the right office without wasting a trip.

How South Carolina's Unified Court System Is Organized

South Carolina has one statewide judicial branch, called the Unified Judicial System. The Supreme Court of South Carolina sits at the top, followed by the Court of Appeals. The Chief Justice oversees administration, and the state's Office of Court Administration supports local courts with scheduling, records systems and training. State statutes, not local preference, decide what each court may hear. That is why a magistrate in one county follows the same basic rules as a magistrate in another.

Trial courts fall into tiers. The Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction, with a General Sessions side for serious criminal cases and a Common Pleas side for civil cases. Family Court and Probate Court handle specialized matters. Below them sit the summary courts: county magistrate courts and municipal courts run by cities and towns. The state is divided into 16 judicial circuits, and each of the 46 counties has a Clerk of Court who accepts filings and keeps records.

How judges are chosen also varies, which affects how each office feels. The General Assembly elects circuit and family court judges. Probate judges are elected by county voters. The Governor appoints magistrates with the consent of the Senate. Municipal judges are appointed by their town or city councils. A small-town municipal court can therefore run on a very different schedule from the county magistrate office twenty minutes away.

Magistrate and Municipal Courts: Where Most South Carolinians Go First

Most residents never see a circuit judge. They meet a magistrate or municipal judge instead. These summary courts hear traffic tickets, minor criminal charges and local ordinance violations. Their criminal reach is limited to offenses carrying up to 30 days in jail or a $500 fine. Magistrate courts also decide civil cases up to $7,500, which covers small claims, many debt disputes and landlord-tenant matters.

Our database lists many examples. Columbia Magistrate Court on Lincreek Drive is filed under Lexington County. Charleston Municipal Court sits on Lockwood Drive, and Aiken Municipal Court on Laurens Street Northwest. Smaller towns run their own benches too, such as Hemingway Municipal Court in Williamsburg County and Salem Municipal Court near Walhalla in Oconee County. Bring your ticket or summons, a photo ID and any paperwork that supports your side. Call first, because many of these offices keep limited hours.

Circuit, Family and Probate Courts in the 46 Counties

The Circuit Court handles felonies and other serious criminal cases through General Sessions, and civil disputes above the magistrate limit through Common Pleas. Each county seat has a courthouse and a Clerk of Court. Listings such as Anderson Circuit Court at 100 South Main Street, Abbeville Circuit Court at 102 Court Square and Horry Circuit Court in Conway generally point to that courthouse and clerk's office. That is where filings, fees and records requests are handled.

Circuits often span more than one county. Charleston County shares the Ninth Circuit with Berkeley County, and Greenville County shares the Thirteenth with Pickens County. Judges rotate through assigned terms of court, so jury trials happen only during scheduled weeks. Ask the clerk for the term calendar before you plan around a trial date.

Family Court covers divorce, custody, child support, adoption and juvenile cases. Probate Court, found in every county, handles wills, estates, guardianships and marriage licenses. In many counties a master-in-equity hears foreclosures and related cases. Each court has its own forms and filing rules, so match your problem to the right court before you file.

Metro and Rural Courthouses: What Changes From Charleston to Jasper

Court access in South Carolina depends heavily on where you live. Columbia leads our listings, and the Charleston, Greenville and Lexington areas also have clusters of offices. Charleston County has Charleston Magistrate Court II on Cross County Road in North Charleston alongside the city's municipal court. Greenville County splits its work among offices like West Greenville Magistrate Court on White Horse Road and Greenville Magistrate Court II in Greer. In Lexington County, Lexington Magistrate Court II on East Main Street and Springdale Municipal Court in West Columbia serve the busy suburbs around the capital.

Rural counties work differently. Barnwell, Bamberg, Jasper, Marlboro and Chesterfield counties have only a few offices each, such as Barnwell Magistrate Court on Joey Zorn Boulevard, Jasper Circuit Court in Ridgeland and Marlboro Magistrate Court in Bennettsville. Staff there often handle several jobs, and the drive to the county seat can be long. Phone first, confirm session days and ask whether forms or payments can be handled by mail.

Counties with heavy listings, including Spartanburg County with 21 offices, show how many separate benches one county can hold. A resident of one town may answer to a different magistrate than a neighbor a few miles away. Always rely on the court named in your paperwork rather than the closest building.

Courts in South Carolina operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The South Carolina Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 208 cities across South Carolina. They are spread across 46 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Columbia, Charleston, Lexington, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of South Carolina should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of South Carolina who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across South Carolina to find the nearest location.

Getting Things Done at a South Carolina Courthouse

Before you drive anywhere, identify the case type and the county. Jurisdiction in South Carolina follows geography: the county where the ticket was written, where the defendant lives, where the property sits, or where the deceased person lived. Starting with the wrong county is the most common reason people lose a morning. The citation, summons or notice you received almost always names the court and gives a phone number.

Next, call the clerk or court administrator. Hours, payment methods and hearing days differ widely. Some municipal courts hold sessions only on certain days, and some magistrate offices close for lunch. Ask what forms of payment are accepted, whether you can pay or enter a plea by mail, and whether a hearing date has been set. Then gather your documents: photo ID, the ticket or summons, leases or contracts, and copies of anything you plan to show the judge.

Expect security screening at courthouses, especially larger ones in Columbia, Charleston and Greenville. Leave weapons at home, allow extra time for parking, and dress as you would for a job interview. If you need an interpreter or a disability accommodation, tell the clerk before the hearing date, not on the day. Court staff cannot give legal advice, but they can explain procedures and point you to forms. People who qualify by income may find free civil legal help through South Carolina Legal Services.

Busy counties such as Richland County around Columbia and Horry County, whose county seat is Conway, have dockets that fill quickly. Arrive early for morning sessions and confirm your courtroom on arrival.

South Carolina Courts: Frequently Asked Questions

Both are summary courts, and both hear minor criminal cases and traffic offenses, but they answer to different governments. Magistrate courts serve a whole county, are staffed by magistrates the Governor appoints, and also hear civil cases up to $7,500, including small claims and evictions. Municipal courts serve a single city or town, with judges chosen by the local council, and focus on ordinance violations and offenses inside town limits. Examples in our listings include Aiken Municipal Court on Laurens Street Northwest and Barnwell Magistrate Court on Joey Zorn Boulevard. Your ticket or summons names the correct one.

Read the citation first. It names the magistrate or municipal court that has your case, along with a court date or a deadline to respond. Contact that court's clerk to ask whether you can pay, enter a plea or request a hearing by mail or in person. Do not ignore the ticket. Missing a court date can lead to a bench warrant, and unpaid tickets can lead to license suspension through the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Call Charleston Municipal Court at 843-724-7460 only if your ticket actually lists that court.

Both start in the magistrate court for the county where the defendant lives or the property is located. Magistrates can decide civil claims up to $7,500. Visit the clerk's office, ask for the civil forms and the current filing fee, and bring names and addresses for everyone involved, plus supporting paperwork such as the lease, invoice or photos. The court arranges service on the other side and sets a hearing. Landlords must follow the statutory eviction process rather than changing locks themselves. If you disagree with the judgment, appeals go to the Circuit Court within a short deadline the clerk can explain.

Probate Court, which exists in every county. When someone dies, the estate is generally opened in the county where that person lived, and the probate judge oversees wills, personal representatives and the transfer of property. Probate courts also handle guardianships, conservatorships and certain mental health commitments. Marriage licenses in South Carolina are issued by county probate courts, so applicants typically appear with valid photo ID. Requirements and any waiting period can change, so call the probate office before you go. Probate judges are elected by county voters, which keeps the office local even though state law controls the process.

These matters go to Family Court, usually in the county where you or the other party lives. Family Court also handles child support, adoption and juvenile cases. South Carolina allows no-fault divorce after spouses have lived separate and apart for one year, and fault grounds such as adultery or physical cruelty are also recognized. Residency requirements apply, so ask the Family Court clerk before filing. If you need protection from abuse, you can request an order of protection through Family Court, and law enforcement can help at any hour. Contested hearings in busy counties like Greenville and Charleston may take time to schedule.

Many civil and criminal court records are public. The state judicial branch runs an online Public Index search for participating counties, and Clerks of Court can pull files at the courthouse. Summary courts such as Hemingway Municipal Court in Williamsburg County or Salem Municipal Court near Walhalla keep their own dockets, so call them directly, using the numbers in our listings, to confirm hours and payment methods. Rural courts often meet on set days and may be staffed part time. Leave a message with your case number and ask when the clerk returns calls. If travel is difficult, ask whether the matter can be handled by mail.