Charleston Master-in-Equity Records
The research identifies the Master-in-Equity through Charleston County court-info links for the Master-In-Equity Foreclosure Auction List and Master-in-Equity Referral. Masters-in-Equity commonly handle foreclosure and equity matters referred by Circuit Court. In Charleston County, these records are closely tied to Common Pleas because foreclosure cases and related equity disputes can begin as civil actions before referral.
Use South Carolina terminology when reading these records. Common Pleas is the civil division of Circuit Court. A lis pendens is a notice that a lawsuit may affect real property. A judgment is a final or enforceable court decision. A referral means the Circuit Court has sent a matter to the Master-in-Equity for handling of specific foreclosure, sale, accounting, or equity issues.
- Master-in-Equity
- A judicial officer who handles referred equity matters, often including foreclosure proceedings.
- Foreclosure auction list
- A public list of foreclosure sale matters routed through the Master-in-Equity process.
- Lis pendens
- A notice that litigation may affect a real property interest.
- Referral
- A Circuit Court assignment of a civil matter to the Master-in-Equity.
Charleston Foreclosure Record Search
A Charleston County foreclosure search may require more than one official channel. The county court-info page links the Master-in-Equity foreclosure auction list and referral resources. The Public Index supports Common Pleas civil case search, including judgment searches, lis pendens searches, tax-map-linked disputes, associated cases, actions, financials, and document images where available.
- Start with the county court-info Master-in-Equity foreclosure auction list or referral link when sale or referral status is the main issue.
- Search Common Pleas in the Public Index for the civil case file.
- Use party names, case number, tax map number, judgment searches, or lis pendens index searches when known.
- Open the case actions and associated case tabs for orders, referrals, and related filings.
- Use the Register of Deeds when a recorded deed, mortgage, or land instrument is needed.
| Need | Likely source | Record type |
|---|---|---|
| Foreclosure sale or auction status | Master-in-Equity foreclosure auction list | Sale or auction record |
| Civil foreclosure case file | Common Pleas Public Index | Complaint, order, judgment, actions |
| Notice affecting property | Common Pleas lis pendens search | LP number and linked CP case |
| Recorded deed or mortgage | Register of Deeds | Land recording record |
Charleston Master Record Limits
Master-in-Equity records should not be treated as a full substitute for Common Pleas case records. The auction list or referral page may answer a sale or assignment question, while the Clerk-maintained civil case file shows pleadings, orders, judgments, actions, associated cases, and financial entries. Likewise, a recorded deed or mortgage is not a court case document even when it relates to a foreclosure.
The Public Index disclaimer says online information is not the official record. Official records remain in the responsible office. If a foreclosure document is not online, contact the Clerk of Court for the Common Pleas case file, the Master-in-Equity for sale or referral process details, or the Register of Deeds for recorded land instruments.
Note: Foreclosure, land records, and Common Pleas case files can overlap, but they are maintained by different Charleston County offices.
Charleston Foreclosure Case Fields
When a foreclosure or equity matter has a Common Pleas case file, the Public Index can show civil fields that help connect the Master-in-Equity record to the underlying lawsuit. The research captured search modes for party names, case numbers, tax map numbers, judgments, lis pendens, action types, and associated cases. Those fields are useful because foreclosure matters often involve both party names and real property identifiers.
| Field or tab | Use in foreclosure research |
|---|---|
| Case number | Direct Common Pleas lookup when the CP number is known. |
| Last name or business | Searches party names, lenders, borrowers, owners, or business entities. |
| Tax Map # | Finds cases associated with a property ID number. |
| Index Search | Can narrow to lis pendens, judgments, judgment for, or judgment against. |
| Associated cases | Links related CP cases or lis pendens connections. |
| Actions | Shows filings, orders, referrals, dismissals, and image icons when available. |
Request Charleston Foreclosure Records
A foreclosure record request should name the exact part of the record needed. Sale information, referral status, Common Pleas filings, judgments, and recorded land instruments can live in different places. Use the county court-info page for Master-in-Equity links, the Public Index for the Common Pleas case file, and the Register of Deeds for recorded deeds, mortgages, releases, or other land instruments.
- Search the Master-in-Equity foreclosure auction list or referral source for sale-specific status.
- Search Common Pleas in the Public Index for the civil case file.
- Use judgment, lis pendens, tax map, party-name, and action-type searches when the case number is unknown.
- Contact the Clerk of Court for certified Common Pleas documents.
- Contact the Register of Deeds for recorded instruments tied to the property.
Because foreclosure matters can affect property rights, confirm sale dates, continuances, cancellations, balances, and payoff questions with the responsible official office before relying on an online listing.