Spartanburg County Divorce Records

Spartanburg County divorce records are kept by the Clerk of Court and handled through the Family Court, both based at the courthouse on Magnolia Street in the city of Spartanburg. The county is part of the 7th Judicial Circuit and is one of the most populous in South Carolina, with around 360,000 residents. Spartanburg sits in the northwestern corner of the state near the Charlotte metro area and is home to several colleges. The Family Court handles all divorce filings for the entire county, including the cities of Spartanburg and Greer. Case records are public under state law and can be searched online or reviewed in person at the courthouse.

Spartanburg County Family Court

The Spartanburg County Family Court is a division of the 7th Judicial Circuit. It was established in 1976 as part of the statewide creation of the Family Court system in South Carolina. Every divorce filed in Spartanburg County since then has gone through this court. The Clerk of Court maintains the official case record from the initial petition through the final order. Given the county's large population, the courthouse processes a high volume of family law cases throughout the year.

The courthouse is on Magnolia Street in downtown Spartanburg. It is accessible by public transit and has parking nearby. The Clerk's office can assist with locating case files, taking copy requests, and directing you to the correct division for certified documents or post-decree matters.

The Spartanburg County Clerk of Court also maintains a public records page on the county website with links to online search tools and general information about requesting records.

The image below is from the Spartanburg County official website.

The county site lists all departments and services, including the Clerk of Court and online records access tools.

Note: The courthouse can be busy mid-week. Arriving early or calling ahead to confirm availability for your type of request can save time.

How to Search Spartanburg County Divorce Records

Spartanburg County divorce records are searchable through two main routes. The first is the SC Courts online Public Index, which covers all counties in the state. The second is a visit to the Clerk of Court at 180 Magnolia Street. Both draw from the same official record. Online tools show case summaries. Full documents require an in-person visit or a formal written request to the Clerk's office.

The SC Courts case records search allows searches by name or case number. Filter by Spartanburg County and Family Court for targeted results. The system displays filing dates, case status, and the names of both parties. Per a statewide change effective January 1, 2026, home address information is no longer displayed in public online records.

For an in-person search at the courthouse, bring the following:

• Full legal name of one or both parties
• Approximate year the case was filed
• Case number if you have it
• A valid government-issued photo ID
• Payment for copies or certified documents

Staff will retrieve the file and allow you to review it. Copies cost a per-page fee. Certified copies require additional processing. Some older cases may be in paper-only form and could take extra time to retrieve from storage.

Note: For cases that may have been filed under a different spelling or a maiden name, try alternate name searches in the online system before visiting in person.

Filing Fees and Copy Costs

The standard divorce filing fee in Spartanburg County is around $150, paid to the Clerk of Court when you submit the initial petition. This fee covers the administrative cost of opening the case in the court system. If additional motions are filed — for temporary orders, rule to show cause, or post-decree modifications — each motion may carry a separate fee set by state statute. The full cost of the case depends on how many issues are contested and how many court appearances are required.

Document copies from the case file are priced per page. Plain photocopies are less expensive than certified copies. A certified copy carries the court seal and an authorized signature. You need a certified copy when the document must be used outside the court — such as for updating a name at the Social Security Administration, handling an estate matter, or verifying marital status for a government benefit. If you cannot afford the fees, you may request a fee waiver in writing at the time of filing. You must submit income documentation with the waiver request for the court to consider it.

Note: Fee schedules are set by state law and can be updated at any time. Always confirm current rates with the Spartanburg County Clerk of Court before arriving.

The Divorce Filing Process in Spartanburg County

To file for divorce in Spartanburg County, one or both spouses must meet the residency requirement set out in South Carolina Code § 20-3-30. If both live in South Carolina, either may file after three months of in-state residency. If only one spouse lives in the state, that person must have been a resident for at least one year before filing. Under § 20-3-60, venue is proper in the county where either spouse lives, so Spartanburg County residents can file here even if their spouse lives in another county.

South Carolina recognizes five grounds for divorce under § 20-3-10. These are adultery, willful desertion for one year, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug use, and living separate and apart for one year. The one-year separation ground requires no showing of fault and is the most common basis used across the state, including in Spartanburg County. After the petition is filed and formally served, § 20-3-80 mandates a waiting period before a final hearing can be scheduled. That wait is generally two to three months depending on the grounds cited.

Property is divided under § 20-3-620 following the equitable distribution model. The court divides assets in a way that is fair but not necessarily equal, weighing factors such as length of the marriage, each spouse's income, and contributions to the marital estate. Alimony is handled separately under § 20-3-130 and is not automatic. A judge decides whether it is warranted and in what amount based on the financial circumstances of both parties.

The image below is from the SC Courts courthouse directory.

The SC Courts courthouse directory provides addresses, phone numbers, and clerk contacts for Spartanburg County and all other South Carolina counties.

Note: Even in straightforward cases, the filing process has required steps and deadlines. A missed step can delay your case by months.

What Divorce Records Contain

A Spartanburg County divorce case file contains all documents filed and issued during the case. Simple uncontested cases have fewer pages. Contested cases, especially those involving children or significant property, often generate a larger record over the course of the proceedings.

Typical documents in a Spartanburg divorce file include:

• Summons and complaint from the filing spouse
• Answer or response from the other party
• Temporary orders for custody, support, or use of the home
• Financial declarations from each spouse
• Marital settlement or property agreement if negotiated
• Final divorce decree signed by the Family Court judge
• Any post-decree motions or modifications filed later

The final decree is the key document. It legally ends the marriage and sets out all terms for property, custody, and support. You need this document for many legal and administrative tasks after the divorce is final.

Note: Home address information was removed from public-facing court record displays effective January 1, 2026, under a statewide privacy update.

Divorce Certificates from the SC Department of Public Health

The South Carolina Department of Public Health maintains a statewide collection of divorce reports for cases finalized from July 1962 through December 2023. A certified DPH divorce report costs $12. This is not the same as the court record. It is a summary document that confirms the marriage ended by divorce, naming the parties and the date. Many people use this document when they need basic proof of a prior divorce without pulling the entire court file from the Spartanburg courthouse.

Requests can be submitted through the DPH vital records page or through VitalChek for online ordering. You need both parties' names, the approximate date and county of the divorce, and proof of identity. Standard processing takes several weeks. Expedited options may be available at extra cost.

For divorce records intended for use outside the United States, the SC Secretary of State provides apostille authentication through its vital records certification page. This process adds a stamp that foreign authorities recognize as confirming the document is genuine.

The image below is from the South Carolina statehouse Title 20 divorce code page.

Title 20 of the South Carolina Code covers marriage, divorce, and family law, including the grounds for divorce and the rules for property division and alimony.

Note: DPH records only cover divorces through December 2023. For more recent cases, contact the Spartanburg County Clerk of Court directly.

Legal Help in Spartanburg County

Self-represented filers in Spartanburg County can access standardized forms through the SC Courts forms page. The SCCA299 packet is the starting point for uncontested divorce filings and covers the required forms to open a case. Clerk's office staff can help you find the right packet but are not able to give legal advice or assist with filling out forms.

Free and low-cost legal help is available through SC Legal Services, which serves income-eligible residents across the state, including Spartanburg County. They handle divorce cases and can provide guidance when children, property, or safety issues are involved. Spartanburg's size also means there are many private attorneys in the area. A short consultation — even just an hour — is often a smart investment before you file, especially if you are unsure about how property will be divided or what happens with children. Many attorneys offer free initial consultations.

Note: SC Legal Services eligibility is based on income. Visit sclegal.org or call their intake line to check your eligibility before your case needs to be filed.

Public Access Under South Carolina Law

South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, codified at Title 30, Chapter 4, makes most court records open to the public. Spartanburg County Family Court divorce files are accessible at the courthouse unless a judge has issued a sealing order. Sealed cases require a court order to access. Most divorce case files are not sealed and can be reviewed by any person during normal business hours.

Online access through the SC Courts Public Index provides case-level data for all filed cases in Spartanburg County. Full document images may not be available for older cases filed before electronic records were standard. Those cases must be accessed in person at the courthouse. The SC Courts clerks of court directory has up-to-date contact information for the Spartanburg County Clerk's office.

Genealogical researchers can also consult the Library of Congress South Carolina vital records guide for historical context. South Carolina did not permit divorce until April 1949, so no divorce records exist in the state before that year. All records from 1949 forward are held by the courthouse of the county where the case was filed.

Note: Records in cases that are still active or under appeal may have limited public access until the proceedings are fully concluded.

Cities in Spartanburg County

Spartanburg County includes the city of Spartanburg as well as Greer, which straddles the Spartanburg and Greenville county line. Both communities have residents who file divorce cases in the Spartanburg County Family Court.

Nearby Counties

Spartanburg County is surrounded by counties in the Upstate region of South Carolina. Each has its own Family Court and Clerk of Court for divorce filings and public record requests.

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