South Carolina Divorce Records by County
South Carolina divorce records are held at the county level by the Family Court Clerk of Court. Each of the 46 counties in South Carolina has its own Family Court that handles all divorce filings for residents of that county. Select any county below to find specific office hours, contact information, court addresses, filing fees, and guidance on searching divorce records in that county. All 46 counties are listed alphabetically.
All 46 South Carolina Counties
Each county below has a dedicated page covering that county's Family Court, how to search and obtain divorce records, filing fees, office information, and related resources. South Carolina divorce records are county-specific. You must go to the county where the case was filed to get the full court file.
How South Carolina County Divorce Records Work
South Carolina has 46 counties, and each one maintains its own Family Court. The Family Court Clerk of Court in each county holds every divorce record filed in that county. This includes the original complaint, the final divorce decree, any settlement agreements, and all other papers filed in the case. There is no central state repository for full case files. You must go county by county to find a specific divorce record.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch does maintain a statewide Public Index at sccourts.org. This free tool lets you search by name or case number across all 46 counties. It shows basic case data like filing dates, party names, and case status. It does not show full document images. To get actual copies of divorce papers, you contact the Clerk of Court in the county where the case was filed.
South Carolina Family Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over divorce under state law. No other court can grant a divorce in South Carolina. This has been the case since the Family Court was formally established in 1976.
The SC Judicial Branch Public Index is the starting point for searching divorce records across all South Carolina counties.
Which County Holds Your Divorce Record
Knowing which county has your record matters before you request anything. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-60, divorce cases are normally filed in the county where the defendant lives. If the defendant lives outside South Carolina, the plaintiff files in the county where the plaintiff lives. The county where the case was filed is where the record stays, even if both parties later move elsewhere.
If you are not sure which county to check, the statewide Public Index at sccourts.org can help. Search by name and it will return matches from all 46 counties. Once you see the case and county, you know where to go for a copy of the full file.
Note: A divorce filed in one county does not transfer to another county if a party moves after the divorce is final.
South Carolina Divorce Record Access
Divorce records in South Carolina are public records under the Freedom of Information Act, S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10. Any person can request a copy from the Clerk of Court. You do not need to be a party to the case. Most of the case file is open to the public, including the complaint, the final order, and any settlement agreements. Courts may seal specific documents, particularly those involving minor children or sensitive financial information, but routine divorce records are available to anyone who asks.
As of January 1, 2026, home addresses have been removed from the statewide Public Index to protect personal privacy. Names, case numbers, filing dates, and the final order remain accessible. This change applies to all 46 counties.
The SC Courts Clerks of Court directory lists contact information for all 46 county Clerk of Court offices.
Certified copies of divorce decrees cost a per-page fee plus a certification charge. Each county sets its own copy fee schedule, though most follow the standard South Carolina fee schedule. Plain copies cost less than certified ones. Call the Clerk's office in the relevant county to confirm current rates before you visit.
South Carolina Divorce Records from the State Health Agency
The South Carolina Department of Public Health holds a separate set of divorce records. These are called divorce reports, not decrees. The DPH divorce reports page explains that these reports cover divorces from July 1962 through December 2023. A certified copy costs $12. The report confirms that a divorce took place and who the parties were, but it does not contain the full terms of any court order.
For divorces granted before July 1962, only the Clerk of Court in the county where the divorce was filed will have a record. South Carolina did not even allow divorce until April 1949, so records from the state are relatively recent compared to many other states. You can also order certified divorce reports through VitalChek for an added service fee.
Most legal purposes require the full court decree rather than the DPH report. The decree has the actual court order, including property division and any other terms the judge approved. The DPH report is mainly used to confirm that a divorce occurred when a shorter document will do.
Filing for Divorce in South Carolina
All divorce filings in South Carolina go through the county Family Court. You file in the county where the defendant resides, or where you reside if the defendant lives outside the state. The filing fee across most counties is approximately $150 for the initial complaint. Additional fees apply for serving papers, filing motions, and obtaining certified copies.
South Carolina recognizes five grounds for divorce under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-10: adultery, desertion for at least one year, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug use, and one year of continuous separation. The separation ground is the no-fault option and is by far the most common. South Carolina requires that at least one spouse meet the residency requirement under § 20-3-30 before filing. The forms needed to begin a case are available on the SC Courts forms page at no charge.
Each county page in the list above covers the local filing process, office hours, and county-specific resources in detail. Select any county to get started.
The SC Courts forms page provides the official forms needed to file for divorce in any South Carolina county.
Finding Legal Help for Divorce by County
Each county in South Carolina has access to legal resources for divorce cases. SC Legal Services offers free civil legal help to income-qualifying residents across the state, including assistance with divorce cases. The organization has local offices and intake lines that serve all 46 counties.
The SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (803) 799-6653 connects callers with attorneys by practice area and location. Many county bar associations also maintain referral lists for family law attorneys who practice in that county. The county pages on this site include specific legal resources relevant to each location.
For self-represented litigants, the SC Courts forms page has self-help packet forms for uncontested divorces. These step-by-step packets cover each required form in order and are available for free. Simple no-fault divorces where both parties agree on all terms are often handled this way.
Note: County court staff can help with locating forms and explaining procedures but cannot give legal advice.
Browse by City
Divorce records are filed at the county level, but many people search by the city where they live. Select a city to learn which county court handles divorce cases for that area and how to access those records.