Civil procedure includes the procedures and rules that govern civil (non-criminal) litigation in state and federal courts. Many states have rules of civil procedure written by the state supreme court, for example, and other states include their rules of procedure in state statutes enacted by the state legislature.
In South Carolina, civil procedure is governed by a combination of state statutes and rules established by the South Carolina Supreme Court. The South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure (SCRCP) are the primary source of procedural rules for civil litigation in state courts. These rules cover various aspects of the legal process, including filing complaints, serving documents, motions, discovery, trial procedures, and appeals. The SCRCP are designed to ensure the fair and efficient resolution of civil disputes. Additionally, federal courts in South Carolina follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) for civil cases at the federal level. These federal rules are consistent across all federal courts in the United States and are intended to provide uniformity in federal civil litigation.