Edgefield County Divorce Records
Edgefield County divorce records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at the Edgefield County Family Court in Edgefield, South Carolina. These records cover divorce decrees, petitions, and all related case filings handled under SC Code Title 20. Anyone needing to find or obtain Edgefield County divorce records can search the statewide public index online or visit the courthouse directly. The Family Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over all domestic matters in the county, including divorce, separation, custody, support, and property division. This guide covers how to locate, request, and use these records.
Edgefield County Quick Facts
Edgefield County Family Court
The Edgefield County Family Court is part of South Carolina's 11th Judicial Circuit. It holds exclusive jurisdiction over divorce, legal separation, custody, visitation, adoption, termination of parental rights, child support, alimony, equitable distribution of property, and name changes. All cases are governed by SC Code Title 20. The Family Court system was established statewide in 1976, giving these courts authority over all domestic relations matters.
The Clerk of Court serves as the official record keeper for every Family Court filing in Edgefield County. The clerk's office accepts new case filings, issues certified copies of decrees, and maintains the official case index. Staff can assist with procedural and filing questions but are not permitted to provide legal advice.
| Court | Edgefield County Family Court 129 Courthouse Square, Edgefield, SC 29824 Phone: (803) 637-4080 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | edgefieldcounty.sc.gov |
The screenshot below shows the SC Courts courthouse directory entry for Edgefield County, which lists court contact details and location information.
This image is sourced from sccourts.org and reflects the county's listing in the SC Judicial Branch courthouse directory.
Edgefield County is located in the western portion of South Carolina, near the Georgia border. It is a rural county with a small but stable court docket. All Family Court matters for county residents are handled at the courthouse on Courthouse Square in the town of Edgefield.
How to Search Edgefield Divorce Records
The South Carolina Judicial Branch offers a free online case records index at sccourts.org. You can use this tool to search Edgefield County divorce records by party name or case number. The index shows filing dates, case status, and the names of the parties. It does not display the full text of documents, but it confirms whether a case was filed and provides the details needed to order copies.
At minimum, you will need one party's full name to run a search. A case number makes results more precise. The online index covers many years of filings. For older records not yet digitized, you must contact or visit the Edgefield County Clerk of Court at 129 Courthouse Square. Staff can help you locate records by searching internal indexes and case archives.
When visiting in person, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Know the full names of both parties and an approximate filing year if possible. The following details help the clerk locate a file faster.
- Full legal name of at least one party
- Approximate year of filing or divorce
- Case number, if known
- County where the case was filed
Note: Home addresses were removed from publicly available court index records beginning January 1, 2026, in keeping with updated SC privacy rules.
Filing a Divorce in Edgefield County
South Carolina law under SC Code § 20-3-10 sets out the recognized grounds for divorce. Fault-based grounds include adultery, desertion for one year, physical cruelty, and habitual drunkenness or drug use. The no-fault ground is one year of continuous separation. The vast majority of cases filed in Edgefield County use the separation ground.
Residency requirements are found in § 20-3-30. When both spouses live in South Carolina, either may file after three months of state residency. When only one spouse is a South Carolina resident, that person must have lived in the state for at least one full year before filing. Edgefield County residents who meet this requirement are eligible to file at the Edgefield County Family Court.
Venue rules under § 20-3-60 say that a divorce petition must be filed in the county where the defendant resides. If the defendant lives outside South Carolina, the plaintiff may file in their own county of residence. Property division is handled under § 20-3-620, which follows equitable distribution. The court divides marital assets in a fair manner, taking into account the length of the marriage, each spouse's financial position, and contributions made during the marriage.
Alimony may be ordered under § 20-3-130. The court looks at many factors, including the length of the marriage, each party's earning capacity, and the standard of living during the marriage. Not all divorces involve alimony. Short marriages without a large income gap may result in no alimony award.
Note: Under § 20-3-80, no Edgefield County divorce case may be referred to a judge sooner than two months after filing, and no final decree may be entered before three months from the date of filing.
What Edgefield Divorce Records Contain
A complete Edgefield County divorce case file includes several types of documents. The exact contents vary based on whether the case was contested or uncontested and whether children or significant property were involved.
Most case files include the summons, the complaint for divorce, a financial declaration, and the final divorce decree. Uncontested cases typically have fewer filings. Contested cases can include motions for temporary relief, responses to motions, affidavits, hearing transcripts, and multiple orders entered before the final decree.
- Summons and complaint for divorce
- Defendant's answer or notice of default
- Financial declarations from both parties
- Temporary custody or support orders
- Parenting plans and custody worksheets, when children are involved
- Property settlement agreements or equitable distribution orders
- Final divorce decree on form SCCA299
The SCCA299 is the official South Carolina divorce decree form. Certified copies are available from the Clerk of Court. They are commonly required for legal name changes, remarriage, pension division, and property transfers.
Note: Documents involving minors or sealed by court order are not available to the public without a court-issued order granting access.
Divorce Certificates from South Carolina DPH
The South Carolina Division of Public Health maintains statistical divorce reports that are separate from the court decree. These DPH records cover divorces that occurred between July 1962 and December 2023. A DPH divorce report is not the same document as the court's final decree. It is a summary record created for vital records purposes.
The image below is from the SC DPH vital records portal, which explains what is available and how to request a copy.
A certified copy of a DPH divorce report costs $12. You can also order through VitalChek. For divorces that took place after December 2023, or when you need the actual court decree, contact the Edgefield County Clerk of Court instead.
South Carolina's Secretary of State handles apostille certification for vital records intended for use in foreign countries. See sos.sc.gov for more on that process.
Fees for Edgefield County Divorce Records
Filing a divorce case in Edgefield County costs approximately $150. This is the base filing fee paid to the Clerk of Court when the case is opened. Additional fees may apply for service of process, motions filed during the case, and other filings. South Carolina court rules set these amounts, and they may be updated over time.
Copies of divorce documents carry a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more than plain copies due to the certification charge. The clerk's office can tell you current copy rates by phone or in person. Fee waivers are available to qualifying individuals based on financial need. Ask the clerk's office for a waiver application or look for waiver forms on the SC court forms page.
The SC Family Court information page also provides guidance on procedures. The image below is from the SC Family Court overview on the Judicial Branch website.
This resource explains the structure and role of Family Courts across South Carolina, including Edgefield County.
Public Records Access in Edgefield County
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at SC Code § 30-4-10 gives the public the right to inspect and copy government records. Most Edgefield County divorce records, including petitions, orders, and final decrees, are public records unless sealed. Any member of the public can request access.
Requests to the Edgefield County Clerk of Court are handled during normal business hours. Some older records may be stored off-site and could require additional time to retrieve. Written requests are accepted and may be preferable for large document requests. There is no requirement to explain why you want a record, but you must identify the record you are seeking with reasonable specificity.
Researchers and genealogists should be aware that divorce was illegal in South Carolina until April 1949. No divorce records from before that date exist in any South Carolina county court, including Edgefield.
Legal Help for Edgefield County Residents
Divorce cases can be complicated, especially when property, debts, or children are part of the picture. Court staff in Edgefield County cannot give legal advice. The SC Family Court website has general information about how Family Courts work, but it does not substitute for legal counsel.
Free and reduced-cost legal help is available through SC Legal Services for residents who qualify based on income. The South Carolina Bar's lawyer referral line is (803) 799-6653 for those who need help finding a private attorney. Self-represented parties can find standard court forms, including divorce petitions and financial declarations, at sccourts.org/court-forms.
Genealogical researchers can consult the Library of Congress guide for South Carolina vital records at guides.loc.gov, which covers historical records research strategies for the state.
Cities in Edgefield County
All Edgefield County divorce cases are filed at the Edgefield County Family Court. There are no separate municipal courts for divorce in the county. Whether you live in the town of Edgefield or elsewhere in the county, your case will be on file at the courthouse on Courthouse Square.
Nearby Counties
If a divorce was filed in a neighboring county, those records are held by that county's Clerk of Court. The links below lead to divorce records pages for counties near Edgefield County.