Court of Common Pleas

Location: 401 Cleland Street, 1st floor Room 115
Phone: (843)-545-3041 Fax: (843) 545-3003
Email: Common Pleas
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday (except legal holidays)
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 479, Georgetown, SC 29442

Public Index Search......see Extended Search link at top of this page.

Court Docket Search

OnLine Payments

Administrative Order of the Honorable Steven John for Common Pleas for the term of January-June 2012

REMINDER FROM JUDGE STEVEN JOHN, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR COMMON PLEAS 1/1/12 THRU 6/30/12

2012 Holiday Schedule From Judge Steven John, Chief Administrative Judge For Common Pleas

Forms

Forms are in Adobe Acrobat PDF Format

Department News:

Held on the second floor of the courthouse, one may access the Common Pleas Court by using the outside spiral staircase located at the front of the courthouse on Screven Street. Disabled individuals may access the courtroom by entering the building at ground level from the walkway on Screven Street. Upon entering the building, turn right, then, turn left to access the elevator. Take the elevator to the second floor. A bailiff will provide assistance to the courtroom. All parties and witnesses are to be appropriately dressed for court; no sandals (flip-flops), tank tops, or shorts, etc.

Extended Index Search

Indexes are in Adobe Acrobat PDF Format

Court Rosters

Court Docket Search

New Location For Rosters click Court Docket Search

Public Index Search

Indexes:

Defendant Judgments July 1, 1989 - June 30, 2000

Defendant Judgments July 1, 2000 - September 30, 2003

Defendant Judgments October 1, 2003 - Janurary 8, 2007

Defendant Lis Pendens February 14, 1992 - June 30, 2000

Defendant Lis Pendens July 1, 2000 - September 30, 2003

Defendant Lis Pendens October 1, 2003 - September 30, 2005

Defendant Lis Pendens October 1, 2005 - January 8, 2007

Defendant Cases Pending August 1, 1994 - June 30, 2000

Defendant Cases Pending July 1, 2000 - September 30, 2003

Defendant Cases Pending October 1, 2003 - May 31, 2005

Defendant Cases Pending June 1, 2005 - February 28, 2006

Defendant Cases Pending March 1, 2006 - January 8, 2007

Plaintiffs Judgments July 1, 1989 - June 30, 2000

Plaintiff Judgments July 1, 2000 - September 30, 2003

Plaintiffs Judgments October 1, 2003 - January 8, 2007

Plaintiffs Lis Pendens February 14, 1992 - June 30, 2000

Plaintiff Lis Pendens July 1, 2000 - September 30, 2003

Plaintiff Lis Pendens October 1, 2003 - September 30, 2005

Plaintiff Lis Pendens October 1, 2005 - January 8, 2007

Plaintiff Cases Pending August 1, 1994 - June 30, 2000

Plaintiff Cases Pending July 1, 2000 - September 30, 2003

Plaintiff Cases Pending October 1, 2003 - May 31, 2005

Plaintiff Cases Pending June 1, 2005 - February 28, 2006

Plaintiff Cases Pending March 1, 2006 - January 8, 2007

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: How do I execute the judgment after filing it with the Clerk’s office?
A: After the judgment is filed, the Clerk’s office will issue an execution form that must be sealed with the Clerk of Court or a Deputy Clerk’s signature. You must file the original execution with the Sheriff’s office including a filing fee of $25.00 collected by the Sheriff’s office.

Q: How do you provide case and judgment information to companies such as credit bureaus?
A: The Clerk of Court does not research and provide case information to credit bureaus and other companies. While this information is available to the public, companies with an interest in obtaining such information must conduct the research themselves. All of the information is available via this website under Public Index Search.

Q: What is the cost for filing a civil case?
A: Parties instituting a civil action in Circuit Court are required to pay a $150.00 filing fee for most civil actions, and an additional court charge of $10.00 for the filing a Lis Pendens without a summons and complaint. The court charges a $1.00 filing fee when the Lis Pendens is cancelled along with the stipulation or an order to cancel the Lis Pendens. (Lis Pendens is an instrument filed with a summons and complaint or before a summons to put the community on notice that certain property is or may be subject to litigation.)

Q: What is the cost to file a Transcript of Judgment from the Magistrates Court?
A: When the Magistrate grants an order of judgment, you will need to get a transcript of judgment to file in the Clerk of Court´s office. There is a $10.00 filing fee.

Q: What is the cost to file a Foreign Judgment?
A: When filing a Foreign Judgment, you must file an affidavit stating that the judgment is final, uncontested, unsatisfied in whole or in part. If in part, the amount of the remaining balance should be stated also. A certified sealed copy of the Judgment and a sealed Exemplification of the Clerk of Court and the Presiding Judge, are required. The filing fee is $100.00.

Q: How do I file a Transcript of judgment from another County?
A: In order to file a Transcript of Judgment, the county which filed the judgment must sign and seal the Transcript. Then, forward the Transcript to the Clerk of Court´s office.

Q: Do I file Small Claims cases in your office?
A: No. Small Claims cases ared filed in one of the six Magistrates (Summary) Courts in Georgetown County.

Q: When is a case a matter for Magistrate Court, and when is it "Common Pleas"?
A: When matters in the amount or value of property in dispute of less than $7,500, the Magistrate Court files and hears the case. When the amount or value of property is more than $7,500, the Court of Common Pleas files and hears the case.

Q: What type of case is a matter for Master-in-Equity Court and can I have my case heard there? Is it faster?
A: The Master-in-Equity Court provides a relatively quick and inexpensive means of litigation resolution for Civil, non-jury matters. However, parties may not initiate action in the Master´s Court. The Court of Common Pleas through an Order of Reference is the only way a case comes before the Master-in-Equity. The Master´s Court hears most foreclosure cases, and a sizable number of other civil, non-jury cases such as land partitions, judicial sales, and actions to collect on judgments. Any case, which could otherwise be heard in the Court of Common Pleas without a jury, can be referred to the Master, and anyone filing a civil case and waives the right to a jury trial can ask to have their case referred to Master-in-Equity Court.

Q: Do you provide case and judgment information to companies such as credit bureaus?
A: The Clerk of Court does not research and give case information to credit bureaus and other companies. While this information is available to the public, companies with an interest in obtaining such information must conduct the research themselves. All of the information is available via public access computer terminals in our offices and via the following links for Public Index Search http://court.georgetowncountysc.org/publicindex and Court Docket Search http://court.georgetowncountysc.org/courtdockets

Q: Does the court of common pleas handle bankruptcy proceedings? If so How?
A: Bankruptcy proceedings are an action of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina. For more information, contact the US District Court Clerk´s office at (843) 579-1401.

Q: How do I appeal the outcome of a Common Pleas case?
A: Cases tried or otherwise disposed in the Court of Common Pleas are appealed to the South Carolina State Supreme Court and filed with the Clerk of the State Supreme Court.

Q: Can you tell me how to appeal a case from another (lower) court?
A: The Court of Common Pleas handles appeals from Magistrates´ Courts, and some administrative agencies. When appealing a civil case, it will be necessary for you to pay a filing fee at the time you file the appeal. Appeals on Civil cases are automatically scheduled as Non-Jury matters.