Florence County Divorce Record Lookup
Florence County divorce records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at the Florence County Family Court in Florence, South Carolina. These records include divorce decrees, petitions, and all related case documents from proceedings governed by SC Code Title 20. Anyone who needs to find or obtain Florence County divorce records can use the SC Judicial Branch public index online or visit the courthouse in person. The Family Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over all domestic matters in Florence County, including divorce, custody, child support, alimony, and equitable distribution of property. This guide explains how to access, request, and use those records.
Florence County Quick Facts
Florence County Family Court
The Florence County Family Court is part of South Carolina's 12th Judicial Circuit. It holds exclusive jurisdiction over divorce, legal separation, custody, visitation, adoption, termination of parental rights, child support, alimony, property division, and name changes. All proceedings are governed by SC Code Title 20. South Carolina established its Family Court system statewide in 1976, and Family Courts have handled all domestic matters ever since.
Florence County is in the northeastern portion of South Carolina. The city of Florence is a regional center for commerce, healthcare, and government services. The county has a larger population than many surrounding counties, and the Family Court handles a substantial docket of domestic cases each year.
| Court | Florence County Family Court 180 North Irby Street, Florence, SC 29501 Phone: (843) 665-3031 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | florenceco.org |
The image below is from the Florence County official website, which covers county government services including the Clerk of Court and court records.
This screenshot reflects the county's public web presence for local government and court services.
The SC Courts courthouse directory also includes a listing for Florence County. The image below comes from sccourts.org.
This entry is maintained by the SC Judicial Branch and provides official contact and location information for the Florence County courthouse.
How to Search Florence Divorce Records
The SC Judicial Branch provides a free online public index at sccourts.org. You can search Florence County divorce records by entering a party's full name or a case number. The index shows case numbers, party names, filing dates, and current case status. Document contents are not displayed in the online index, but the information provided is enough to confirm a case exists and to request copies from the clerk's office.
At least one party's full legal name is required to run a search. A case number makes the search faster and more precise. The public index covers many years of filings. For older cases not yet entered into the digital system, contact the Florence County Clerk of Court at 180 North Irby Street. Staff can search internal case indexes and pull paper files on request.
When visiting the courthouse in person, bring a valid photo ID. Knowing the approximate filing year and the full names of both parties speeds up the process. The following information is helpful to have on hand.
- Full legal name of at least one party
- Approximate year the case was filed or the divorce was finalized
- Case number, if available
- The county where the case was filed
Note: Home addresses were removed from the public court index beginning January 1, 2026, under updated SC privacy rules for court records.
Filing a Divorce in Florence County
South Carolina law under SC Code § 20-3-10 sets out the grounds for divorce. The fault-based grounds are adultery, one year of desertion, physical cruelty, and habitual drunkenness or drug use. The no-fault ground is one year of continuous separation from bed and board. Most Florence County divorce filings rely on the separation ground.
Residency requirements are found in § 20-3-30. If both spouses live in South Carolina, either may file after three months of state residency. If only one spouse is a resident, that person must have lived in South Carolina for at least one full year before filing. Florence County residents who meet these requirements may file at the Florence County Clerk of Court on North Irby Street.
Under § 20-3-60, a divorce case must be filed in the county where the defendant lives. If the defendant does not reside in South Carolina, the plaintiff may file in their own county. Florence County has a large population and frequently serves as the proper venue for both parties when both live locally.
Property division is governed by § 20-3-620 under the equitable distribution standard. The court divides marital property fairly but not necessarily equally. The judge considers the duration of the marriage, each party's economic circumstances, and contributions to the marital estate. Alimony may be ordered under § 20-3-130 based on need, ability to pay, and other statutory factors.
Note: SC Code § 20-3-80 requires that no divorce case be referred to a Family Court judge until at least two months after filing, and no final decree may issue before three months have passed from the date of filing.
What Florence County Divorce Records Contain
A Florence County divorce case file holds different documents depending on how the case proceeded. Uncontested divorces have simpler files. Contested cases with property, custody, or alimony disputes tend to have much larger files with more filings and orders.
Every case begins with a summons and complaint. The defendant's answer or a notice of default is filed next. Financial declarations are required in most cases. Cases involving minor children include parenting plans, custody worksheets, and child support orders. Property disputes add financial affidavits and, when property is divided, an equitable distribution order or property settlement agreement.
- Summons and complaint for divorce
- Defendant's answer or entry of default
- Financial declarations from one or both parties
- Parenting plan and custody worksheets
- Child support orders and worksheets
- Property settlement agreement or equitable distribution order
- Final divorce decree on court form SCCA299
The SCCA299 is the official SC divorce decree form. Certified copies are available from the Florence County Clerk of Court and are frequently needed for name changes, remarriage, pension divisions, and real property transfers.
Note: Records that are sealed or that involve minors are not open to public review without a court order granting access.
Divorce Certificates from South Carolina DPH
The South Carolina Division of Public Health keeps a separate set of records from the court files. DPH maintains statistical divorce reports for divorces that occurred between July 1962 and December 2023. These reports are not the same as the court-issued divorce decree. They are summary records used for vital statistics and identification purposes.
The image below is from the SC DPH vital records portal, which explains the ordering process and what information is available.
Certified DPH divorce reports cost $12 each. You can order through the DPH directly or through VitalChek. For divorces finalized after December 2023, or any time the actual court decree is required, contact the Florence County Clerk of Court at 180 North Irby Street.
For apostille certification of vital records needed abroad, the SC Secretary of State's office processes those at sos.sc.gov.
Fees for Florence County Divorce Records
The initial filing fee to open a divorce case in Florence County is approximately $150. This is paid to the Clerk of Court at the time of filing. Additional fees may apply for motions, service of process, and other filings that arise during the case. Fees are governed by SC court rules and may be updated periodically.
Copies of case documents are charged on a per-page basis. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. The clerk's office can confirm current copy rates by phone or at the counter during business hours. Fee waivers are available for filers who qualify based on household income. Applications are available from the clerk or at sccourts.org/court-forms.
Public Records Access in Florence County
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at SC Code § 30-4-10 grants the public the right to inspect and copy government records. Florence County divorce records are public unless sealed by a court order. Petitions, orders, and final decrees are generally open to any member of the public who requests them. No explanation is required, but the requester must identify the record with enough specificity for the clerk's office to locate it.
Requests to the Florence County Clerk of Court are handled during regular business hours. The courthouse is located at 180 North Irby Street in Florence. Older case files may require additional retrieval time if stored off-site. Researchers working on genealogy or legal matters should call ahead for large or old record requests.
Divorce was not legal in South Carolina until April 1949. No Florence County divorce records exist before that date.
Legal Help for Florence County Residents
Divorce proceedings can involve complicated issues, particularly when children, property, or spousal support are at stake. Court staff at the Florence County Family Court cannot offer legal advice or tell you how to handle your case. The SC Family Court website provides general background on how the courts function.
Free or reduced-cost legal help is available through SC Legal Services for income-eligible residents. The South Carolina Bar can connect you with a private attorney through its lawyer referral line at (803) 799-6653. Standard court forms, including divorce petitions and financial worksheets, are available at sccourts.org/court-forms for those who choose to represent themselves.
Genealogy researchers can use the Library of Congress guide for South Carolina vital records at guides.loc.gov to explore historical records strategies and source recommendations for the state.
Cities in Florence County
Florence County includes the city of Florence, which is the county seat and the regional center for northeastern South Carolina. Family Court maintains all divorce records for county residents, including those in the city of Florence and surrounding communities. All cases are filed and held at the courthouse on North Irby Street.
Nearby Counties
If a divorce was filed in a neighboring county, those records are kept by that county's Clerk of Court. The links below lead to divorce records pages for counties that border or lie near Florence County.