Georgetown County Divorce Records
Georgetown County divorce records are kept by the Clerk of Court at the Georgetown County Family Court in Georgetown, South Carolina. These records include divorce decrees, petitions, and all case documents from proceedings handled under SC Code Title 20. Anyone who needs to find or request Georgetown County divorce records can search the SC Judicial Branch public index online or visit the courthouse directly. The Family Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over all domestic matters in the county, including divorce, custody, child support, alimony, and property division. This guide covers how to locate, request, and use these records.
Georgetown County Quick Facts
Georgetown County Family Court
The Georgetown County Family Court operates as part of South Carolina's 15th Judicial Circuit. It holds exclusive jurisdiction over divorce, legal separation, custody, visitation, adoption, termination of parental rights, child support, alimony, equitable distribution of marital property, and name changes. All cases are governed by SC Code Title 20. South Carolina created its unified Family Court system in 1976, giving these courts authority over all domestic matters across the state.
Georgetown County lies along the northeastern coast of South Carolina, near Winyah Bay. The county is known for its colonial history, natural beauty, and coastal geography. Georgetown is the county seat and the location of the courthouse where all Family Court filings are made and maintained. The county serves a mix of year-round residents and seasonal populations in the coastal communities.
| Court | Georgetown County Family Court 401 Cleland Street, Georgetown, SC 29440 Phone: (843) 545-3217 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | georgetowncountysc.org |
The image below is from the SC Courts courthouse directory, which lists official contact and location details for Georgetown County.
This entry is maintained by the SC Judicial Branch and reflects the current location and contact information for the Georgetown County courthouse.
How to Search Georgetown Divorce Records
The SC Judicial Branch offers a free online public index at sccourts.org. You can search Georgetown County divorce records by entering a party's full name or a case number. The system returns case numbers, party names, filing dates, and case status. The full content of documents is not shown in the online index, but the details provided are enough to confirm a case exists and to place a request for copies with the clerk's office.
At minimum, a full name for one party is required to run a search. A case number gives more precise results. The index covers many years of filings. For older records not yet in the digital system, you must contact or visit the Georgetown County Clerk of Court at 401 Cleland Street. Staff can search internal indexes and pull case files as needed.
In-person visits require a valid government-issued photo ID. Knowing the approximate filing year and both parties' names speeds up the process. Written requests sent by mail are also accepted. The following details help locate files more quickly.
- Full legal name of at least one party
- Approximate year of filing or year divorce was finalized
- Case number, if available
- Names of both parties, if known
Note: Home addresses were removed from the public court index beginning January 1, 2026, under updated SC privacy rules for court filings.
Filing a Divorce in Georgetown County
South Carolina law at SC Code § 20-3-10 recognizes both fault and no-fault grounds for divorce. Fault grounds include adultery, desertion for one year, physical cruelty, and habitual drunkenness or drug use. The no-fault ground is one continuous year of living separate and apart. Most cases filed in Georgetown County are based on the separation ground.
Residency requirements under § 20-3-30 allow either spouse to file in South Carolina after three months of residency, provided both spouses live in the state. If only one spouse is a South Carolina resident, that person must have lived in the state for at least one year before filing. Georgetown County residents who meet those standards may file their case at the Clerk of Court on Cleland Street.
Under § 20-3-60, a divorce petition must be filed in the county where the defendant lives. When the defendant is not a South Carolina resident, the plaintiff may file in their own county of residence. Georgetown County residents named as defendants in divorce actions will generally have their cases filed here.
Equitable distribution of marital property is handled under § 20-3-620. The court divides marital assets in a fair manner based on factors such as the length of the marriage, each party's economic circumstances, and contributions made to the marital estate. It does not always result in a 50-50 split. Alimony claims are governed by § 20-3-130, which requires the court to examine need, earning capacity, and standard of living during the marriage.
Note: Under § 20-3-80, a Georgetown County divorce case may not be referred to a judge until at least two months after filing, and no final decree may be entered before three months from the filing date.
What Georgetown County Divorce Records Contain
A Georgetown County divorce case file holds varying documents depending on the nature of the case. Simple uncontested divorces produce fewer documents. Cases that involve custody, property, or support disputes generate larger files with multiple filings, motions, and orders.
Every case begins with a summons and a complaint for divorce. From there, the file grows based on the issues in the case. In all cases, the final document is the divorce decree. Cases with children add parenting plans, custody worksheets, and child support orders. Cases with property add financial declarations and, where assets are divided, an equitable distribution order or settlement agreement.
- Summons and complaint for divorce
- Defendant's answer or notice of default
- Financial declarations
- Parenting plan and custody worksheets
- Child support order and worksheets
- Property settlement agreement or equitable distribution order
- Final divorce decree on form SCCA299
Form SCCA299 is the official SC divorce decree. The Clerk of Court issues certified copies on request. Certified copies are commonly required for name changes, new marriage licenses, pension division, and real property transactions.
Note: Case documents involving minors and any files sealed by a court order are not publicly accessible without a court order granting permission.
Divorce Certificates from South Carolina DPH
The South Carolina Division of Public Health maintains a separate set of vital records that differ from the court divorce files. DPH holds statistical divorce reports for divorces that took place between July 1962 and December 2023. These reports are summaries created for vital records purposes and are not the same as the court decree.
The image below is from the SC DPH vital records portal, which explains what records are available and how to order them.
Certified DPH reports cost $12 each. You can order through DPH's site directly or through VitalChek. For divorces finalized after December 2023, or when the actual court decree is required, contact the Georgetown County Clerk of Court at 401 Cleland Street.
For apostille certification of vital records intended for use abroad, the SC Secretary of State handles requests at sos.sc.gov.
Fees for Georgetown County Divorce Records
Opening a divorce case in Georgetown County costs approximately $150 in filing fees. This amount is paid to the Clerk of Court when the case is initiated. Additional charges may apply for service of process, motions filed during the case, and other procedural filings. All fees are set by SC court rules and may change.
Copies of divorce documents are priced by the page. Certified copies carry a higher fee than plain copies. The clerk's office can confirm current rates by phone or in person during normal business hours. Fee waivers are available for residents who demonstrate financial hardship. Applications are available from the clerk's office or at sccourts.org/court-forms.
The SC court forms page also provides access to standard forms used in all Family Court cases, including divorce petitions and financial declarations, which can reduce costs for those who represent themselves.
Public Records Access in Georgetown County
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at SC Code § 30-4-10 guarantees the public the right to inspect and copy government records. Georgetown County divorce records are public unless sealed by court order. Most petitions, orders, and final decrees are available to any person who asks for them. No explanation is required, but the request must be specific enough for the clerk's office to identify and locate the record.
The image below is from the SC Judicial Branch portal, which serves as the central access point for case records and court information statewide.
This portal provides the public index search tool, court forms, and other resources available to anyone seeking court records in South Carolina.
Requests to the Georgetown County Clerk of Court are handled during business hours at 401 Cleland Street. Older case files may need extra retrieval time if they are stored off-site. Researchers working with historical records should call ahead to confirm availability and retrieval timelines.
Note: Divorce was illegal in South Carolina until April 1949. No Georgetown County divorce records from before that year exist anywhere in the state.
Legal Help for Georgetown County Residents
Divorce proceedings raise legal questions that court staff are not permitted to answer. The SC Family Court website provides general information on how Family Courts work, but it does not replace legal counsel. If your case involves custody, property, or alimony, getting legal advice is strongly worth considering.
Free and reduced-cost legal help is available through SC Legal Services for residents who qualify based on income. The South Carolina Bar operates a lawyer referral line at (803) 799-6653 to help people find a private attorney. Self-represented litigants can access standard court forms including divorce petitions, financial declarations, and parenting plans at sccourts.org/court-forms.
The Library of Congress maintains a research guide for South Carolina genealogy and vital records at guides.loc.gov, which is helpful for historical research involving older Georgetown County divorce records.
Cities in Georgetown County
All Georgetown County divorce cases are filed at the Georgetown County Family Court on Cleland Street in Georgetown. There are no separate municipal courts for divorce anywhere in the county. Residents from every part of Georgetown County, including coastal communities near Winyah Bay and inland areas, will have their records held at the county courthouse.
Nearby Counties
If a divorce was filed in a neighboring county, those records are maintained by that county's Clerk of Court. The links below lead to divorce records pages for counties that border or lie near Georgetown County.