Lexington County Divorce Records and Document Lookup

Lexington County divorce records are filed and maintained at the Family Court in the town of Lexington, the county seat of one of South Carolina's fastest-growing counties. The Clerk of Court's office handles all filings, case files, and requests for certified copies of divorce decrees. Whether you need to confirm that a divorce was finalized, obtain a copy of a court order, or search historical records, the Lexington County Family Court and the SC Judicial Branch case records search portal are the two main sources for Lexington County divorce records.

Lexington County Family Court Overview

Lexington County is part of the Columbia metropolitan area and ranks among the most populous counties in South Carolina. Its Family Court sits within the 11th Judicial Circuit and has exclusive jurisdiction over divorce, custody, support, and all other domestic relations matters for county residents. South Carolina established the statewide Family Court system in 1976, and since then it has served as the sole venue for divorce proceedings in each county, including Lexington.

The Clerk of Court at 205 East Main Street in Lexington manages the full official record for every Family Court case filed in the county. The volume of cases here is considerably higher than in smaller counties given the size and growth of the population. Still, the process for requesting records is the same as elsewhere in the state: contact the clerk's office, identify the case by name or number, and request the documents you need. The Lexington County government website lists current contacts and office hours for courthouse departments.

The SC Judicial Branch clerk of court directory provides updated details for the Lexington County office alongside all 46 county clerks statewide.

The Lexington County courthouse serves residents from across the county, including the town of Lexington and surrounding communities that make up this fast-growing portion of the Midlands region.

The county portal provides direct access to clerk of court contacts, court schedules, and information about obtaining records from the Lexington County Family Court.

Note: Because Lexington County handles a high volume of cases, it is advisable to call ahead before visiting in person to confirm wait times and document availability.

How to Look Up Lexington County Divorce Records

The first place to search for Lexington County divorce records is the free SC Judicial Branch case records search tool. This online index covers Family Court cases across all 46 counties, including Lexington. You can search by the name of one or both parties, a case number, or a date range. Results show basic case details, docket entries, and hearing information. Not every case from earlier decades has full digital records, but cases from roughly the past two to three decades are typically well represented online.

For cases not found online or for requests involving physical documents, an in-person visit to the Clerk of Court at 205 East Main Street in Lexington is the right step. Staff can access the local index and retrieve paper files. Bring the full legal names of both parties and the approximate year of filing. If you have the case number from a prior notice or document, that speeds things up considerably.

To conduct an efficient search, gather as much of the following information as possible beforehand:

• Full legal name of either or both parties at the time of the divorce
• Approximate filing year or range of years
• Case number, if available
• County of residence at the time of filing

Note: Since January 1, 2026, home addresses no longer appear in the public case index for Family Court matters statewide, consistent with updated privacy rules for South Carolina courts.

Lexington County Divorce Filing Fees

The cost to file a divorce in Lexington County is approximately $150 for the summons and complaint. This is the standard range for Family Court filings across South Carolina, though additional motions or pleadings filed during the case carry their own fees. The Clerk of Court's office can confirm the current fee schedule by phone or when you visit in person.

Certified copies of documents from a divorce file are available for a per-page fee plus a certification charge. People who need multiple certified copies, perhaps for a legal name change, an estate matter, or an out-of-state legal proceeding, should ask about bulk copy rates when they contact the office. Costs are modest but add up if you need many pages from a long case file.

If cost is a barrier, the court offers a fee waiver process for people who demonstrate financial need. Applications are reviewed by the court on an individual basis. The SC Legal Services website can help low-income residents understand the fee waiver process and access free legal help for their divorce case.

Filing a Divorce Case in Lexington County

Lexington County residents who want to file for divorce must first meet the state's residency requirements. Under SC Code § 20-3-30, if only one spouse lives in South Carolina, that person must have been a resident for at least one full year before filing. If both spouses are South Carolina residents, the required time drops to three months. Given the county's proximity to the state capital and the large number of people who relocate to the Columbia metro area each year, these residency rules matter to many Lexington County filers.

South Carolina law recognizes five grounds for divorce under § 20-3-10: adultery, one year of willful desertion, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug use, and one year of continuous separation with no cohabitation. The separation ground, sometimes called no-fault divorce, is the most commonly used in Lexington County. It asks only that the spouses have lived separately for a full year without resuming the marriage.

Venue for divorce is set by § 20-3-60. If the defendant lives in South Carolina, the case should be filed in the county where the defendant resides. If the defendant lives out of state, the filing party may file in their own county. For most Lexington County residents where both spouses live locally, the case is filed here at the Lexington courthouse.

After the divorce complaint is filed, the law imposes a waiting period: no referral to a judge can happen before two months from filing, and no final decree can be issued before three months. This applies to all South Carolina divorces regardless of how simple or agreed-upon the case is. For property division, § 20-3-620 governs equitable distribution, meaning the court divides marital property fairly based on the facts of the case, not necessarily in equal halves. The SC court forms library has the Final Order form SCCA299 and other standard documents used in all Lexington County Family Court divorces.

What Records Are in a Lexington County Divorce File

Each divorce case file at the Lexington County Clerk of Court contains the full set of documents generated during the proceeding. The content of any given file depends on how the case unfolded, but most files share a common set of core documents.

A typical Lexington County divorce file contains documents such as:

• Summons and complaint stating the grounds for divorce
• Proof or acknowledgment of service on the other party
• Financial declarations or affidavits of income and expenses
• Temporary orders for support, custody, or use of the marital home
• Separation or settlement agreement if the parties reached one
• Any orders issued during the case on contested matters
• The Final Order of Divorce (form SCCA299)

The Final Order is the document most commonly requested for proof of divorce. It includes the case number, both parties' names, the date the court signed the order, and the judge's signature. Certified copies of this form carry the clerk's official seal. For complex cases involving significant property, business interests, or alimony, the file may also contain financial exhibits, expert reports, and hearing transcripts.

Divorce Certificates and DPH Records in Lexington County

Two separate agencies maintain records related to divorces in Lexington County and across South Carolina. The first is the Clerk of Court, which holds the actual case file and can issue certified copies of the divorce decree. The second is the South Carolina Department of Public Health, which maintains statistical divorce reports compiled from court records.

DPH divorce reports cover divorces granted between July 1962 and December 2023. A certified copy from DPH costs $12 and can be ordered by mail or through VitalChek, an authorized third-party ordering service. The DPH report is a summary document, not the full court decree, and may be sufficient for many purposes such as updating records with a government agency or confirming marital status. For the full legal order signed by the judge, you will need to contact the Clerk of Court directly.

The SC Secretary of State offers apostille certification for vital records documents, which is useful when a Lexington County divorce decree must be used in another country.

If you need to use a certified copy internationally, the SC Secretary of State apostille service can authenticate the document for foreign use.

Public Records and FOIA Access in Lexington County

South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, codified at SC Code § 30-4-10, gives the public the right to inspect and copy government records, including Family Court case files. Divorce records filed in Lexington County are part of the public record, and most documents in a case file can be viewed or copied by anyone who requests them at the Clerk of Court's office.

Certain documents may be withheld or redacted. Records involving the welfare of minor children, medical information, domestic violence details, or sealed court orders are not fully public. The clerk's staff can identify which portions of a specific file are open to public review. In general, the core pleadings and the final divorce decree are accessible without restriction in most cases.

The online case index at the SC Judicial Branch portal provides basic case information for free. Full document access still requires a visit to the Lexington County courthouse or a formal written request to the clerk's office.

The SC courts portal links directly to Lexington County Family Court records and courthouse information for in-person visits.

Legal Help for Lexington County Residents

Lexington County residents facing a divorce have several resources for legal guidance. The SC Legal Services organization offers free civil legal help to qualifying low-income residents, including assistance with family law and divorce proceedings. Their website allows you to apply online and provides self-help guides on the divorce process in South Carolina.

The SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (803) 799-6653 connects callers with licensed family law attorneys in the Lexington area. A referral consultation gives you a chance to discuss your situation and understand what an attorney can do for your case. Fees and payment arrangements vary by attorney.

For straightforward uncontested divorces, the SC Judicial Branch court forms page has all standard forms, including the SCCA299 Final Order and supporting documents. These forms come with written instructions. Also, § 20-3-130 of the South Carolina Code outlines six distinct types of alimony available to spouses in a divorce, a topic worth understanding if support is part of the discussion in your case.

Note: The court cannot give legal advice, so if you have questions about how the law applies to your specific facts, speaking with an attorney is the right step.

Cities in Lexington County

Lexington County includes the town of Lexington as well as many other communities in the Columbia metro area. All divorce cases for county residents are handled through the Lexington County Family Court regardless of which community within the county a person lives in.

Nearby Counties

If a divorce may have been filed in a neighboring county or you need to compare resources, the counties surrounding Lexington each maintain their own Family Court records and public case indexes.

View All 46 Counties