Form SCCA 234 at a glance
What it is: SCCA 234 (Revised 04/2026) is the Civil Action Coversheet for the State of South Carolina In the Court of Common Pleas.
Who signs: Sign under Submitting Party Signature and enter the Date.
This form is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the purpose of docketing cases that are NOT E-Filed.
A filled-in Form SCCA 234 example: a contract dispute is docketed
How to fill out Form SCCA 234, box by box
County of, Judicial Circuit, Plaintiff(s), Defendant(s) and Case No.
Fill in County of, Judicial Circuit, Plaintiff(s), Case No. and Defendant(s).
Submitted By
Fill in Submitted By, Address, SC Bar Number, Telephone #, Fax #, Other and Email.
Docketing Information (Check all that apply)
Under Docketing Information, check all that apply. *If Action is Judgment/Settlement do not complete.
The Docketing Information boxes are: Jury Trial demanded in complaint; Non-Jury Trial demanded in complaint; This case is subject to Arbitration pursuant to the Court Annexed Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules; This case is subject to Mediation pursuant to the Court Annexed Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules; This case is exempt from ADR. (Certificate Attached)
Submitting Party Signature and Date
It must be filled out completely, signed, and dated.
Sign under Submitting Party Signature and enter the Date.
A copy of this coversheet must be served on the defendant(s) along with the Summons and Complaint.
Frivolous civil proceedings may be subject to sanctions pursuant to SCRCP, Rule 11, and the South Carolina Frivolous Civil Proceedings Sanctions Act, S.C. Code Ann. §15-36-10 et. seq.
Nature of Action: Contracts
Contracts, under Nature of Action (Check one box): Constructions (100); Debt Collection (110); General (130); Breach of Contract (140); Fraud/Bad Faith (150); Failure to Deliver/Warranty (160); Employment Discrimination (170); Employment (180); Other (199).
Nature of Action: Torts- Professional Malpractice
Torts-Professional Malpractice, under Nature of Action (Check one box): Dental Malpractice (200); Legal Malpractice (210); Medical Malpractice (220); Notice of Intent Case No. [Fill in Notice of Intent Case Number]; Notice File. Med Mal (230); Other (299).
Pre-suit medical malpractice mediations required by S.C. Code §15-79-125 shall be held not later than 120 days after all defendants are served with the “Notice of Intent to File Suit” or as the court directs.
Nature of Action: Torts- Personal Injury
Torts-Personal Injury, under Nature of Action (Check one box): Conversion (310); Motor Vehicle Accident (320); Premises Liability (330); Products Liability (340); Personal Injury (350); Wrongful Death (360); Assault/Battery (370); Slander/Libel (380); Other (399).
Nature of Action: Inmate Petitions
Inmate Petitions, under Nature of Action (Check one box): PCR (500); Mandamus (520); Habeas Corpus (530); Other (599).
Nature of Action: Real Property
Real Property, under Nature of Action (Check one box): Claim & Delivery (400); Condemnation (410); Foreclosure (420); Mechanic's Lien (430); Partition (440); Possession (450); Building Code Violation (460); Other (499).
Nature of Action: Judgments/Settlements
Judgments/Settlements, under Nature of Action (Check one box): Death Settlement (700); Foreign Judgment (710); Magistrate's Judgment (720); Minor Settlement (730); Transcript Judgment (740); Lis Pendens (750); Transfer of Structured Settlement Application Payment Rights (760); Confession of Judgment (770); Petition for Workers Compensation Settlement Approval (780); Incapacitated Adult Settlement (790); Other (799).
Nature of Action: Administrative Law/Relief
Administrative Law/Relief, under Nature of Action (Check one box): Reinstate Driver's License (800); Judicial Review (810); Relief (820); Permanent Injunction (830); Forfeiture-Petition (840); Forfeiture-Consent Order (850); Other (899).
Nature of Action: Special/Complex/Other
Special/Complex/Other, under Nature of Action (Check one box): Environmental (600); Automobile Arb. (610); Medical (620); Pharmaceuticals (630); Unfair Trade Practices (640); Out of State Depositions (650); Motion to Quash Subpoena in an Out of County Action (660); Pre-Suit Discovery (670); Permanent Restraining Order (680); Interpleader (690); Other (699).
Nature of Action: Appeals
Appeals, under Nature of Action (Check one box): Arbitration (900); Magistrate-Civil (910); Magistrate-Criminal (920); Municipal (930); Probate Court (940); SCDOT (950); Worker's Comp (960); Zoning Board (970); Public Service Comm. (990); Employment Service Comm. (991); Other (999).
More rules for Form SCCA 234
Supreme Court Rules Require the Submission of all Civil Cases to an Alternative Dispute Resolution Process, Unless Otherwise Exempt.
In cases not subject to ADR, the Chief Judge for Administrative Purposes, upon the motion of the court or of any party, may order a case to mediation.
Please Note: You must comply with the Supreme Court Rules regarding ADR. Failure to do so may affect your case or may result in sanctions.
If your situation is different
The case is exempt from ADR
Cases are exempt from ADR under ADR Rule 3(b) upon the following grounds: Special proceeding, or actions seeking extraordinary relief such as mandamus, habeas corpus, or prohibition. Requests for temporary relief. Appeals. Post Conviction relief matters. Contempt of Court proceedings. Forfeiture proceedings brought by governmental entities. Mortgage foreclosures. Cases that have been previously subjected to an ADR conference, unless otherwise required by Rule 3 or by statute.
Cases may also be exempt from ADR under ADR Rule 3(c) upon motion to and approval by the court.
The application is to be exempt from payment of neutral fees due to indigency
Application of a party to be exempt from payment of neutral fees due to indigency should be filed with the Clerk of Court prior to the scheduling of the ADR conference.
Common questions about Form SCCA 234
Is there a deadline?
Pursuant to the ADR Rules, you are required to take the following action(s): The parties shall select a neutral and file a “Proof of ADR” form on or by the 210th day of the filing of this action. If the parties have not selected a neutral within 210 days, the Clerk of Court shall then appoint a primary and secondary mediator from the current roster on a rotating basis from among those mediators agreeing to accept cases in the county in which the action has been filed. The initial ADR conference must be held within 300 days after the filing of the action.
When is this form not the right one?
This form is NOT required to be filed in E-Filed Cases.
Sources
[1] Form SCCA 234 (Revised 04/2026), Civil Action Coversheet, South Carolina Judicial Branch (the Official source link on this page).