North Augusta Dissolution Of Marriage
North Augusta dissolution of marriage records are held at either Aiken County Family Court or Edgefield County Family Court. North Augusta is a city of about 23,000 residents that spans both Aiken County and Edgefield County. Where you file your dissolution of marriage case depends on which county your address falls in. Most North Augusta residents live in the Aiken County portion of the city. This page explains how to find and file dissolution of marriage records for North Augusta in both counties.
North Augusta Quick Facts
North Augusta Spans Two Counties
North Augusta is unusual in South Carolina. The city's boundaries cross both Aiken County and Edgefield County. This matters for dissolution of marriage filings. In South Carolina, you must file a dissolution of marriage case in the county where you live. If your North Augusta address is in Aiken County, you file at the Aiken County Family Court. If your address is in Edgefield County, you file at the Edgefield County Family Court.
The majority of North Augusta's population lives in Aiken County. Aiken County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit. The Aiken County Family Court handles most dissolution of marriage cases involving North Augusta residents. Edgefield County is part of the 11th Judicial Circuit and handles cases for residents in the Edgefield portion of North Augusta. If you are not sure which county your address falls in, check with the Aiken County or Edgefield County courthouse before filing.
Aiken County Family Court for North Augusta
Most North Augusta dissolution of marriage cases go through the Aiken County Family Court. This court handles all family law matters for Aiken County, including dissolution of marriage, child custody, and support cases. The Clerk of Court's office keeps all case files and provides copies of court documents to the public.
| Court | Aiken County Family Court |
|---|---|
| Circuit | 2nd Judicial Circuit |
| Clerk of Court | aikencountysc.gov/clerk-of-court |
| Online Portal | portal.fccms.dss.sc.gov |
North Augusta residents filing in Aiken County should contact the Clerk of Court at aikencountysc.gov before going in person. The office can confirm what forms you need, current filing fees, and office hours. The $150 filing fee applies to all new dissolution of marriage cases in Aiken County.
Filing Dissolution Of Marriage in North Augusta
Filing for dissolution of marriage in North Augusta follows South Carolina state law. The residency requirement under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-30 requires at least one spouse to have lived in South Carolina for one year before filing. If both spouses are SC residents, the time drops to three months. North Augusta residents who meet this rule file at the family court in the county where they live.
South Carolina has one no-fault ground for dissolution of marriage under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-10. The couple must have lived separate and apart for one continuous year. No legal separation filing is needed, but you must prove the separation occurred. Fault grounds also apply in North Augusta cases. They include adultery, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug use, and desertion lasting one year. Once you meet one of these grounds, you can file at the correct county court.
After the complaint is filed, service of process must be completed. The sheriff or a licensed process server delivers the papers to your spouse. Your spouse then has time to respond. If both parties agree, you can submit a settlement agreement. If not, the case proceeds through hearings. All steps create records that become part of the public dissolution of marriage file at either Aiken County or Edgefield County Family Court for North Augusta cases.
Property is divided by equitable distribution under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-620. Spousal support, child custody, and child support are all addressed in the same case. These issues apply equally to North Augusta residents filing in Aiken County or Edgefield County.
Searching North Augusta Dissolution Of Marriage Records
The South Carolina FCCMS portal is the best place to start searching dissolution of marriage records for North Augusta. Go to portal.fccms.dss.sc.gov and enter a party name or case number. The system searches across all South Carolina counties. You can run searches for both Aiken County and Edgefield County from the same portal, which is helpful for North Augusta cases where the county is not certain.
The FCCMS portal shows filing dates, party names, case status, and case numbers. It does not provide full document images online. To get copies of the actual dissolution of marriage documents from a North Augusta case, you contact the Clerk of Court in the relevant county. The clerk can make plain or certified copies from the physical case file.
Note: When searching for North Augusta cases, try both Aiken County and Edgefield County if you are not sure where the case was filed. The FCCMS portal makes this easy with a single search.
State Resources for North Augusta Residents
North Augusta residents have access to several state-level resources for dissolution of marriage. The South Carolina Judicial Branch provides self-represented litigant packets at sccourts.org. These packets include all required forms and step-by-step guidance for filing a simple dissolution of marriage in South Carolina.
The full text of South Carolina dissolution of marriage law is at the SC State House website. Reviewing the statute gives North Augusta residents a solid understanding of what they must prove and what rights they have throughout the case.
South Carolina Legal Services at sclegal.org provides free legal help to people who qualify based on income. The SC Bar lawyer referral line at (803) 799-6653 can connect North Augusta residents with a private family law attorney in the Aiken area. For additional guidance on SC dissolution law, visit womenslaw.org or cordellcordell.com.
Dissolution Of Marriage Certificates for North Augusta
Once a dissolution of marriage is final in North Augusta, there are two ways to prove it. The divorce decree is the full court order from either Aiken County or Edgefield County Family Court. The divorce certificate is a shorter record issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health. Most legal transactions require the decree.
To get a state divorce certificate, mail a request to the Division of Vital Records at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. The cost is $12 per certified copy. For dissolution records going back to 1962, visit dph.sc.gov. For the full decree from a North Augusta case, contact the Clerk of Court in Aiken County or Edgefield County, depending on where the case was filed. The public records law at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30 gives anyone the right to request copies of these records.
Aiken County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Most North Augusta residents fall within Aiken County and file at the Aiken County Family Court. For full details on the county court system, fee schedules, and access to records, visit the Aiken County dissolution of marriage records page. North Augusta residents in the Edgefield portion of the city should also check the Edgefield County dissolution of marriage records page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Cities near North Augusta each file dissolution of marriage cases at their own county courthouse. Select a city below to learn about dissolution of marriage records in that area. North Augusta sits just across the Savannah River from Augusta, Georgia.