Carolina Forest Divorce Records in Horry County
Divorce records for Carolina Forest residents are maintained by Horry County Family Court in Conway, South Carolina. Carolina Forest is a fast-growing unincorporated community in Horry County, near Myrtle Beach. Because it has no city government of its own, all court matters, including divorce, are handled entirely at the county level. This page explains how to find Carolina Forest divorce records, where to file a new case, and what the process looks like for residents of this Horry County community.
Carolina Forest Quick Facts
Horry County Family Court Handles Carolina Forest Divorces
All divorce cases for Carolina Forest residents are filed at Horry County Family Court, located at 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. The court can be reached by phone at (843) 915-5080. Carolina Forest falls within Horry County and is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit. Conway is the county seat, about 15 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach and a short drive from Carolina Forest.
South Carolina Family Court was established in 1976 and holds exclusive jurisdiction over divorce throughout the state. No magistrate court, small claims court, or municipal authority can grant a divorce. Because Carolina Forest is unincorporated, there is no city government and no local municipal court. Horry County handles all governmental matters for this community, including court filings.
The Horry County Clerk of Court manages the official case record system for all family court filings. Their office information is available at horrycounty.org/Departments/ClerkofCourt.aspx. The clerk's office is responsible for accepting new filings, maintaining case files, and issuing certified copies of court orders.
Carolina Forest Is Unincorporated — County Records Apply
Carolina Forest is not a city or town. It is an unincorporated community, which means it has no mayor, no city council, and no municipal government. There is no city hall, no municipal court, and no locally issued public records. Everything is managed by Horry County. This is an important distinction for anyone searching for Carolina Forest divorce records.
When someone lists a Carolina Forest address, their official records are part of the Horry County system. The county clerk's office in Conway holds all divorce case files for the area. Searching for "Carolina Forest" in the state public index will not return results labeled by that community name. Instead, search for party names or case numbers under Horry County.
Horry County's official government website at horrycounty.org covers all county services, including the clerk of court, family court, and related departments. It is the central resource for Carolina Forest residents navigating any county government matter.
Note: Because Carolina Forest has no city government, residents should contact Horry County directly for any court-related questions. There is no local government office to call.
SC Judicial Branch and the Public Index
South Carolina operates a statewide public index for all court filings, hosted at sccourts.org. This portal covers every county, including Horry County. From the public index, select Horry County and search by party name or case number to find divorce case records. The index shows case status, hearing dates, and basic filing information.
The SC Courts website is a broad resource for South Carolina residents. Beyond the public index, it provides access to court forms, the clerks of court directory, family court information, and self-help guides. Carolina Forest residents who are unfamiliar with the court system can use the site to get oriented before visiting the Horry County courthouse in Conway.
The SC Judicial Branch provides statewide court access, including the public index for Horry County divorce records.
The SC Courts portal is a practical starting point for any Carolina Forest resident who needs to locate a Horry County divorce case before contacting the clerk's office in Conway.
DPH Divorce Reports for Carolina Forest Records
The South Carolina Department of Public Health holds divorce reports from July 1962 through December 2023. These records are maintained as vital records and confirm that a divorce took place. They include basic information such as the names of the parties, the county where the divorce was filed, and the date.
DPH divorce reports cost $12 for a certified copy. Requests can be submitted through the DPH vital records office at dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/divorce-reports, or through VitalChek for an additional service fee. Both options result in a DPH-certified copy of the divorce report.
The South Carolina DPH maintains divorce reports for cases filed in Horry County, including divorces by Carolina Forest residents during its covered date range.
For divorces outside the 1962 to 2023 window, the Horry County Clerk of Court in Conway is the only source for official records.
Searching Carolina Forest Divorce Records Online
The state public index at sccourts.org is the best free tool for looking up Carolina Forest divorce cases online. Select Horry County from the index and search by the party's full name. The system is case-sensitive in some searches, so trying different name formats can help if initial results come back empty.
As of January 1, 2026, home addresses are no longer displayed in the public index. The change applies to all South Carolina counties. Case numbers, party names, filing dates, and case outcomes remain visible. The index does not show the full text of filed documents. For complete records, including final decrees or financial orders, you need to contact the Horry County Clerk of Court in Conway.
Horry County is one of the most populous counties in South Carolina, and the volume of divorce filings is significant. The online index helps narrow down a case before you make the trip to Conway or submit a written records request.
Residency Requirements and Venue for Carolina Forest Residents
Before filing for divorce in South Carolina, Carolina Forest residents must meet residency requirements established by state law. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-30, if both spouses live in South Carolina, either one can file after three months of state residency. If only one spouse lives in South Carolina, that person must have lived here for at least one year before filing.
Venue is controlled by S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-60. The divorce must be filed in the county where the defendant lives. If the defendant lives outside South Carolina, the filing goes to the plaintiff's county. For Carolina Forest residents, that means Horry County Family Court in Conway is the proper venue in most cases.
South Carolina law requires two months before a case can be referred and three months before a final decree can be issued. These minimum timelines apply to all divorces, whether contested or uncontested, and they run from the date of original filing.
Grounds for Divorce in Carolina Forest Cases
South Carolina law under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-10 allows divorce on five grounds. The no-fault ground, one year of continuous separation, is the most frequently used. The spouses must have lived apart continuously for at least twelve months. No court order is needed to begin the separation period. The separation just must be genuine and uninterrupted.
The four fault grounds are adultery, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug use, and desertion lasting at least one year. Fault-based divorces require evidence and are usually contested. They also take longer and cost more than a no-fault filing. Fault can be relevant to property division, which in South Carolina is governed by equitable distribution.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-620, the court divides marital property equitably, meaning fairly rather than necessarily equally. The court weighs the length of the marriage, financial contributions, non-marital property, and other factors. Carolina Forest is a community with a mix of long-time residents and newer arrivals, and property values in the area have risen significantly with Horry County's growth.
FOIA Access to Horry County Divorce Records
Divorce records filed in Horry County are generally public records under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, codified at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10. This means any person may request a copy of a divorce filing, final order, or related court document by submitting a written request to the Horry County Clerk of Court.
Your request should identify the case as specifically as possible. Party names and approximate filing dates help the clerk locate the correct file. The clerk's office can explain what documents are available and what copying or certification fees apply. Responses to FOIA requests must be made within a reasonable time under state law.
Some documents within a divorce file may be restricted. Sealed financial disclosures, records related to minor children, and files with active protective orders may not be fully accessible to the public. The clerk can tell you what limitations apply to a specific case.
Legal Help for Carolina Forest Residents
Carolina Forest residents who need help with a divorce proceeding but cannot afford private legal fees may qualify for assistance through SC Legal Services, which offers free civil legal help to eligible South Carolina residents. The organization handles uncontested divorces and provides guidance on court forms and filing procedures.
For private attorney referrals, the South Carolina Bar operates a lawyer referral line at (803) 799-6653. Licensed family law attorneys in the Horry County area can advise on case-specific issues, including property division, custody, and contested fault grounds.
Official South Carolina court forms, including the final order form SCCA299, are available at no cost at sccourts.org/court-forms. The statewide clerks of court directory at sccourts.org/courts/court-officials/clerks-of-court includes current contact details for the Horry County Clerk of Court in Conway.
Carolina Forest County Divorce Records
Carolina Forest is part of Horry County, and every divorce record for the community is held within the Horry County court system. The Horry County Family Court at 1301 2nd Avenue in Conway is the only court with jurisdiction over Carolina Forest divorce cases. The county clerk maintains the full archive for the 15th Judicial Circuit, which covers all of Horry County.
For case history, certified copies, and complete record access related to Carolina Forest divorce filings, the Horry County resources below are the place to start.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Divorce records in South Carolina are maintained by county. The links below connect you to nearby communities where residents may have filed divorce cases through their county family courts.