Find Richland County People Search
Richland County is home to Columbia, the state capital of South Carolina, and has a large set of public records systems for people search needs. The county seat sits at 1701 Main Street in Columbia, where several offices keep files on court cases, real estate, and estate matters. A Richland County people search can start online through the state court system or at the Clerk of Court office. The county handles more than 5,000 civil cases and 10,000 criminal warrants each year. Residents and the public can look up names, view case details, and request copies of records through the offices listed on this page.
Richland County Quick Facts
Richland County People Search Court Records
The South Carolina Judicial Branch runs the Public Index, which is the main online tool for a Richland County people search through court records. You can look up cases by name, case number, or filing date. The system covers Common Pleas civil cases, General Sessions criminal cases, and Family Court matters. Records go back to 1981 for most case types. Each result shows the case number, court type, filed date, status, judge, party names, charges, bond details, and any actions taken. This is a free tool open to the public at all times.
The Richland County Public Index lets you search from any device with a web browser.
You must accept the terms of use before you can search. Automated data scraping is not allowed. For copies of court documents, visit the Clerk of Court at 1701 Main Street in Columbia or send a written request to their office.
Note: Some older Richland County records may be stored at the Federal Records Center and are not available online.
Richland County Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court handles all court filings in Richland County. This office splits into two parts. One side manages Circuit Court for civil and criminal cases. The other side manages Family Court for domestic and juvenile matters. Staff process over 5,000 domestic and juvenile cases each year on top of the civil and criminal load. The current Clerk is Jeanette McBride.
You can reach the Richland County Clerk of Court by phone for specific record types. Call 803-576-1939 for criminal records, warrants, and sentencing. Call 803-576-1952 for civil record copies. For divorce records from 2006 to the present, call 803-576-3326 at the Family Court division. The expungement line is 803-576-1620.
| Office |
Richland County Clerk of Court 1701 Main Street, Room 205 Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 576-1947 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | Richland County Clerk of Court |
The office also helps with judgments at 803-576-3371 and motion scheduling at 803-576-3372. Court is held 46 weeks per year in Richland County.
People Search Through Richland County Deeds
The Register of Deeds office in Richland County files and stores all real estate records. These records tie people to property and can help with a people search when you need to find an address or confirm ownership. The office sits at 1701 Main Street, Room 101, in Columbia. You can call 803-576-1910 with questions. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Richland County Register of Deeds page has more details on how to search their records.
Online access works through a paid subscription with daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly plans. You can search by tax map number, name, address, or book and page. The office keeps deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, UCC filings, and powers of attorney. Marriage licenses are on file from 1911 forward. Staff cannot do searches for you or give legal advice under South Carolina law. Documents like deeds and mortgages become valid only once they are recorded in the county land records.
Richland County Probate Court Search
The Probate Court in Richland County handles estate records, marriage licenses, guardianships, and conservatorships. Judge Amy McCulloch has served on this court since January 1999. The office is at 1701 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 207, in Columbia.
You can view and print estate records from 1994 to the present through the Richland County Probate Court online system.
Records filed after October 2000 are available through the Subscription Management System. You can search by estate number, name of the deceased, name of the personal representative, filed date range, or date of death. Only parties with a legitimate interest may view estate files. The court also approves special needs trusts and hears will contests. Call (803) 576-1961 to set up a visit. It is best to make an appointment before you go to the Richland County Probate Court.
Note: The Richland County Probate Court recommends calling ahead since walk-in wait times can vary based on daily caseloads.
Richland County People Search Detention Records
The Richland County Sheriff runs the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center at 201 John Mark Dial Drive in Columbia. The Sheriff's main office is at 5623 Two Notch Road. You can call the non-emergency line at 803-576-3000 for general questions.
The detention center has an online Jail Management System where you can search for current inmates. Look up people by first and last name, date of birth, or System Person Number. You can also browse the full current roster without entering search terms. Each result shows a photo, booking details, inmate number, arrest date, charges, and bond amount. For inmate records, call 803-576-3238 or 803-576-3239. Visitation runs Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM to 8:30 PM, but not during meals, shift changes, or lockdowns. Each inmate gets one 1-hour visit per week with up to two visitors at a time.
- Search by name, date of birth, or SPN number
- View booking photo and charge details
- Check bond amounts for each charge
- Browse the full current roster
Note: The online jail system may not show every transfer or release in real time, and juvenile and federal detainee records are not available through the public portal.
Public Records Requests in Richland County
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to inspect and copy public records. This law is found in S.C. Code Ann. Title 30, Chapter 4. In Richland County, you can file a FOIA request online, by email, or by mail.
Send requests to the Richland County Ombudsman's Office by email at ombudsman@richlandcountysc.gov or by mail to P.O. Box 192, Columbia, SC 29204. You can also fax your request to (803) 929-6009. For records from the 5th Circuit Solicitor's Office, email scsolicitor5.foia@richlandcountysc.gov. The county must respond within 10 business days for records less than 24 months old and within 20 business days for older records. After that, they have 30 to 35 calendar days to produce the files. Fees include $20 per hour for search, retrieval, and redaction. Black and white copies cost $0.30 per page, and color copies cost $0.75 per page.
Under S.C. Code Section 30-2-50, it is against the law to use personal information from a public agency for commercial solicitation in South Carolina.
State Tools for Richland County People Search
Several state agencies run tools that work for a people search in Richland County. The SLED CATCH system lets you run a criminal background check on anyone in South Carolina. The fee is $25 plus a $1 online convenience charge. CATCH only covers state records and uses a name-based search with last name, first name, and date of birth. It does not check the sex offender registry or wanted persons list.
The South Carolina Sex Offender Registry is free. You can search by name or by area using a ZIP code or map radius. The state has over 10,000 people on this list. For inmates serving time in state prison, the SCDC Inmate Search shows photos, charges, sentence details, and release dates. Search by name or SCDC number. You can also verify professional licenses in Richland County through the LLR Licensee Lookup tool, which covers over 40 boards.
- SLED CATCH: $25 criminal history check
- Sex Offender Registry: free name or area search
- SCDC Inmate Search: free by name or ID number
- LLR Licensee Lookup: free license verification
- Vital Records through DPH: birth and death from 1915
Cities in Richland County
Richland County includes Columbia and several smaller towns. People search records for all residents in the county are filed through the Richland County court system and county offices.
Columbia is the county seat and the largest city in Richland County. All county-level records are housed in Columbia at the Judicial Center on Main Street.
Nearby Counties
If you are not sure which county holds the records you need, check the address of the person you are looking for. Richland County borders Lexington County to the west. People who live near the county line may have records in either location.