Charleston County People Search Records
Charleston County offers several online tools and in-person offices where you can run a people search across court, jail, tax, and property records. The county is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit along with Berkeley County, and its court records go through the Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street in Charleston. With over 400,000 residents, Charleston County is one of the most populous counties in South Carolina. A people search here can pull up civil and criminal case data, current jail bookings, property ownership, marriage licenses going back to 1877, and estate files. This page covers each office and tool you can use for a Charleston County people search.
Charleston County Quick Facts
Charleston County People Search Court Records
The Public Index is the main online system for a Charleston County people search through court files. It covers the 9th Judicial Circuit, which serves both Charleston and Berkeley counties. You can search by party name, case number, or South Carolina Bar number. The system holds civil cases, criminal cases, family court matters, and magistrate court records. Each case shows its status, filing date, parties, charges, docket entries, judgments, and financial details. Searching is free.
Visit the Charleston County Public Index to start your search.
You can filter results by case type, party role, filing date range, or case status. As of January 2026, home addresses no longer show on the public index for new or existing cases. Free redaction requests are available for social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and other sensitive data. Contact the Clerk of Court at (843) 958-5000 or email clerkofcourt@charlestoncounty.org. Printed copies cost $0.11 per page, and certified copies are $1.00 plus $0.11 per page.
Note: The Public Index updates daily, so recent filings may not appear right away in Charleston County.
Charleston County Inmate People Search
The Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center runs the inmate search for Charleston County. This jail holds up to 1,693 inmates across four main buildings. Over 700 cameras monitor the site around the clock. The facility is at 3841 Leeds Avenue in North Charleston.
The Charleston County Inmate Search lets you look up people by last name, first name, booking date range, or inmate number.
Results show booking number, date, time, status, date of birth, gender, race, charges, bond amounts, and court dates. You can check a box to include both current and released inmates in your search. Mugshots are available in the details view. The arresting agency and holding charges from other offices also appear in each record. All visits at this jail use video. Inmates must be held for at least 72 hours before they can get visits. The facility runs a cashless system where all money goes through commissary accounts.
- Search current and released inmates
- View booking photos and charge details
- Check bond amounts and court dates
- See arresting agency and hold status
- Visitation daily: 8 AM to 10:50 AM, 1 PM to 4:25 PM, 6 PM to 10 PM
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office is accredited by CALEA, the American Corrections Association, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. Call (843) 529-7300 for detention center questions or (843) 202-1700 for the main Sheriff's Office.
People Search via Charleston County Tax Records
Property tax records link people to addresses and real estate in Charleston County. The Public Access Now portal is the county's tool for looking up tax bills and property owners. You can search by owner name, property address, tax map number, or bill number. Results show assessed values, tax breakdowns by district, payment history, and any past-due amounts.
Go to the Charleston County Tax Records portal to begin your search.
The system covers real property like land, homes, and mobile homes. It also covers personal property such as boats, aircraft, business gear, and rental units. You can pay taxes online with a credit card, debit card, or e-check. Credit and debit payments carry a 2.5% fee. E-check payments cost $1.50. A certified tax bill copy is $5.00. The Auditor's Office is at 101 Meeting Street, Suite 100, Charleston, SC 29401. Call (843) 958-4100 for the Auditor or (843) 958-4020 for the Treasurer.
Note: Charleston County tax records are useful for confirming a person's current or past property holdings in the county.
Charleston County Marriage and Estate Search
The Charleston County Probate Court keeps marriage records from 1877 to the present. This is one of the longest runs of marriage data in South Carolina. You can search online by groom name, bride name, or license number. A certified copy of a marriage certificate costs $5. The Marriage License Division is at 100 Broad Street, Suite 469, Charleston, SC 29401. Call (843) 958-5183 for help. South Carolina law requires a 24-hour wait between applying for and picking up a marriage license. Licenses stay valid for six months.
Estate records are also housed at the Probate Court. The online estate index goes back to 1983 with a history option reaching into the 1800s. Search by case number, name, filing date, or date of death. Pre-1983 records are on microfilm at the office. The Estate and Will Division is at 84 Broad Street, 3rd Floor, Charleston, SC 29401. Call (843) 958-5030. Estate copies cost $0.25 per page, with certified copies at $5.00 plus page fees.
Charleston County Property People Search
The Register of Deeds in Charleston County holds land records from 1719 to the present. This is one of the oldest continuous record systems in the country. Documents recorded since 1979 are searchable online. You can search by name, book and page, recording date, or document type. The office keeps deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, easements, and powers of attorney.
The office is at 101 Meeting Street, Suite 150, Charleston, SC 29401. Call (843) 958-4800 or email rod@charlestoncounty.org. Recording fees start at $15 for the first page and $5 for each extra page. Non-certified copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $0.25 per page. Free public computer terminals are available at the office for research. Over 800 historical maps and plats have been scanned and are viewable online.
Note: Charleston County property records can help trace a person's real estate history and current address through deed transfers and mortgage filings.
State People Search Tools for Charleston County
South Carolina runs several state databases that cover Charleston County residents. The SLED CATCH system provides criminal history checks for $25 plus a $1 online fee. This is a name-based search that covers state records only. It requires last name, first name, and date of birth. The Sex Offender Registry is free and lets you search by name or by geographic area using a ZIP code or map view. South Carolina tracks over 10,000 active registrants.
The SCDC Inmate Search covers all people serving time in state prisons. It shows photos, charges, admission dates, release dates, and current location. For professional license checks, use the LLR Licensee Lookup which covers over 40 boards including contractors, nurses, doctors, and real estate agents.
Under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, anyone can request public records from Charleston County offices. The county must respond within 10 business days for recent records. Fees cannot exceed the actual cost of search and retrieval. Using personal information from a public agency for commercial solicitation is a crime under S.C. Code Section 30-2-50.
Cities in Charleston County
Charleston County includes the city of Charleston and several surrounding cities and towns. All county-level records for residents across these areas are filed through the Charleston County offices.
Charleston is the county seat. North Charleston and Mount Pleasant are the next largest cities in Charleston County. Court and property records for all three are maintained at the county level.
Nearby Counties
Charleston County borders Berkeley County to the north and Dorchester County to the west. If you are not sure which county a person lives in, check the address first. Each county keeps its own court and property records.