Summerville Court System
Summerville is located primarily in Dorchester County. South Carolina is divided into 16 judicial circuits and Dorchester County is part of South Carolina’s First Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction. Circuit court includes a civil division, which is the Court of Common Pleas, and a criminal court, the Court of General Sessions.
The Court of Common Pleas is the Dorchester County court that has jurisdiction over personal injury cases in which the amount in dispute is more than $7,500. The Court of Common Pleas is in Dorchester County Courthouse located at 5200 E. Jim Bilton Boulevard, St. George, SC 29477. The phone number is (843) 563-0160.
Other courts also serve Summerville and Dorchester County. The Dorchester County Family Court has jurisdiction over domestic law issues including legal separation, divorce, alimony and child custody as well as over cases involving juveniles who are charged with violations of state or federal law.
The Family Court is located in the Troy Knight Judicial Complex at 212 Deming Way in Summerville, SC 29483. The phone number of the Family Court is (843) 832-0360.
The Dorchester County Clerk of Court office provides administrative support for the Circuit Court including General Sessions, Common Pleas, and the Family Court. The Clerk of Court office is in the Dorchester County Courthouse at 5200 E. Jim Bilton Boulevard, St. George, SC 29477. The phone number of the Clerk of Court is (843) 563-0160.
The Magistrate Court hears small claims civil cases, in which the amount in dispute is less than $7,500. The Magistrate Court is located in the Troy Knight Judicial Complex at 212 Deming Way, Summerville, SC 29483. The phone number for the Magistrate Court is (843) 832-0370.
The Summerville Municipal Court handles traffic violations, violations of town ordinances and criminal misdemeanors. The Summerville Municipal Court is located at 200 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483. The phone number of the municipal court is (843) 875-2010.
The U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina hears federal cases including some types of product liability cases involving defective and unsafe products.
The federal district court is located in the J. Waties Waring Judicial Center at Meeting Street at Broad Street in Charleston, SC 29401. The phone number of the District Court is (843) 579-1401.
The S.C. Workers’ Compensation Commission is the state agency that administers the workers’ compensation laws in South Carolina. The commission holds hearings to resolve disputes over workers’ compensation benefits between employees and employers. The commission is divided into districts, and Summerville is in District 4.
An employee may request a hearing if the employer does not report the workplace accident, denies that the injury was job related or the employee believes that he or she did not receive full benefits. Informal conferences and hearings before deputy commissioners are held within the district.
A Summerville workers’ compensation lawyer can help you pursue full benefits and represent you in a hearing before a workers’ compensation commissioner or an appeal to the full Workers’ Compensation Commission. More information about the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Commission can be found by calling (803) 737-5700.
If you are filing for Social Security disability, your application will be reviewed at the local Office of Disability Adjudication and Review.
If you appeal a decision on your disability claim, the same office will be where your hearing occurs before an administrative law judge. In Summerville, the office is located at 3875 Faber Place Drive, North Charleston, SC 29405. The phone number is (843) 727-4511.
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