Futeral & Nelson Represents Clients Across the Charleston Area

Jurisdictional Lines and Local Court Systems Across the Charleston Area

Futeral & Nelson represents clients facing DUI charges, criminal defense matters, and divorce cases throughout the Charleston area, managing legal proceedings across Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties. The firm operates from its office at 534 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Suite 202, in Mount Pleasant, connecting clients with local courts.

Court jurisdiction depends entirely on the precise geographic location of an alleged offense or where spouses reside. In Charleston County, the county seat of Charleston hosts cases across multiple judicial levels. Criminal and DUI matters may be heard in the Charleston Municipal Court, a Charleston County magistrate court, or the Charleston County Court of General Sessions. Divorce and domestic family cases are handled exclusively by the Charleston County Family Court located in downtown Charleston.

Neighboring municipalities feature distinct judicial pathways. In Mount Pleasant, where the firm is based, traffic violations and misdemeanor offenses frequently land in the Mount Pleasant Municipal Court. Felonies move to the Charleston County Court of General Sessions, while divorce filings proceed through the Charleston County Family Court.

North Charleston spans three separate counties—Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley. Because of this multi-county footprint, criminal case assignments rely strictly on the exact municipality or unincorporated area where an incident occurred. Divorce petitions in North Charleston generally follow the county of residence where the spouses live or last lived together.

Berkeley and Dorchester County Court Assignments

Summerville similarly bridges Dorchester, Berkeley, and Charleston counties. Felony charges originating from the Dorchester County portion of Summerville face prosecution through the First Circuit Solicitor’s Office, with family law disputes handled in St. George.

Goose Creek and Hanahan operate primarily within Berkeley County. Traffic citations and misdemeanor charges for both towns are typically processed through their respective municipal courts—Goose Creek Municipal Court and Hanahan Municipal Court. More serious felony charges and divorce actions are directed to the Berkeley County court system situated in Moncks Corner.

Moncks Corner itself serves as the county seat of Berkeley County. The Berkeley County Court of General Sessions and Family Court are both located within the town, while local traffic and misdemeanor infractions inside town limits are heard by the Moncks Corner Municipal Court.

Individuals seeking legal guidance on criminal defense, DUI, or family law matters in these jurisdictions can reach the firm by calling 843-284-5500 or by contacting them online.