Greenwood County Divorce Records Online
Greenwood County divorce records are kept by the Clerk of Court at the Greenwood County Courthouse on Monument Street. The Clerk's office is the official custodian of all Family Court case files, including divorce petitions, final orders, and any related settlement documents. Greenwood County is located in the western part of South Carolina and is home to Lander University. All residents of the county file their divorce cases at this single courthouse. The South Carolina Department of Public Health also holds certified divorce reports from 1962 forward. This page explains how to find and request divorce records in Greenwood County both online and in person.
Greenwood County Quick Facts
Greenwood County Family Court
Greenwood County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit. The Family Court has handled all divorce and domestic relations cases in the county since the court division was established statewide in 1976. Before 1976, divorce cases passed through the Court of Common Pleas. The Family Court today has sole authority over divorce filings, custody matters, support orders, and alimony for all county residents. No other court in Greenwood County can grant a divorce.
The Clerk of Court maintains the complete case file for every divorce proceeding filed in the county. Files typically include the original complaint, proof of service, financial declarations, any temporary court orders, property settlement agreements, and the Final Order of Divorce. South Carolina's standard final divorce order is form SCCA299. The Clerk's office is staffed Monday through Friday and can assist with in-person requests. Staff can help you locate a file and arrange for copies, but they cannot give legal advice.
The official Greenwood County Clerk of Court page lists hours, fees, and contact information. The Greenwood County website also provides links to other county departments and services.
| Court | Greenwood County Family Court 528 Monument Street, Greenwood, SC 29646 Phone: (864) 942-8704 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | greenwoodsc.gov |
The SC Courts Clerks of Court directory lists contact information for all 46 South Carolina county clerks.
The Greenwood County government portal provides direct access to the Clerk of Court and details on where to file or request divorce records in Greenwood County.
The county portal is a reliable starting point for confirming courthouse hours, fees, and department contacts before requesting divorce records in person.
Online Search for Greenwood Divorce Records
The South Carolina Judicial Branch maintains a free Public Index at sccourts.org that covers Family Court cases across all 46 counties, including Greenwood. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. The index returns case-level data and docket entries. It does not provide images of the actual court documents. To get copies of the petition, settlement agreement, or final order, you must contact the Greenwood County Clerk of Court by phone, by mail, or in person.
Online searches are most useful for confirming that a case exists and identifying the case number before you visit the courthouse. Bring the full legal names of both parties and an approximate filing year when you go in person. Case numbers speed the search considerably. Note that as of January 1, 2026, home addresses are no longer visible in the public index statewide. Party names, case numbers, filing dates, and court orders remain publicly accessible.
Filing Fees and Copy Costs in Greenwood
Filing for divorce in Greenwood County costs approximately $150 as the base fee. This covers the initial petition and case opening with the Clerk. Additional fees may apply for service of process, filing amended pleadings, and requesting certified copies. The Clerk's office can confirm the current fee schedule when you call or visit. Fee amounts can change by court order, so always verify before submitting payment.
Certified copies of the Final Order of Divorce carry a per-page copy fee plus a certification charge. Standard Family Court copy rates in South Carolina run a few dollars per page. Parties who cannot afford fees may apply for a fee waiver by filing an affidavit of indigency with the court. The court reviews these requests on a case-by-case basis and may waive some or all charges for those who qualify. Ask the Clerk about this option if cost is a concern before you begin the filing process.
Filing for Divorce in Greenwood County
South Carolina law sets clear rules about who can file for divorce and on what grounds. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-10, the recognized grounds for divorce are adultery, desertion for at least one year, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug use, and one continuous year of living separate and apart. The separation ground is the no-fault option and is the most commonly used basis for divorce in Greenwood County and across the state.
Residency requirements apply under § 20-3-30. If only one spouse resides in South Carolina, that spouse must have lived here for at least one year before filing. If both parties are South Carolina residents at the time of filing, the waiting period is only three months. Greenwood County residents who satisfy this requirement may file at the courthouse on Monument Street.
Venue follows § 20-3-60. A case should generally be filed in the county where the defendant lives. If the defendant lives outside South Carolina, the plaintiff may file in their own county. A two-month waiting period applies before a case can be referred, and the final decree cannot be entered until at least three months after the filing date. The SC Courts forms page has self-help packet forms for uncontested divorces in South Carolina.
What Greenwood Divorce Records Include
Divorce case files in Greenwood County can range from a handful of pages to thick packets depending on how complex the case was. A simple no-fault divorce where both parties agree on all terms tends to generate fewer documents. A contested case involving property, debts, children, or support can produce a much larger file.
Common documents in a Greenwood County divorce case file include the complaint and summons, return of service, financial declarations from both parties, temporary orders if any were entered, a property settlement agreement if one was reached outside of trial, the Final Order of Divorce on form SCCA299, and any post-decree modification orders. South Carolina divides marital property under the equitable distribution rule at § 20-3-620, meaning the court aims for a fair division, not a mathematical equal split. Alimony is governed by § 20-3-130 and may appear in the record if one party was awarded ongoing support.
South Carolina DPH Divorce Reports
The South Carolina Department of Public Health holds certified divorce reports for the period from July 1962 through December 2023. A DPH divorce report is a summary document, not the full court file. It confirms that a divorce took place, names the parties, and states the date of the final decree. It does not contain the settlement terms, custody arrangements, or details of property division.
Visit the DPH divorce reports page for instructions on submitting a request. The fee for a certified DPH divorce report is $12. You can also place an order through VitalChek for an added service charge. Divorces granted before July 1962 are not in the DPH system. For those, only the Clerk of Court in the county where the case was filed has a record. If you need an apostille attached to a certified divorce document, the SC Secretary of State processes those requests.
The SC Courts online portal covers Family Court case data for Greenwood County and lets you search the public index before contacting the Clerk directly.
The statewide public index is a useful first step when confirming whether a divorce case was filed in Greenwood County before you visit the courthouse.
Getting Legal Help in Greenwood County
Not every divorce case requires an attorney, but many do. Uncontested divorces with no minor children and no significant property can often be handled with the self-help forms available at SC Courts. Cases that are disputed, involve children, or include complex assets like retirement accounts and real estate are usually better handled with legal representation.
SC Legal Services offers free civil legal assistance to income-qualifying residents throughout South Carolina. Greenwood County residents who meet the income guidelines can receive help drafting divorce documents and understanding their rights under state law. The SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (803) 799-6653 can match you with a private family law attorney in the Greenwood area if you prefer to work with outside counsel.
The Greenwood County Courthouse also offers general guidance to self-represented parties through the clerk's counter staff. They can explain the filing process but cannot advise you on strategy or outcome.
Public Records Access in Greenwood County
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 establishes the public's right to access court records. Divorce case files in Greenwood County are generally public records open to anyone who requests them. You do not need to explain why you want the record. The Clerk of Court is required to provide copies for the established fee.
Some documents within a case file may be sealed by order of the court. Sealed materials are not accessible to the public, and even parties to the case may need to file a motion to view them. Sensitive information related to minor children and some financial data can be subject to sealing. Home addresses were removed from the public index as of January 1, 2026, protecting that specific personal detail statewide while leaving other case data fully accessible. For historical divorce records going back to the 1950s, the Library of Congress South Carolina vital records guide offers research guidance for genealogical purposes.
South Carolina Divorce History
South Carolina was the last state in the country to legalize divorce, doing so in April 1949. Before that date, divorce was entirely prohibited, and residents had to seek relief in other states or pursue annulment through the courts. This history means that South Carolina divorce records are more recent than those in most other states. Greenwood County records from before 1949 will not include any divorce filings.
The Family Court was created in 1976, giving all domestic relations cases including divorce a dedicated court division. Before 1976, divorce matters were heard in the Court of Common Pleas in each county. The SC Family Court now has exclusive statewide jurisdiction over all divorce proceedings. Greenwood County's Family Court is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit and serves the county's roughly 72,000 residents from the courthouse on Monument Street in the city of Greenwood.
Cities in Greenwood County
All Greenwood County divorce cases are filed at the Greenwood County Family Court. There are no branch locations. Residents from all parts of the county use the same courthouse on Monument Street in Greenwood.
Nearby Counties
Divorce records for residents of counties bordering Greenwood are held by their respective Family Court Clerk of Court offices. Each county keeps its own separate case files.