Court of Common Pleas
P.O. Box 70219
2144 Melbourne Avenue - Room 117
North Charleston, SC 29418
Phone: (843) 740-5700          Fax: (843) 740-5887

General Information

The Court of Common Pleas is the court of general jurisdiction over civil cases in Charleston County, exepting those cases in which the amount or value of property in dispute is less than $7,500. Cases involving money or property totalling less than $7,500 are heard in Small Claims Magistrates' Courts.

Domestic matters are handled by the Family Court in Charleston County, not the Court of Common Pleas. Family Court is responsible for all matters pertaining to domestic relations (divorce, annullment, etc.), adoptions, domestic abuse, child support, abuse and neglect, and juvenile criminal violations.

The Court of General Sessions is the court of general jurisdiction over criminal cases. The Court of Common Pleas and Court of General Sessions are, respectively, the civil and criminal branches of the Circuit Court of South Carolina. Charleston and Berkeley Counties form the 9th Judicial Circuit of the state's 16 circuits. 43 circuit judges rotate among the 16 circuits. Circuit Court judges are elected by the General Assembly and serve six-year terms. Their salaries are paid by the State.

The Clerk of Court provides administrative support for the Court of Common Pleas in the following manner:

• Process legal actions of a civil nature.
• Keeps and maintains civil case records, including records of judgments.
• Records transcripts of judgment from the Small Claims courts, and out-of-county judgments.
• Schedules civil Jury and Non-Jury trials, and maintains a schedule of other types of hearings.
• Collects and disburses money as ordered by the Court.

The Clerk of Court also handles the following:

• Records military discharges (DD214) when filed by the discharged service memeber.
• Maintains records on the issuance of bonds for public improvements.

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