News

Charleston County Government Coronavirus Update: April 7, 2020

Published

5 years ago

April 8, 2020

The following is an unedited press release from the Charleston County Government regarding the coronavirus:

As a reminder to citizens, Charleston County Government buildings are closed to the public until further notice, including the Judicial Center Complex which will now only be open for emergency hearings. 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 Clerk of Court:

The Charleston County Judicial Complex will only be open to the public for Emergency Hearings. Any court documents, filings and payments must be placed in the dropbox located inside the lobby between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Payments must be done by money order or cashier’s check made payable to Clerk of Court.

To make a Family Court purge payment between 10 a.m.-2 p.m., please call 843-958-4400. For any additional questions, staff will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. by phone or email. Please email clerkofcourt@charlestoncounty.org or call 843-958-4400.

Child support and alimony payments must 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

To post a cash bond between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., please contact 843-958-5000. For any additional questions, staff will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. by phone or email. Please email clerkofcourt@charlestoncounty.org or call 843-958-5000.

Charleston County Solicitor’s Office:

The Solicitor’s Office continues to operate with a small crew working different shifts throughout the week.

Both offices are closed to the public, and nearly all staff is working from home.

The Court has planned three mornings of General Sessions Court in Charleston this week (Monday, Wednesday & Friday). The Solicitor’s Office is planning a couple of practice runs with virtual court in Berkeley County this week and expect to begin having “virtual court” there next week.

Law enforcement in both counties has continued to work and they remain available for emergencies. The Solicitor’s Office can take applications for PreTrial Intervention online/U.S. Mail and can continue processing expungements through online/U.S. Mail applications, as well.

For more information: www.scsolicitor9.org.

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:

- 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.

Solid Waste Operations:

Recycling collections will operate as scheduled this 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.

Convenience Centers and Bees Ferry Landfill:

While our convenience centers and landfill are operating on a normal schedule, we request citizens practice safe social distancing when interacting with staff and other users of the facility. These sites are for Charleston County residents only and staff may ask for identification. Commercial businesses are prohibited from using convenience centers.

Motor Vehicle Tax Payments:

Since some state residents are not able to pay vehicle property taxes in counties that are or will be closed to the public, and because closure of county offices will delay issuance of tax bills, the SCDMV will suspend the collection of late fees for vehicle registration renewals. The agency will also suspend the suspension of driver’s licenses for failure to pay property taxes for registration renewals that expire March 2020 through June 2020.

For more information: http://www.scdmvonline.com/News/SCDMV-branches-adjust-days-of-operation

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.

Charleston County Master in Equity:

The Charleston County Master in Equity, following the guidance of the South Carolina Chief Justice, has postponed all previously scheduled foreclosure hearings through April and all foreclosure sales are cancelled through May. Additionally, all in-court appearances are cancelled through April.

Attorneys who wish to have their currently scheduled status or motion hearings held via telephone conference are requested to notify this court the week ahead of the currently scheduled time. These telephone hearings will be scheduled as needed and may be re-scheduled from their currently set time as my docket is now set through May.

This office will reassess the situation as it develops and guidance is given but, for now, we seek to exercise caution and to keep the office functioning during this difficult time.

Public Defenders Office:

During this period of suspended operations in Charleston County, if an adult or juvenile needs to apply for representation for an appointed lawyer in a General Sessions, Magistrate or Family Court juvenile criminal matter, they may call (843) 958-1850, Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM.

Office staff will be on duty and they will arrange for them to be screened by telephone to see if they financially qualify for appointed counsel. If they qualify, counsel will be assigned.

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