Richland County Civil Court Records
Richland County civil court records are filed and maintained by the Clerk of Court at the Richland County Judicial Center in Columbia, the state capital. The Court of Common Pleas handles all civil cases in Richland County, including contract disputes, personal injury claims, real property matters, commercial litigation, and foreclosure proceedings. As one of South Carolina's most populous counties, Richland processes a high volume of civil cases each year. You can search Richland County civil court records online through the South Carolina Public Index or visit the courthouse in Columbia.
Richland County Quick Facts
Richland County Court of Common Pleas
Richland County is part of South Carolina's 5th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Kershaw County. The 5th Circuit Court rotates judges between these counties throughout the year. The Court of Common Pleas handles all civil actions where the amount in controversy exceeds $7,500.
Richland County has a Master-in-Equity Court. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 14-11-20, counties with a population of at least 130,000 qualify for a Master-in-Equity. The Master-in-Equity handles complex equity matters and foreclosure proceedings referred by the Circuit Court. The Richland County Judicial Center at 1701 Main Street houses the Clerk of Court, courtrooms, and other court offices.
The Richland County Clerk of Court processes over 5,000 civil cases each year. Under Title 14 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, circuit court judges are elected by the General Assembly for six-year terms and rotate on assignment by the Chief Justice.
Richland County Clerk of Court
The Richland County Clerk of Court maintains all civil case records for the county. The office files and processes civil complaints, maintains judgment rolls, issues subpoenas, manages the jury system, and keeps all court documents generated by civil cases in Richland County.
Visit the Richland County Clerk of Court at 1701 Main Street, Room 205, Columbia to search civil case files, request document copies, or locate a case by party name or case number. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For civil court inquiries, call (803) 576-1950. The office cannot provide legal advice.
How to Search Richland County Civil Court Records Online
The South Carolina Public Index provides free online access to Richland County civil court records. Go to publicindex.sccourts.org/richland and accept the terms of service to begin. You can search by case number, party name, or attorney name.
The Richland County website also provides a Common Pleas Court page with court rosters, motion schedules, and calendars. Jury and nonjury trial rosters are posted online, along with contact information for scheduling status conferences and motion hearings.
For civil disputes under $7,500, Richland County Magistrate Courts hold jurisdiction. These smaller civil cases are filed at the magistrate level and have separate records from the Court of Common Pleas system.
Civil Record Access Rights in Richland County
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Ann. §30-4-10 makes civil court records available to the public. Anyone can view or copy Richland County civil case records. You do not have to be a party to the case to access it.
Privacy protections apply to sensitive personal information. Under S.C. Code Ann. §30-2-330, documents placed on publicly accessible websites must not include social security numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, or similar identifiers. This applies to all Richland County civil court records. If you find such information in a public record online, you can ask that it be removed.
Richland County Magistrate Courts handle smaller civil matters up to $7,500. The South Carolina Magistrate Court page at sccourts.org explains the jurisdiction and procedures for these lower-level civil cases. Self-help resources for Richland County civil cases are available at the South Carolina Judicial Branch website.
Note: Civil procedures for all Richland County civil actions are governed by Title 15 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which sets venue rules, statutes of limitations, and judgment procedures.
Nearby Counties
Richland County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit. Neighboring counties in this region of South Carolina share circuit court resources. Civil cases must be filed in the county where the dispute arose or where the parties reside.