Myrtle Beach Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Myrtle Beach dissolution of marriage records are filed and maintained at the Horry County Family Court in Conway, South Carolina. Myrtle Beach is located entirely within Horry County, part of the 15th Judicial Circuit. Every dissolution of marriage case for Myrtle Beach residents goes through this single court. Whether you need to look up an existing case or start a new filing, Horry County Family Court handles all of these matters for the Myrtle Beach area. The court is open Monday through Friday and provides access to case dockets and public records.
Myrtle Beach Quick Facts
Where Myrtle Beach Residents File for Dissolution
All dissolution of marriage cases for Myrtle Beach residents are filed at the Horry County Family Court. The court is located in Conway, which is the county seat of Horry County, about 15 miles from Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach does not have its own courthouse for family matters. The Horry County Family Court handles every step from initial filing through the final dissolution decree. The Clerk of Court maintains all public records from these cases.
| Court | Horry County Family Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 1301 2nd Avenue Conway, SC 29526 |
| Phone | (843) 915-5081 |
| Clerk - Family Division | (843) 915-5360 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Family Court Website | horrycounty.org/Departments/Clerk-of-Court |
| Filing Fee | $150 |
Parking is available near the Horry County Courthouse in Conway. All visitors go through security screening at the entrance. Bring a valid photo ID. Myrtle Beach residents can call (843) 915-5081 to ask questions about dissolution of marriage filings or to confirm what forms to bring before making the drive to Conway.
Myrtle Beach City Resources
The City of Myrtle Beach does not maintain dissolution of marriage records, but the city's official website provides residents with community contacts and government services that may be helpful during the process. The city's portal is a good starting point for finding local support resources alongside the county court system.
Visit the City of Myrtle Beach at cityofmyrtlebeach.com to access municipal services, department contacts, and local resources for residents dealing with dissolution of marriage matters in Horry County.
Combining city resources with the Horry County Family Court information gives Myrtle Beach residents a complete view of the support available during a dissolution of marriage case.
How to Search Myrtle Beach Dissolution Records
Searching for dissolution of marriage records tied to Myrtle Beach is simple because all cases are in Horry County. You do not need to check multiple courts. Start with the online public docket at horrycountysc.org, which lets you look up case information by name or case number at no charge. This system shows party names, filing dates, case status, and court events. It is a good first step before contacting the court directly.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index at sccourts.org also covers Horry County dissolution of marriage records. You can use either system depending on what you are looking for. For certified copies or full document access from a Myrtle Beach case, contact the Clerk of Court Family Division at (843) 915-5360. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies and $1.00 per page for certified copies plus a $5 to $10 certification fee. Call ahead to confirm current rates before your visit.
Note: The FCCMS portal at portal.fccms.dss.sc.gov offers an additional online option for accessing Horry County family court records for Myrtle Beach dissolution cases.
FCCMS Portal and Myrtle Beach Docket Access
The Family Court Case Management System, or FCCMS, is South Carolina's statewide online tool for accessing family court case records. Myrtle Beach residents can use FCCMS to look up dissolution of marriage cases filed in Horry County without visiting the courthouse in Conway. The portal is free to use for public record searches and does not require an account.
Access the portal at portal.fccms.dss.sc.gov. The system covers all South Carolina counties, including Horry, where all Myrtle Beach dissolution of marriage cases are filed. The portal is maintained by the South Carolina Department of Social Services and is updated regularly with current case data. Using FCCMS alongside the Horry County public docket at horrycountysc.org gives Myrtle Beach residents two strong options for online record searches.
Both the FCCMS portal and the Horry County public docket are useful starting points before contacting the Family Court Clerk directly for certified copies.
Filing Dissolution Of Marriage from Myrtle Beach
Filing for dissolution of marriage from Myrtle Beach follows South Carolina state law. The process starts at the Horry County Clerk of Court in Conway. You submit a completed complaint for divorce, pay the $150 filing fee, and the case is assigned a number. Once filed, your case is a public record. The court will set hearing dates and process all subsequent filings through the same case file.
You must meet the residency requirement under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-30 before you can file. One spouse must have lived in South Carolina for at least one year. If both spouses live in South Carolina now, only three months of residency is needed. Most Myrtle Beach residents who have lived here for some time will easily meet this standard. After filing, you serve the other spouse with the legal papers through the Horry County Sheriff, a private process server, or another court-approved method.
The no-fault ground under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-10 requires one full year of continuous separation. South Carolina also allows dissolution on fault grounds, including adultery, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or narcotics use, and desertion for one year. Once the case is ready, the judge signs the final dissolution of marriage decree. All terms, including property division under equitable distribution rules in S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-620, custody, and support are included in that decree.
Records are public under the SC Freedom of Information Act, S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30. Anyone may request copies from the Horry County Clerk of Court once a dissolution case is filed in the Myrtle Beach area.
Legal Help for Myrtle Beach Residents
Myrtle Beach residents have access to several resources for help with dissolution of marriage cases. Free legal services, referral programs, and self-help guides are all available through state and local organizations. Taking advantage of these tools can simplify the process significantly.
South Carolina Legal Services provides free legal help to income-qualifying residents in Horry County. Learn more at sclegal.org. The South Carolina Bar's lawyer referral service at (803) 799-6653 can connect Myrtle Beach residents with experienced family law attorneys. The Women's Law website has plain-language guides to South Carolina dissolution law. Free self-represented litigant packets are available at sccourts.org. These packets include all forms needed to file a simple dissolution of marriage in Horry County without an attorney. The Cordell and Cordell resource at cordellcordell.com also answers common South Carolina dissolution questions in accessible language.
Dissolution Certificates and Decrees in Myrtle Beach
After your dissolution of marriage is final in Myrtle Beach, two types of documents can confirm it. The first is the court decree from Horry County. The second is the state certificate from the South Carolina Department of Public Health. Each serves a different purpose and comes from a different source.
The Division of Vital Records at the SC Department of Public Health issues dissolution certificates for all South Carolina divorces from 1962 forward. The fee is $12 per certified copy. Send requests to 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, or visit dph.sc.gov for more information. For the full dissolution decree showing all terms from your Myrtle Beach case, contact the Horry County Clerk of Court Family Division at (843) 915-5360. The decree provides far more detail than the certificate and is typically required for legal matters like remarriage or property transfers.
Horry County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Myrtle Beach is located in Horry County. All dissolution of marriage cases for Myrtle Beach residents are filed at the Horry County Family Court in Conway. For complete county-level information, court contacts, detailed fee schedules, and additional resources, visit the Horry County dissolution of marriage records page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Nearby cities in the Horry County area also file dissolution of marriage cases at the county courthouse. Choose a city below to find dissolution of marriage record information for that area.