Greenville County Dissolution Of Marriage
Greenville dissolution of marriage records are kept at the Greenville County Family Court. Greenville is a city of about 70,000 residents and the county seat of Greenville County, one of the most populated counties in South Carolina. All divorce and dissolution cases for Greenville residents go through the Greenville County Family Court. This page covers where to file, how to search records, and what Greenville residents need to request certified dissolution documents.
Greenville Quick Facts
Where to File for Dissolution in Greenville
Greenville residents file for dissolution of marriage at the Greenville County Family Court. Important to note: Greenville County has two courthouse locations that handle different types of family court records. Newer records and active cases are handled at the Family Court office on Halton Road. Older records from 1925 to April 1996 are stored at the Circuit Court Office on East North Street. Knowing which location holds your records saves time before you make the trip.
| Family Court (Active Cases) | 350 Halton Road (PO Box 27107) Greenville, SC 29616 (864) 467-5800 clerkofcourt@greenvillecounty.org |
|---|---|
| Records 1925 to April 1996 | Clerk's Circuit Court Office 305 E. North Street Greenville, SC 29601 |
| Records After April 1996 | Family Court Office 301 University Ridge Greenville, SC 29601 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| County Website | greenvillecounty.org |
Note that the Greenville Municipal Court at 426 North Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601, phone 864-232-2273, handles city code violations only. That court does not handle dissolution of marriage cases. All divorce and dissolution filings for Greenville city residents go to the Greenville County Family Court at 350 Halton Road.
Greenville County Clerk of Court Records
The Greenville County Clerk of Court maintains all dissolution of marriage records for Greenville and the surrounding county. The clerk's office provides copies of records, accepts requests by mail, and handles certified copies of dissolution decrees. Visit the official Copies of Records page for detailed instructions.
The Greenville County Clerk of Court at greenvillecounty.org lists all copy fees and procedures for obtaining dissolution of marriage records. Plain copies cost $0.25 per page, and certified copies are $10 per document.
Greenville County Family Court Authority
The Greenville County Family Court has exclusive authority over dissolution of marriage cases in Greenville. The court handles dissolution filings, property division, alimony, child support, and custody matters all within the same proceeding. The Family Court also oversees legal name changes and domestic disputes between spouses in Greenville County.
The official Greenville County Family Court page at greenvillecounty.org provides current information on procedures, forms, and contact details for Greenville residents seeking to file or search dissolution of marriage cases.
Searching Greenville Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Greenville County provides online access to court records through its Public Index at greenvillecounty.org/scjd/publicindex. The public index lets you search by party name or case number at no charge. Images of most civil case documents are available to view and print directly from the site. Family court records that have not been filed electronically require an in-person visit or written request to the Greenville County Clerk of Court.
The statewide FCCMS portal at portal.fccms.dss.sc.gov also covers Greenville County dissolution of marriage cases. Search by case number to pull up family court case information filed in Greenville. This tool is maintained by SC DSS and is available to the public for free.
For older records, check the correct location before making the trip to Greenville. Family court records between 1925 and April 1996 are at 305 E. North Street. Records after April 1996 are at 301 University Ridge. Some older files may not be available right away and could take a couple of business days to retrieve from off-site storage. Call the Clerk at (864) 467-5800 or email clerkofcourt@greenvillecounty.org before visiting to confirm your Greenville dissolution records are ready.
Dissolution Of Marriage Filing Steps in Greenville
Filing for dissolution of marriage in Greenville begins at the Greenville County Family Court at 350 Halton Road. You file the complaint, pay the $150 fee, and serve your spouse with the papers. Every document filed in your Greenville case becomes part of the public record, available under the SC Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10). Sealed records, adoption files, and juvenile records are exceptions to this rule.
Before filing in Greenville, you must meet the residency rules under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-30. One spouse must have lived in South Carolina for at least one year, or both spouses must be South Carolina residents for at least three months. Greenville residents who have lived in the city for a year or more qualify to file right away at the county Family Court.
South Carolina provides one no-fault ground for dissolution of marriage under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-10: one continuous year of living separate and apart. Fault grounds are adultery, desertion for one year, physical cruelty, and habitual drunkenness or drug use. Greenville residents must meet one of these grounds before the Family Court can grant the dissolution. After the judge signs the final order, it is filed with the Greenville County Clerk and becomes the official dissolution of marriage record for your case.
Note: Property division in Greenville follows equitable distribution under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-620, and all related matters including alimony, child support, and custody are resolved within the same Family Court proceeding.
Greenville Dissolution Fees and Copy Costs
The filing fee for dissolution of marriage in Greenville is $150, paid to the Greenville County Family Court at the time you submit the complaint. Document copy fees follow the Greenville County schedule: plain copies are $0.25 per page, and certified or sealed copies are $10 per document. Exemplified copies and notary certificates under seal also run $10 per document. Payment is accepted by cash, money order, business check, or credit and debit card. Note that card payments carry an additional processing fee at the Greenville County Clerk of Court.
If an older dissolution file must be pulled from off-site storage in Greenville, it generally takes a couple of business days before it is available for viewing. Plan ahead if you need records from a case filed before April 1996. The Clerk of Court at clerkofcourt@greenvillecounty.org or (864) 467-5800 can tell you whether your file is on-site or in off-site storage before you come in to the Greenville courthouse.
Legal Help for Dissolution Cases in Greenville
Greenville residents have access to a range of legal resources for dissolution of marriage cases. South Carolina Legal Services serves Greenville County and provides free legal assistance to qualifying individuals. Visit sclegal.org for income guidelines and application details. The SC Bar lawyer referral line at (803) 799-6653 connects Greenville residents with family law attorneys in the area.
The SC Judicial Branch at sccourts.org offers free self-represented litigant packets for simple dissolution of marriage cases. These packets include all the forms and instructions for filing on your own at the Greenville County Family Court. The Cordell and Cordell South Carolina divorce guide covers common questions about the dissolution process in plain language. The Women's Law South Carolina page also provides accessible information for Greenville residents navigating the dissolution process.
Note: The Greenville Municipal Court handles city violations only. Do not file a dissolution of marriage case at the municipal court. All dissolution filings go to the Greenville County Family Court at 350 Halton Road.
South Carolina Dissolution Law and Greenville Cases
South Carolina dissolution of marriage law governs all cases filed in Greenville County. Title 20, Chapter 3 of the SC Code of Laws covers grounds, residency requirements, and property division rules that apply directly to Greenville dissolution cases.
Review the full text of South Carolina dissolution of marriage law at scstatehouse.gov. Greenville residents can find the specific statutes that govern their case, including grounds, residency rules, equitable distribution, and more.
Dissolution Certificates for Greenville Cases
After a dissolution of marriage is final in Greenville, you may need proof of the dissolution for name changes, insurance updates, or other official purposes. Two types of documents serve this function: the dissolution decree and the divorce certificate. The decree is the full court order from the Greenville County Family Court. The certificate is a shorter summary document issued by the state.
Certified divorce certificates for Greenville County dissolutions are available through the SC Division of Public Health. Request one at dph.sc.gov or by mailing a request to DPH Vital Records, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. The fee is $12 per certified copy. For the full dissolution decree with all court-ordered terms, contact the Greenville County Clerk of Court at (864) 467-5800 or clerkofcourt@greenvillecounty.org. The decree is the more detailed document and is usually what lawyers and agencies ask for when verifying a Greenville dissolution of marriage.
Greenville County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Greenville is the county seat of Greenville County, and all dissolution of marriage filings for city residents go through the Greenville County Family Court. The county page covers the full court system, copy fees, record locations, and all the resources available to Greenville County residents searching dissolution records.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Residents of nearby cities file for dissolution of marriage at their own county courthouse. Select a city below to find dissolution records in that area.