Clarendon County Divorce Records
Clarendon County divorce records are filed and maintained by the Clerk of Court at the Clarendon County Family Court in Manning. Part of South Carolina's 3rd Judicial Circuit, the Family Court handles all divorce and domestic matters for county residents. Records include petitions, final decrees, and case documents spanning the life of each case. Anyone searching Clarendon County divorce records can use the state's online portal, visit the courthouse in Manning, or request documents by mail. This page explains how the process works and what to expect at each step.
Clarendon County Quick Facts
Clarendon County Family Court
Clarendon County sits in the central-eastern part of South Carolina and is served by the 3rd Judicial Circuit. The Family Court in Manning handles all divorce, custody, support, and domestic abuse matters for the county. South Carolina established Family Court as its own separate division in 1976, giving domestic cases a dedicated docket and set of procedures distinct from criminal and civil matters. All filings go through the Clerk of Court, who maintains the official case index and physical case files.
The courthouse is on Sunset Drive in Manning, the county seat. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday and accepts in-person filings and record requests. Staff maintain records for every Family Court case filed in Clarendon County, going back to when the court was established. Older records are archived but generally available on request.
The Clarendon County Clerk of Court manages all Family Court filings and is the primary office for divorce record requests in the county.
| Court | Clarendon County Family Court 411 Sunset Drive, Manning, SC 29102 Phone: (803) 435-4445 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | clarendoncounty.org |
Searching Clarendon County Divorce Records
The fastest way to start a search is through the South Carolina Judicial Branch's free public case portal at sccourts.org/case-records-search/. The portal covers Family Court cases filed in all 46 counties, including Clarendon. You can search by party name or case number. Results list the case type, filing date, parties involved, and current status. Getting the case number from this search makes any follow-up request with the clerk much faster.
For in-person searches, visit the clerk's office at 411 Sunset Drive in Manning. Bring as much identifying information as you can. Staff can pull case files and make copies on the spot if workload allows. For older or archived records, extra processing time may be needed.
The SC Courts website provides courthouse contact details and links to the public case search tool for Clarendon County.
Good information to have ready before searching includes:
- Full legal names of both spouses
- Approximate year of filing or final decree
- Case number if available
- Valid photo identification for in-person visits
- Payment for any copy fees
Note: Home addresses were removed from the public case index as of January 1, 2026, but may still appear within documents filed before that date.
Filing a Divorce in Clarendon County
Before filing, you must meet the residency requirement under S.C. Code § 20-3-30. If only one spouse lives in South Carolina, that person must have been a state resident for at least one year. When both spouses are South Carolina residents, the minimum drops to three months. Under § 20-3-60, the case is generally filed in the county where the defendant lives. For most Clarendon County residents, that means filing in Manning at the Family Court.
South Carolina allows divorce on five grounds under § 20-3-10: adultery, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug use, one year of desertion, and one year of living separate and apart. The separation ground is no-fault and the most frequently used. After the petition is filed, § 20-3-80 requires at least two months before the case can proceed to a referee, and the final decree cannot be entered until at least three months after filing.
Marital property is divided through equitable distribution under § 20-3-620. Equitable means fair, not necessarily equal. The court looks at factors such as the length of the marriage, each person's income, and how each party contributed to acquiring or maintaining marital assets. If alimony is requested, six types are available under § 20-3-130, and the court determines which type and amount fits the circumstances of the case.
Note: Divorce was not legal in South Carolina until April 1949, so no divorce records exist in any county before that year.
Clarendon County Divorce Record Fees
The base filing fee for a divorce in Clarendon County is approximately $150. This covers the initial petition. Each additional motion, amended filing, or hearing request may carry its own fee. The total amount you pay depends on how complex the case becomes and how many filings it involves from start to finish.
Copies of case documents are available for a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more than plain copies but are required for many official purposes, such as updating government-issued identification or recording property transfers. Call the clerk at (803) 435-4445 to confirm current rates before your visit.
If you cannot pay the filing fee, you can apply for a waiver by submitting a financial affidavit with your petition. The judge reviews the request and can waive all or part of the fee based on your income and circumstances. Fee waiver forms are available at the courthouse and through the SC Courts website.
What Is in a Clarendon County Divorce File
The contents of a Clarendon County divorce case file depend on whether the case was contested and how long it took to resolve. Simple, uncontested cases typically have a small set of documents. Cases that involved disputes over property, support, or custody can be much larger, with motions, orders, and exhibits accumulated over months or years of litigation.
Most divorce files contain the summons, the complaint for divorce, any response from the other party, financial declarations, and the final decree of divorce. Some files also include settlement agreements, temporary support orders, and other rulings issued before the final decree. The final decree is the most requested document because it is the official court order ending the marriage.
Clarendon County's public records page describes the county's policies for accessing court and government records under state law.
Sealed documents and records involving private details about minor children are not available to the general public. The clerk's office reviews each request and releases only what state law permits.
State Divorce Reports from SC DPH
South Carolina's Department of Public Health keeps a separate set of divorce records apart from the courthouse case files. These are called divorce reports and cover events from July 1962 through December 2023. A DPH divorce report is not a full case file. It is a brief administrative record showing the names of both parties, the county of filing, and the date the decree was issued. These reports are used mainly for vital statistics and genealogical research.
You can order a DPH report through the DPH vital records page or through VitalChek. The fee is $12 per report. Use form SCCA299 when submitting your order. For divorces before July 1962 or after December 2023, the Clarendon County clerk's office is the only source for an official copy of the decree.
The SC DPH vital records page explains how to order a divorce report for cases filed in South Carolina between 1962 and 2023.
Note: If you need a certified copy for use in another country, the SC Secretary of State provides apostille authentication for vital records documents.
Legal Help for Clarendon County Residents
Not everyone can afford to hire a private attorney for a divorce case. South Carolina Legal Services offers free civil legal help to low-income residents across the state, including those in Clarendon County. They handle family law matters and can assist with divorce filings, custody, and support. Eligibility is based on income and household size.
The South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (803) 799-6653 can connect you with a local attorney. Many offer a first consultation at a reduced rate so you can understand your options before committing to full representation. Self-represented individuals can find printable forms for uncontested divorce and other Family Court matters at sccourts.org/court-forms/. The clerk's office can point you toward the right forms and explain filing procedures, though staff cannot give legal advice.
Public Records Access in Clarendon County
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code § 30-4-10 gives the public the right to inspect and copy records held by government bodies, including court clerks. Clarendon County Family Court records are public records under this law. Any person can request to view or copy a divorce petition or decree without being a party to the case and without stating a reason for the request.
Some documents within a case file may be withheld. Sealed records, documents involving private information about children, and materials protected by other statutes are not released. The clerk reviews each request and makes determinations based on state law. The Clarendon County public records page provides additional information about county policies for record access.
The Clarendon County government website connects residents to court offices, public records resources, and county services in Manning.
Note: Genealogical researchers can also consult the Library of Congress South Carolina vital records guide for tips on finding historical divorce and court records across the state.
Cities in Clarendon County
All Clarendon County divorce cases are filed at the Clarendon County Family Court in Manning. There are no separate city-level courts for divorce matters in the county. Residents from Manning, Summerton, Turbeville, or any other community in Clarendon County file and retrieve records at the same courthouse on Sunset Drive.
Nearby Counties
Clarendon County is surrounded by several other South Carolina counties, each with its own Family Court and clerk's office. Use the links below to find divorce record information for counties near Clarendon in the central and eastern part of the state.