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Charleston County, South Carolina public records

In Charleston County, deeds are recorded by the Charleston County Register of Deeds; property values come from the Charleston County Assessor; court files are split between the Charleston County Clerk of Court and the Charleston County Probate Court.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Voter records
  11. Historical records
  12. Good to know about Charleston County records
  13. Office addresses, phones and hours
  14. Records that are not online: public records requests
  15. Questions people ask
  16. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  17. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsCharleston County Register of Deeds4Search deeds23Free search$0.50 per page for deeds; $0.50 or $1 for plats depending on size3
Property values and ownersCharleston County Assessor's Office3Property search2—
Property tax billsCharleston County Treasurer's Office5Tax bill search2—
Court casesCharleston County Clerk of Court5
Charleston County Probate Court5		Charleston County Circuit Court6
Charleston County Family Court6
Charleston County Probate Court4		$10 for an official certificate under the seal of the court7
Marriage recordsProbate Court issues licenses (online application at https://mlonline.charlestoncounty.gov/)2——
Divorce recordsDecree held by the Clerk of Court (Family Court); state DPH holds only a Report of Divorce8——
Birth certificatesState-only record (SC DPH); local DPH Vital Records office at 3685 Rivers Ave., North Charleston9——
Death certificatesState-only record (SC DPH); same local office9——
Probate and willsProbate Court; Estate & Wills Search linked by the county4——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Charleston County are recorded by the Charleston County Register of Deeds (ROD).4

Online search
charlestoncounty.gov/…2Free search
Cost
Free to download copies from the website3
Years online
Deed/mortgage index data from 1978; images from 2/97 (as listed on the ROD page, ranges shown through 4/13/23); UCC/tax lien data from 19874
Copy fee
$0.50 per page for deeds; $0.50 or $1 for plats depending on size3
How to order
Download free online, or visit the ROD at 101 Meeting St., Suite 200 with the approximate date and grantor/grantee names3
Recording fees
Statewide statutory: $15 deed; $25 mortgage and most other instruments; $10 releases/satisfactions; plus deed recording fee $1.85 per $500 of value7
History room
Record books back to 1719; viewable in the ROD History Room, 101 Meeting St, Suite 2004

How deeds work in South Carolina

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Charleston County Assessor's Office sets property values3; the Charleston County Treasurer's Office bills and collects the tax5.

Property search
gisccweb.charlestoncounty.org/… (GIS Parcel Viewer / public search); historic property record cards prcweb.charlestoncounty.gov2
Tax bill search
sc-charleston.publicaccessnow.com (Pay Taxes and View Records)2
Appealing a value
Written objection to the Assessor within 90 days after the assessment notice is mailed; later stages have 30-day deadlines; county represents itself before the Board of Assessment Appeals and the Administrative Law Court10
Reassessment
Countywide reassessment every five years; last implemented 2025 (notices mailed August 20, 2025)10

How property tax works in South Carolina

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Charleston County Circuit Court (Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions)Civil and criminal (felony) casesCharleston County Clerk of Courtjcmsweb.charlestoncounty.gov/PublicIndex Circuit and Magistrate Courts public index; Charleston hosts its own index6
Charleston County Family CourtDivorce, custody, supportCharleston County Clerk of Court (Common Pleas, Family Court records)portal.fccms.dss.sc.gov Statewide Family Court records portal6
Charleston County Probate CourtEstates, wills, marriage licenses, guardianshipsCharleston County Probate Courtsouthcarolinaprobate.net/… Estate & Wills Search, linked from the ROD page4
Charleston County Magistrate (Summary) CourtsCivil claims up to the magistrate limit, minor criminalCharleston County Clerk of Court Magistrate Records Search via the same jcmsweb public index2
Fees
Civil filing fee: $100 for a first complaint or petition (S.C. Code § 8-21-310) plus an additional $50 (§ 14-1-204(B)(1)) = $150; $10 for an official certificate under the seal of the court7
Day book
Clerk of Court Day Book (lis pendens/judgments) cocdaybook.charlestoncounty.gov2

Criminal records and background checks

Summary
Circuit (General Sessions) and Magistrate cases via the county public index; expungement case inquiry at expungement.charlestoncounty.gov2

How South Carolina courts keep their files

Marriage records

Probate Court issues licenses (online application at mlonline.charlestoncounty.gov); marriage license search at southcarolinaprobate.net/charlestonmarriagesearch/2

South Carolina marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Decree held by the Clerk of Court (Family Court); state DPH holds only a Report of Divorce8

South Carolina divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

State-only record (SC DPH); local DPH Vital Records office at 3685 Rivers Ave., North Charleston9

Ordering a South Carolina birth certificate

Death certificates

State-only record (SC DPH); same local office9

Ordering a South Carolina death certificate

Probate records and wills

Probate Court; Estate & Wills Search linked by the county4

Finding a will or probate case in South Carolina

Voter records

Charleston County Board of Voter Registration & Elections, 4340 Corporate Road11

Historical records

Earliest conveyances 1673-1719 are at the state archives in Columbia (Conveyance Books series); ROD books from 17194

Good to know about Charleston County records

  • Register of Deeds record books date back to 1719.4
  • The longest-serving Register was Julius Elisha Cogswell, 1893-1956 (63 years).4
  • Charleston is one of six SC counties with an elected Register of Deeds.12
  • Charleston hosts its own court public index instead of the statewide SC Judicial Branch index.13

Office addresses, phones and hours

Charleston County Register of Deeds (ROD)

Address
O.T. Wallace County Office Building, 101 Meeting St., Suite 200, Charleston, SC 294014
Mail
101 Meeting St., Suite 200, Charleston, SC 294014
Hours
M-F 8:30AM-5PM; no recording after 4:30PM4

Charleston County Clerk of Court

Address
100 Broad St, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401-22106

Charleston County Clerk of Court (Common Pleas, Family Court records)

Address
100 Broad St, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401-22106

Charleston County Probate Court

Address
Charleston County Judicial Center, 100 Broad St, Suite 469, Charleston, SC 29401-2273 (Probate Judge)6
Phone
(843) 958-5180 (main, conservatorships/guardianships); Estate Administration (843) 958-5030; Marriage License (843) 958-518314

Charleston County Assessor's Office

Address
4050 Bridge View Dr., Suite 100, N. Charleston, SC 2940510
Phone
(843) 958-4100 (main)10

Charleston County Treasurer's Office

Address
101 Meeting St., Suite 240, Charleston, SC 294015
Hours
M-F 8:30AM-5PM5

Charleston County Board of Voter Registration & Elections

Address
4340 Corporate Rd., North Charleston, SC 2940515
Phone
(843) 744-8683 (VOTE)15

SC DPH Vital Records office, Charleston County

Address
3685 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, SC 294059

Records that are not online: public records requests

Request page
charlestoncounty.streamlinegov.us (FOIA Requests portal linked from the county site); FOIA Fee Schedule charlestoncounty.gov/foia-fee-schedule.php16
Fees
Search, retrieval and redaction at the actual hourly salary of the lowest-paid qualified employee; paper copy estimates B&W single-sided $0.11, color single-sided $0.49, B&W double-sided $0.22, color double-sided $0.98; postage by weight16

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Charleston County?

The Charleston County Register of Deeds (ROD) keeps deed records. To order copies: Download free online, or visit the ROD at 101 Meeting St., Suite 200 with the approximate date and grantor/grantee names. Plain copies: $0.50 per page for deeds; $0.50 or $1 for plats depending on size.43

Can I search Charleston County land records online for free?

Yes. Free to download copies from the website. The official search: charlestoncounty.gov/…32

Where do I get a divorce decree in Charleston County?

Decree held by the Clerk of Court (Family Court); state DPH holds only a Report of Divorce.8

How do I look up who owns a property in Charleston County?

Use the property search of the Charleston County Assessor's Office: gisccweb.charlestoncounty.org/…2

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Charleston County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in South Carolina with a full guide: Aiken County, Anderson County, Beaufort County, Berkeley County, Cherokee County, Dorchester County, Florence County, Greenville County, Horry County, Lancaster County, Lexington County, Oconee County, Pickens County, Richland County, Spartanburg County, Sumter County, York County. Every county in the state: South Carolina county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 17 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  2. Online ServicesCharleston County Government
  3. ROD Help & FAQsCharleston County Register of Deeds
  4. Register of Deeds OfficeCharleston County Register of Deeds
  5. Treasurer's Office (with county department directory)Charleston County Treasurer
  6. Courthouse Search: CharlestonSC Judicial Branch
  7. SC Code Title 8 Chapter 21, Fees and CostsSC Legislature
  8. Divorce ReportsSC Department of Public Healtharchived copy
  9. Vital Records Office LocationsSC Department of Public Healtharchived copy
  10. Assessor's OfficeCharleston County Assessor
  11. County Voter Registration & Election OfficesSC Election Commission
  12. Register of DeedsSC Judicial Branch
  13. Case Records SearchSC Judicial Brancharchived copy
  14. Probate CourtCharleston County Probate Court
  15. Board of Voter Registration & ElectionsCharleston County
  16. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Fee ScheduleCharleston County Government
  17. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau