Charleston County Property Records
Search Property Records in Charleston County, South Carolina
Start a name-based search through CharlestonRecords.org to compare possible matches and identify the official source best suited to your purpose. Property research may involve separate systems for recorded documents, assessment details, tax accounts, and parcel maps.
- Start with a name and compare available property details.
- Gather the property-location address or relevant identifier for follow-up.
- Use the appropriate recording, assessment, tax, or map source.
What May Appear in Charleston County Property Records
Charleston County property information is maintained for different county functions. The appropriate record depends on whether you need a recorded instrument, assessment detail, tax account, or map reference.
| Record type | Information to review | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded deeds and instruments | Parties, recording references, document type | A recorded document should be reviewed in context. |
| Assessment records | Characteristics, assessed value, mailing address | Assessment ownership is not a legal title determination. |
| Property tax accounts | Tax year, bill details, payment status | A tax balance does not list every lien or obligation. |
| Recorded liens and releases | Instrument type, parties, related filings | A lien entry alone does not establish current status. |
| GIS parcel information | Parcel boundaries, TMS number, location | Map lines are not a legal survey. |
How to Search Property Records in Charleston County
Use the record type to guide your next step. A parcel identifier, tax account, and recording number serve different purposes and may not work across all county systems.
- Start with the available name or property information and compare possible matches.
- Identify whether the task concerns recorded documents, assessment, taxes, or maps.
- Gather the identifier supported by the relevant official system.
- Review the appropriate official record and verify important details through the responsible office.
Useful Charleston County identifiers include:
- Property-location address for assessment, tax, and GIS searches.
- Parcel number or TMS number for assessment, tax, and mapped-parcel research.
- Tax-account number, which may differ from the parcel number for some properties.
- Book and page or instrument number for recorded documents.
- Party name for Register of Deeds document searches.
An owner mailing address shown in an assessment record is not necessarily the property’s physical location. Likewise, a party listed in a recorded-document index is not automatically the current owner.
Official Charleston County Property Record Sources
| Official source | What it provides | Scope or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston County Register of Deeds | Recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, plats, easements, and other instruments | Older records may require in-person research; some images may be restricted. |
| Charleston County Assessor Property Search | Assessment details, characteristics, assessed value, and mailing address | Covers taxable real property; assessment data does not determine title. |
| Charleston County Treasurer Property Tax Search | Tax accounts, tax bills, payment status, and tax year | Does not show every possible lien or debt affecting property. |
| Charleston County GIS Parcel Map | Parcel locations, mapped boundaries, TMS numbers, and assessment links | Not a substitute for a legal survey; some parcel types may not display. |
| Charleston County Register of Deeds Copy Instructions | Ordinary and certified-copy request instructions | Applies to recorded documents, not assessment or tax records. |
Searching Official Charleston County Property Sources Online
Charleston County provides separate online routes for recorded documents, assessment records, tax accounts, and parcel mapping. Use the system that matches the information you need.
- For deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, or releases, use the Register of Deeds online records search. Search by party name, book and page, or instrument number.
- For assessed value, property characteristics, or a TMS number, use the Assessor Property Search. Search by owner name, address, or parcel number.
- For tax bills and payment status, use the Treasurer Property Tax Search. Search by TMS number, owner name, or property address.
- For parcel location and map reference, use the GIS Parcel Map. Search by address, owner name, or TMS number.
The Register of Deeds index and available images are separate from certified copies. Assessment, tax, and map records are also maintained for different purposes.
Finding Deeds, Liens, and Recorded Documents in Charleston County
The Charleston County Register of Deeds maintains the county’s recorded real-property documents. Its records include deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, plats, easements, and other recorded instruments.
- Open the Charleston County Register of Deeds document search.
- Choose the supported search method: party name, book and page, or instrument number.
- Compare dates, document types, named parties, and available property references in the results.
- Review the relevant document image when available and consider related instruments, such as releases or plats.
Keep these limitations in mind:
- A grantor or grantee index entry does not independently prove current ownership.
- A recorded lien entry does not establish whether the lien remains enforceable, paid, released, or otherwise resolved.
- Assessment and tax searches do not replace a recorded-document search.
- Online images and indexes may not include all historical records, and some images may be restricted.
Obtaining Property Documents and Certified Copies in Charleston County
An index entry is not the document itself, and a downloaded image or ordinary copy is not necessarily a certified copy. Certified recorded-document copies are issued through the Charleston County Register of Deeds.
| What you need | Appropriate official route |
|---|---|
| View an available recorded-document image | Register of Deeds online records search |
| Obtain an ordinary recorded-document copy | Register of Deeds online, mail, or in-person request route |
| Obtain a certified recorded-document copy | Register of Deeds copy instructions |
- Identify the Register of Deeds document and its type.
- Gather the book and page, instrument number, party name, or other available reference information.
- Specify whether you need an ordinary or certified copy.
- Follow the documented online, mail, or in-person request instructions.
The Register of Deeds is located at 101 Meeting Street, Suite 200, Charleston, SC 29401, and can be reached at 843-958-4800. Certified-copy fees apply, and some records may not be available for immediate issuance.
Charleston County Property Record Limitations and Verification
Use property records as research tools, then confirm important details with the responsible county office.
- Identity: A matching name does not establish that a record concerns the intended person.
- Property match: Compare the property location, TMS number, recording references, and document details.
- Ownership: Assessment information and recorded documents serve different purposes; neither search result alone is a title examination.
- Values: Assessed value is not the same as market value. South Carolina valuation terms may also include appraised and taxable values.
- Taxes and liens: A tax-account balance is not a complete lien search.
- Dates: Recording, assessment, and tax information can relate to different periods.
- Maps: GIS boundaries and displayed acreage are reference information, not a legal survey.
- Missing results: No result does not prove that no property or recorded document exists.
- Verification: Use the Register of Deeds for recorded documents, the Assessor for assessment information, and the Treasurer for tax-account questions.
For statewide terminology and general property-tax guidance, consult the SC Department of Revenue Property Tax Resources.
Related Charleston County Record Guides
- Charleston County Court Records — Cases, judgments, and orders may concern property but are distinct from recorded deeds and assessment records.
- Charleston County Divorce Records — Divorce judgments and related court documents are not interchangeable with recorded deeds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charleston County Property Records
Which Charleston County office maintains recorded deeds and mortgages?
- The Charleston County Register of Deeds maintains recorded real-property instruments, including deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, plats, and easements.
- Its online search supports party name, book and page, and instrument number searches.
- Older records may require in-person research, and some document images may be restricted.
What is a Charleston County TMS number used for?
- A TMS number is Charleston County’s primary parcel identifier for assessment and tax purposes.
- The Assessor Property Search, Treasurer tax search, and GIS parcel viewer support parcel or TMS-based research.
- A TMS number is different from a recording instrument number and may differ from a tax-account number.
Where can I request a certified Charleston County deed copy?
- Request certified copies of recorded deeds and other instruments through the Charleston County Register of Deeds copy-request instructions.
- Requests may be made online, by mail, or in person.
- Provide the available book and page, instrument number, and document type, and state that a certified copy is needed.
Why might a Charleston County parcel not appear on the GIS map?
- The Charleston County GIS Parcel Map displays mapped parcels, parcel numbers, and property locations.
- Some property categories, including certain exempt parcels, may not appear in the viewer.
- Map boundaries are for reference and do not replace a legal survey.