As a reminder to citizens, Charleston County Government buildings are closed to the public until further notice. Services will continue with limited staff available by phone and email during normal business hours. Please expect some delays in response.
 
On-line service are available here: https://www.charlestoncounty.org/clickandgo.php
 
Charleston County Probate Court:
 
Original filings regarding Wills and Estates may be mailed to the Probate Court, 84 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401. The phone number is 843-958-5030.
 
Original filings regarding Guardian, Conservator and Trusts, Commitment Proceedings, Marriage Licenses and Problem Solving Courts, may be mailed to the Probate Court, 100 Broad Street, Suite 469, Charleston, SC 29401. The phone number is 843-958-5180.
 
Please note that you may also use the drop box in the lobby at 100 Broad Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for now for any pleadings or filings with the Probate Court.
 
For emergency estate proceedings, please contact Alison Atwood, at 843-958-5031 or aatwood@charlestoncounty.org.  For emergency guardianship/conservatorship proceedings, please contact Elizabeth Sykes at 843-958-5187 or esykes@charlestoncounty.org.
 
Marriage License:
See LOVE - Live Online Virtual E-marriage application ~ To apply for a marriage license online: https://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/probate/marriage-license.php#online-marriage-license-application
 
For additional questions regarding marriage licenses, please dial 843-958-5183 for Portia Geathers, or pgeathers@charlestoncounty.org, Regina LeBlanc at 843-958-5192¸ or rleblanc@charlestoncounty.org, Judge Irvin Condon, 843-817-2039, or irvcondon@charlestoncounty.org.
 
Magistrate Court:
 
The Magistrates courts have revised their staffing schedule to 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. During these limited hours staff will be available to answer phone calls, respond to emails, process incoming mail, download web payments and process incoming correspondence left in drop boxes.

• Bond Hearings will be held daily at 10:00 a.m. only.
• All Emergency Hearings will be held at the Bond Hearing Court facility between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. as needed.

 
Clerk of Court:
 
The Charleston County Judicial Complex will only be open to the public Monday - Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.  All court filings must be left in the drop-box located in the lobby. Additionally, any Family Court purge payments and emergency filings must be done during this time period. Staff will also be available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. by phone or email.  For questions, please email clerkofcourt@charlestoncounty.org or by calling 843-958-5000 for Circuit Court or 843-958-4400 for Family Court.
 
Child support and alimony payments should be made to the South Carolina State Disbursement Unit in one of three ways:
 

• Personal Check mailed to: South Carolina SDU, P.O. Box 100302, Columbia, SC 29202
• Electronic Payment from Bank: www.expertpay.com 
• Credit/Debit Card:  www.e-childspay.com 

 
Solid Waste Operations:
 

• The Bees Ferry Landfill and Convenience Centers are on a normal schedule
• Recycling collections will operate as scheduled next week - To protect the health and safety of our drivers, Charleston County Environmental Management will be collecting material contained inside your recycling cart ONLY. Do not leave material outside of your cart. Please flatten all cardboard boxes and cut them to size, if necessary. Overflow recyclable material may be dropped off at any one of Charleston County’s many dropsite locations.

 
Charleston Center:
 

• Charleston Center is currently not accepting new admissions. Citizens may call the helpline at (843) 722-0100 for updates. The Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) remains open and operating on a normal schedule.

 
Board of Elections and Voter Registration:
 

• The Charleston County Board of Elections will remain open for candidate filling until noon on March 30. Candidates are asked to not wait until Monday to file and please schedule appointments online: https://www.picktime.com/chscandidatefiling

 
Register of Deeds Office Information:
 
Citizens should utilize the Register of Deeds drop-off location (on the first floor of the O.T. Wallace Building located at 101 Meeting Street, Charleston) until further notice. All documents should be sealed in an envelope with the correct contact information. Checks only please.
 
If you are requesting personal and business research on property and or other property concerns, please call the Register of Deeds office at 843-958-4800 or email mgray@charlestoncounty.org
 
Alternative Early / Late Entry for Abstractors
 

• 7:15 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.   /   6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Open to abstractors (list of abstractors must be provided to the security officers) Must be on the list and show proper ID to enter the building.
• A county employee must be present in the ROD office during the allotted time.  (Not a ROD employee).
• All abstractors must “Wear Gloves” while in the office and they must wipe/clean their area or space after usage.  Abstractors must provide their own gloves.

 
Citizen Info Line: 843.746.3900
Spanish Line: 843.746.3909
 
SCDHEC Care Line: 1-855-472-3432 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for questions about COVID-19
MUSC Health: Virtual Care 843-792-7000 or http://campaigns.muschealth.org/virtual-care/index.html  
Roper St Francis Virtual Care: http://rsfh.com/virtualcare
​

Thursday, March 26, will be the last day Charleston County Buildings will be open to the public between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. On Friday, March 27, County buildings will no longer be open to the public until further notice. Charleston County Government services will continue with limited staff available by phone and email during normal business hours. Please expect some delays in response.
 
On-line service are available here: https://www.charlestoncounty.org/clickandgo.php

• Change of Mailing Address
• Homestead Exemption Application
• Mosquito Control Request
• Pay Taxes & View Records
• Legal Residence 4%
• Recycling cart request
• FOIA request
• Business license renewal
• Building inspection request
• Who's In Jail (Inmate Search)
• Court Plus
• Auditor's Office live chat

 

Clerk of Court:
 
Charleston County Judicial Complex will only be open to the public Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Any payments, court filings, or drop-off filings should be done during this time. Staff will also be available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. by phone or email.  For questions, please email clerkofcourt@charlestoncounty.org or by calling 843-958-5000 for Circuit Court or 843-958-4400 for Family Court.
 
Child support and alimony payments should be made to the South Carolina State Disbursement Unit in one of three ways:
 

• Personal Check mailed to:  South Carolina SDU, P.O. Box 100302, Columbia, SC 29202
• Electronic Payment from Bank: www.expertpay.com
• Credit/Debit Card:  www.e-childspay.com

 
Solid Waste Operations
 

• The Bees Ferry Landfill and Convenience Centers are on a normal schedule
• Recycling collections will operate as scheduled next week - To protect the health and safety of our drivers, Charleston County Environmental Management will be collecting material contained inside your recycling cart ONLY. Do not leave material outside of your cart. Please flatten all cardboard boxes and cut them to size, if necessary. Overflow recyclable material may be dropped off at any one of Charleston County’s many dropsite locations.

 
Charleston Center:
 

• Charleston Center is currently not accepting new admissions. Citizens may call the helpline at (843) 722-0100 for updates. The Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) remains open and operating on a normal schedule. 

 
Board of Elections and Voter Registration
 

• The Charleston County Board of Elections will remain open for candidate filling until noon on March 30. Candidates are asked to not wait until Monday to file and please schedule appointments online: https://www.picktime.com/chscandidatefiling

 
 
Register of Deeds Office Information:
 
Citizens should utilize the  Register of Deeds drop-off location (on the first floor of the O.T. Wallace Building located at 101 Meeting Street, Charleston) until further notice.  All documents should be sealed in an envelope with the correct contact information.  Checks only please.
 
If you are requesting personal and business research on property and or other property concerns, please call the Register of Deeds office at 843-958-4800 or email mgray@charlestoncounty.org
 
Alternative Early / Late Entry for Abstractors
 

• 7:15 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.   /   6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Open to abstractors (list of abstractors must be provided to the security officers) Must be on the list and show proper ID to enter the building.
• A county employee must be present in the ROD office during the allotted time.  (Not a ROD employee).
• All abstractors must “Wear Gloves” while in the office and they must wipe/clean there area or space after usage.  Abstractors must provide their own gloves.

 
Citizen Info Line: 843.746.3900
Spanish Line: 843.746.3909
 
SCDHEC Care Line: 1-855-472-3432 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for questions about COVID-19
MUSC Health: Virtual Care 843-792-7000 or http://campaigns.muschealth.org/virtual-care/index.html  
Roper St Francis Virtual Care: http://rsfh.com/virtualcare
​

In an effort to protect the safety of our employees as well as the public, Friday March 20 will be the last day Charleston County Buildings will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starting Monday, March 23, Charleston County buildings will only be open to the public between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. This does not include the Judicial Center which has already limited public access, but will continue emergency filings.  Staff will be working normal business hours to assist citizens via phone and email.
 
Veterans Affairs
The Charleston County Veterans Affairs Office will be closing to the public beginning Friday, March 20.
Staff will continue to provide services by phone, email or fax.
Phone: 843-974-6360
Email: vaoffice@charlestoncounty.org
Fax: 843-745-2354
 
Veterans can continue to get information about benefits or file a claim for benefits by visiting https://www.va.gov/. Veterans with claims specific questions may request information via telephone at 1-800-827-1000.
 
Veterans who have flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath, should call the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (VAMC) at 843-789-6400 or 1-888-878-6884 before visiting. In addition to calling first, consider using virtual care options such as telehealth (https://telehealth.va.gov/type/home) or My HealtheVet Secure Messaging (https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/web/myhealthevet/secure-messaging-spotlight).
 
Magistrate Court
Starting Friday, March 20, Charleston County Magistrate Courts will be limiting access to the courts, however staff will still be available by phone or email.
 
·         Traffic citations can be paid here: https://jcmsweb.charlestoncounty.org/onlinepayments/
·         Jury trials for the weeks of March 23, March 30 and April 6 have been cancelled. 
·         Traffic court for the weeks of March 23 and March 30 has been rescheduled. 
·         All civil evictions have been rescheduled for a date not earlier than May 1.  Courts may not accept filings for ejectment, schedule hearings, issue writs or warrants of ejectment until directed by subsequent order by the Chief Justice.
·         Courts will continue to accept emergency filings, claim & Delivery actions, application for public sale and summons and complaints for small claims.
·         Bond Hearing Court will reduce the number of hearings to two sessions; 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. only on Saturday and Sunday.
·         All contact information for Magistrate Court can be found on the last page of this news release.
 
Probate Court
Charleston County Probate Court is working to assist Charleston County couples who are getting married within the next 30 days (and this will be extended if needed) during the pandemic. The online system should be live in the coming days. Our website will be the best source of updated information.
To apply please complete the on-line Marriage Application at:
 https://ccprobate.charlestoncounty.org/marriage-license.php.
 
The cost is seventy dollars ($70) by credit card plus a processing fee. The application page must be printed and signed in blue ink by the couple applying via FaceTime or Zoom with a staff member of the Probate Court as a witness at a scheduled appointment time scheduled by the Probate Court. Both Applicants will sign on their corresponding applicant lines with their social security numbers below.
Once signed, please email the application to the court. Your original signed application must be returned to the Probate Court at: 100 Broad Street, Suite 469, Charleston, SC 29401.
As mandated by South Carolina law, there is a twenty-four hour waiting period after the application is filed before the license is released. Once that period has elapsed, you will be emailed the Marriage License for you to print and use. The license will not be released until the signed application is received.
Following your wedding, you will be responsible for returning the signed copies labeled PROBATE JUDGE and PROBATE JUDGE/DHEC COPY to the Probate Court via mail or in person once the court reopens.
All applicants must present and provide a copy of one piece of identification. Identification may be one of the following:
·         Valid driver's license
·         Original birth certificate or a certified copy of the birth certificate
·         Valid S.C. identification card issued by the S.C. Highway Department
·         Current military identification card
·         A current passport
 
Charleston County Legislative Delegation
The North Charleston office will be closed until further notice. Representatives will be available by phone during normal business hours.  For contact information call: 843-740-5855.
 
County Council
The Charleston County Council meeting scheduled for March 26, 2020 has been postponed. A new date has yet to be determined.
 
All public community meetings scheduled for the week of March 23 have been postponed or moved to an online format. Those include:
 

• Zoning and Planning Civil Rights Grant Project Final Meeting scheduled March 28.
• Palmetto Commerce Parkway Phase 3 scheduled March 25.
• Main Road Corridor Segment A meeting scheduled March 31 has been moved to an online meeting that can be attended on the project website https://www.mainroadcorridor.com/.

 
The Charleston County Treasurer’s Office, Auditor’s Office, and Register of Deeds Office are closed, but will continue to assist citizens via phone and email. Online tax payments can be made here: https://sc-charleston.publicaccessnow.com/
 
Treasurer’s Office Contact Information:
treasurer@charlestoncounty.org 
843-958-4360
843-958-4370 (fax)
 
Auditor’s Office Contact Information:
auditorsoffice@charlestoncounty.org
843-958-4200
843-948-4222 (fax)
Live Chat available: Auditor.charlestoncounty.org
 
Register of Deeds Office – drop off location on the first floor of the O.T. Wallace Building 101 Meeting St.
843-958-4800
mgray@charlestoncounty.org
Alternative Early / Late Entry for Abstractors

• 7:15 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. / 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Open to abstractors (list of abstractors must be provided to the security officers) Must be on the list and show proper ID to enter the building.
• A county employee must be present in the ROD office during the allotted time. (Not a ROD employee).
• All abstractors must “Wear Gloves” while in the office and they must wipe/clean there area or space after usage. Abstractors must provide their own gloves.

 
Clerk of Court
 
A drop box will be located in the lobby of the Charleston County Judicial Center for all non-emergency filings and the office will accept filings by mail. Emergency filings and payments may still be done in person.
 
For Family Court purposes, emergency filings include but are not limited to: DSS Emergency Protective Custody, Juvenile Detentions, Bench Warrants, and Emergency Petitions for Orders of Protection from Domestic Abuse. For questions, please call 843-958-5000 for Circuit Court or 843-958-4400 for Family Court. You may also email any questions to clerkofcourt@charlestoncounty.org.
 
Citizen Info Line: 843.746.3900
Spanish Line: 843.746.3909
 
SCDHEC Care Line: 1-855-472-3432 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for questions about COVID-19
MUSC Health: Virtual Care 843-792-7000 or http://campaigns.muschealth.org/virtual-care/index.html  
Roper St Francis Virtual Care: http://rsfh.com/virtualcare
 
 
Magistrate Court Contact Information
 
Description
Phone Number
Court Email

Bond Court
843-746-9822
bondcourt@charlestoncounty.org

City Small Claims
843-724-6719
citysmc@charlestoncounty.org

City Magistrate
843-724-6719
citymag@charlestoncounty.org

East Cooper
843-856-1205
mtpleasant@charlestoncounty.org

James Island
843-795-1140
jamesisland@charlestoncounty.org

Johns Island
843-559-1218
johnsisland@charlestoncounty.org

McClellanville
843-887-3334
mcclellanville@charlestoncounty.org

North Area 1
843-202-6610
northarea1@charlestoncounty.org

North Area 2
843-745-2215
northarea2@charlestoncounty.org

North Area 3
843-553-4003
northarea3@charlestoncounty.org

North Area Small Claims
843-202-6650
nareasmc@charlestoncounty.org

Preliminary Hearing
843-745-2390
prelim@charlestoncounty.org

Ravenel /Adams Run
843-889-8332
ravenel@charlestoncounty.org

West Ashley
843-766-6531
westashley@charlestoncounty.org
​