Richland County Public Records
Richland County public records are maintained by a large metropolitan government centered in Columbia, South Carolina, the state capital. The Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds, and Sheriff's Office each hold different categories of public records. With over 5,000 civil cases and 10,000 criminal warrants filed annually, Richland County runs one of the highest-volume court systems in the state. This guide explains where to find Richland County public records, which offices to contact, and how to submit requests under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act.
Richland County Quick Facts
Richland County Court Records
The Richland County Clerk of Court is Jeanette McBride. The office is at the Richland County Judicial Center, 1701 Main Street, Room 205, Columbia, SC 29201. Mailing address: P.O. Box 2766, Columbia, SC 29202. The main Clerk of Court phone is 803-576-1947. Common Pleas (civil) can be reached at 803-576-1950, fax 803-576-1785. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The Clerk manages both Circuit Court and Family Court records, with court held 46 weeks per year.
The SC Judicial Public Index for Richland County provides free online access to court records across all case types.
The Public Index allows name and case number searches with real-time docket updates, judge assignments, and hearing schedules.
Family Court is located at 1701 Main Street, 1st Floor West Wing, Columbia, SC. The Family Court phone is 803-576-3320, fax 803-576-3347. Mailing for Family Court goes to P.O. Box 192, Columbia, SC. Family Court handles juvenile matters, domestic cases, custody, and support. A $150 filing fee applies for all Family Court cases. Family Court forms and calendars are available online. Domestic abuse paperwork is available at the office.
Common Pleas Court rosters, jury and non-jury trial rosters, and motion rosters are all posted online. Court calendars for both civil and criminal terms are available through the court's website. General Session forms and motion rosters are also accessible. Case attire requirements apply for both in-person and virtual court appearances. Certified copies of court records are available in person at the Clerk's office.
Note: As of January 2026, home addresses no longer appear on the SC Public Index to protect resident privacy.
Richland County Property Records
The Richland County Register of Deeds is at 1701 Main Street, Room 101, Columbia, SC 29201. Mailing address: P.O. Box 192, Columbia, SC 29202. Phone is 803-576-1910. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The Register of Deeds records and maintains all real estate documents for the county, including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, satisfactions, and federal and state tax liens. The office processes a high volume of documents annually given Columbia's size.
The Richland County official website provides access to the Register of Deeds, public records portal, and all county department contacts.
The county website connects you to the Register of Deeds office and the public records request portal for various record types.
Online access to property records is available through a subscription service offering day, week, month, or year plans. Public access terminals are available in person at the office. Staff cannot conduct title searches or provide legal advice. Recording fees apply for new document submissions. E-recording services are available for qualified documents. The Richland County public records portal at richlandcountysc.gov lists available record types and provides a public records request form.
Note: Property tax records and assessment data are handled separately through the Richland County Tax Assessor's office via the main county website.
Richland County Criminal Records
The Richland County Sheriff's Office manages law enforcement records and operates the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, one of the larger regional facilities in South Carolina. Inmate search is available online for current detainees by name. Booking information, charges, and bond amounts are accessible. The Sheriff's Office is reachable through the Richland County Sheriff's Office page. The office has multiple precinct locations across the county. Incident reports and accident reports are available through written FOIA requests to the records division.
Richland County Sheriff's Office public records are accessible through the county website along with detention center details and fingerprinting services.
The Sheriff's Office accepts written records requests and can direct you to the right division for incident reports, warrants, and other law enforcement documents.
For statewide criminal background checks, the SLED CATCH system charges $25 per search, with $8 for qualifying charities. A full name and date of birth are required. The SLED records line is 803-896-1443. Sex offender registry data for Richland County is available at the SLED Sex Offender Registry. For individuals transferred to state prison, the SC Department of Corrections maintains an online inmate search tool.
How to Request Richland County Public Records
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act governs all public records requests in Richland County. The law is found at Title 30, Chapter 4 of the SC Code. Any person can submit a written FOIA request to the appropriate county office or department. No specific form is required. Requests can be mailed, emailed, or delivered in person. The Richland County website provides a public records request form for convenience.
Agencies must respond within 10 business days for records two years old or less. Older records carry a 20-business-day response window. After deciding to release records, the agency has 30 days to produce them. Copy fees run around $0.25 per page. Electronic records may be provided at no cost. An upfront deposit of up to 25% of estimated costs may be required. The first hour of staff search time is generally provided without charge.
SC Code Section 30-4-50 lists categories that are always public. These include public employee names and titles, final agency opinions, meeting minutes, crime reports, and fund expenditure records. Failure to respond within the required window is treated as approval to release non-exempt records. A $500 civil penalty applies for willful or arbitrary violations of the act.
Richland County Online Records Search
The main tool for Richland County court records is the SC Judicial Public Index. This free statewide system covers Circuit, Family, and Magistrate Court cases for all 46 counties. It is available 24 hours a day with no registration required. Real-time docket updates and case information are included. Appellate records can be searched through SC C-Track Public Access.
Business entity filings are searchable at the SC Secretary of State Business Filings portal. The SC Department of Archives and History holds historical Richland County documents including older property and court records. Voter registration and election data are at SCVotes.gov. GIS mapping and property data are available through the Richland County website. The SC Law Enforcement Division hosts public portals for criminal history checks and sex offender registration.
The county also maintains building permits, environmental records, and meeting agendas and minutes on its website. The SC Department of Public Safety provides driver and traffic record access. Together, these resources give comprehensive public records access for Richland County matters.
Cities in Richland County
Columbia is the county seat and state capital, located in the heart of Richland County. It is the largest city in South Carolina and home to major state agencies and court facilities.
Nearby Counties
Richland County is in the geographic center of South Carolina. Bordering counties each have their own records offices and online access tools.