South Carolina Court Case Search: Find Your Lawsuit

You can look up your South Carolina court case status online. The state’s Judicial Branch website offers free case search tools.

If you’ve been sued for a debt, you need to monitor your case closely. Collectors sometimes fail to properly serve defendants with case documents. Finding your case online helps you review progress and deadlines.

Answer Your South Carolina Debt Lawsuit Before the 30-Day Deadline

You have just 30 days to respond to your South Carolina debt lawsuit. Missing this deadline leads to default judgment and wage garnishment. Get help filing your Answer now.

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Access the South Carolina case search tool here.

Finding your case isn’t always straightforward. You need to understand how South Carolina’s court system works first.

Understanding South Carolina’s Civil Court Structure

South Carolina has four levels of courts that handle civil cases:

Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
Circuit Courts
Magistrate Court

The Supreme Court sits at the top. It handles civil cases appealed from lower courts.

The Court of Appeals also deals with appealed cases only.

Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over civil cases. They handle cases of any dollar amount. Many civil lawsuits start here.

Magistrate Courts deal with small claims only. Cases must involve $7,500 or less.

Most debt collection lawsuits fall under Circuit Court or Magistrate Court jurisdiction.

How South Carolina Case Numbers Work

South Carolina adopted a uniform case numbering system in 1974. Each case number identifies key information.

The format includes:

Year (two digits)
Court type (CP, GS, DR, or JU)
County (numeric code)
Sequential number within that calendar year

For example, case number 2022-CP-23-001234 means something specific. It’s the 1,234th Common Pleas case filed during 2022 in Greenville County.

You can find your county’s numeric code on the South Carolina rules website.

Searching for Your Case Online

South Carolina provides a free online case lookup tool. Visit the South Carolina Judicial Branch website to access it.

You’ll need to:

Select your county
Agree to Terms of Service
Enter your search information

You can search using several types of information:

Case Number: The easiest search method. Your court documents should list this number.

Case Type: Debt lawsuits are considered civil cases.

Party Name: Enter your first and last name. You can also search by the plaintiff’s name.

Business Name: If a company is suing you, enter the business name.

Filing Date: Use the exact date or a date range.

You can narrow results by selecting specific courts or divisions.

Once you find your case, click the blue case number. You’ll see scheduled events, official case status, and filed documents.

Can’t find your case online? Try calling the courthouse directly. You can also visit in person.

If you’ve been sued for debt, our partner Solo can help you respond quickly and correctly.

Getting Court Records in Person

You can visit courthouse clerk’s offices to access records. Circuit Courts hear all civil cases in South Carolina. Magistrate Courts handle small claims under $7,500.

Public computer terminals are available at these locations:

Charleston
Columbia
Florence
Greenville

You can search by case number, party name, or filing date. Printing costs $0.10 per page from these terminals.

The Clerk’s Office charges $0.50 per page for copies. Certified copies cost $11.00 each. You must request documents in person or by written request. Phone requests aren’t accepted because of prepayment requirements.

Total fees depend on the number of pages. You can collect documents in person or request mailing.

Find your courthouse address on the South Carolina Judicial Branch website. Use the County Information Lookup tool to select your county.

Federal Court Records in South Carolina

Most debt collection cases stay in state court. High-dollar civil cases may go to federal court. Federal cases in South Carolina go to the 4th Circuit.

You can search federal records online or request them through the clerk.

The Federal Records Center offers a SmartScan service. They’ll scan and email orders of 100 pages or less. The service costs $19.90 plus $0.65 per PDF page.

The court cannot certify electronically accessed documents. Send your SmartScan request to the appropriate divisional office. Expect a response within one week.

Viewing paper files has different fees. The clerk charges $64 to retrieve the first box from NARA. Additional boxes cost $39.00 each.

NARA requests must include the case file’s Accession Number and Location Number. Find these numbers in the Record Retrieval section.

The Clerk’s Office can provide missing numbers. Payment methods include money orders, personal checks, and credit cards.

Electronic Filing and Case Management

Electronic case filing began in February 2005 in South Carolina. All 46 counties now use this system. The Clerk’s Office no longer maintains physical case files.

Court documents and dockets are kept electronically. Access them through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).

The Clerk’s Office uses case numbers to file and retrieve documents. View the party index at staffed offices during weekdays. Hours are 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Name searches cost $31.00 per name. All search requests must be in writing.

Responding to Your Debt Lawsuit

Finding your case is just the first step. You must respond to avoid losing by default.

South Carolina gives you 30 days to respond. Missing this deadline has serious consequences. The collector can garnish your wages or place liens on your property.

You need to file a written Answer to the lawsuit. Your Answer should address each claim in the complaint.

Include these elements in your Answer:

Admit or deny each allegation
Assert affirmative defenses
Follow proper formatting rules
File within the deadline

Many defenses apply to debt collection lawsuits. The statute of limitations may have expired. The collector might lack proper documentation. The debt amount could be incorrect.

You have options beyond just answering. You can negotiate a settlement. You can request debt validation. You can challenge improper service.

Don’t ignore your lawsuit. Courts rule against defendants who fail to respond. Default judgments happen quickly and have lasting impacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I search for a court case in South Carolina?

Visit the South Carolina Judicial Branch website and use their free case search tool. Select your county, agree to the Terms of Service, and search by case number, party name, business name, or filing date. You can also narrow results by selecting specific courts or divisions.

What information do I need to find my South Carolina court case?

You can search using your case number (the easiest method), your full name, the business name of the company suing you, or the filing date. The case number appears on any court documents you received and is the most efficient way to locate your case.

How long do I have to respond to a debt lawsuit in South Carolina?

You have 30 days from the date of service to file a written Answer to your debt lawsuit in South Carolina. Missing this deadline can result in a default judgment, which allows the collector to garnish your wages or place liens on your property.

Can I access South Carolina court records in person?

Yes, you can visit clerk's offices in Charleston, Columbia, Florence, or Greenville to access public computer terminals. Printing costs $0.10 per page from terminals, while copies from the Clerk's Office cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $11.00 each.

What is the difference between Circuit Court and Magistrate Court in South Carolina?

Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over civil cases with no monetary limits and handle most debt collection lawsuits. Magistrate Courts only deal with small claims cases involving $7,500 or less. Your case location depends on the amount of debt being claimed.

South Carolina Court Case Search: Find Your Lawsuit Fast