Greenville County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Greenville County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at the Greenville County Family Court. Greenville County is the most populous county in upstate South Carolina, serving over 545,000 residents across the county seat and surrounding cities. The Family Court handles all dissolution of marriage cases filed by Greenville County residents. Records go back to 1925 and are kept at two separate locations depending on when the case was filed. You can search many records online or visit the Clerk of Court in person.

Greenville County Family Court

The Greenville County Family Court handles all dissolution of marriage cases for county residents. The court has exclusive authority over property disputes between spouses, granting of alimony, dissolution of marriages, child support and custody matters, and legal change of names. This makes the Family Court the single point of contact for nearly all domestic relations matters in Greenville County.

The Family Court is located at 350 Halton Road, Post Office Box 27107, Greenville, SC 29616. You can reach the court by phone at (864) 467-5800 or by email at clerkofcourt@greenvillecounty.org. The Clerk of Court maintains all case files, processes new filings, and provides copies of dissolution of marriage records for Greenville County. Visit greenvillecounty.org/familycourt for court information and office details.

The Greenville County Family Court sits within the 13th Judicial Circuit, which is Circuit Number 13, County Number 23 under the South Carolina Judicial Branch system. All dissolution of marriage cases for residents of Greenville County are processed through this circuit.

Where Greenville Dissolution Of Marriage Records Are Stored

Greenville County stores its dissolution of marriage records at two different locations based on when the case was filed. This split matters when you are trying to find older records. Knowing which office holds the records you need will save you time and prevent an unnecessary trip to the wrong building.

Family Court records between 1925 and April 1996 are located at the Clerk's Circuit Court Office at 305 E. North Street in Greenville. Records filed after April 1996 are at the Family Court Office at 301 University Ridge in Greenville. Public records that have not been filed electronically are available for inspection on the second floor of the Greenville County Courthouse at 305 East North Street. Some older files may not be available right away and must be requested from the Clerk of Court's off-site record retention facilities. Off-site files are generally available within a couple of business days after the request has been made.

The Greenville County Public Index at greenvillecounty.org/publicindex gives online access to many filed records. Images of most civil court cases can be accessed and printed from this site. Cases not available online require a two-day notice before you can review them in person at the Clerk's office.

The online index is free to search. For official copies you must contact the Clerk of Court directly. Visit greenvillecounty.org/ClerkOfCourt/CopiesOfRecords.aspx for the full records request guide.

Search Greenville County Dissolution Of Marriage Cases Online

The Greenville County Public Index is the main online tool for searching dissolution of marriage cases in Greenville County. You can search by party name or case number. The site displays case information and, for many civil cases, full document images. This is the fastest way to confirm whether a dissolution of marriage case exists in Greenville County before contacting the Clerk of Court.

The Public Index is the primary starting point for any online search of dissolution of marriage records in Greenville County. Use it to confirm case numbers before visiting the courthouse.

The statewide Family Court Case Management System portal is also available through the South Carolina Department of Social Services. You can search by case number to find parties, filings, and hearing times for family court cases across the state, including Greenville County. Access it at portal.fccms.dss.sc.gov. Confidential cases such as adoptions and juvenile matters do not appear in this system.

Note: A two-day notice is required for any cases that are not available online before you can inspect them in person at the Greenville County Clerk's office.

Greenville County Record Copy Fees

Greenville County has a set fee schedule for copies of dissolution of marriage records and other court documents. Fees are the same whether you request records from the Circuit Court office or the Family Court office. Call ahead or check the county website to confirm fees have not changed before your visit.

Ordering copies through the Clerk of Court gives you certified and sealed documents that carry legal weight for use in official proceedings involving your Greenville County dissolution of marriage case.

The current fee schedule for Greenville County records is as follows. Plain copies and printouts cost $0.25 per page. Certified and sealed copies cost $10.00 per document. Exemplified copies and Notary Certificates Under Seal also cost $10.00 per document. Payment is accepted in cash, money order, or business check. Credit and debit card payments are accepted but carry an additional processing fee. These fees apply at both the Circuit Court office on E. North Street and the Family Court office on University Ridge.

Filing for Dissolution Of Marriage in Greenville County

Filing a dissolution of marriage in Greenville County follows the process set by South Carolina law. The complaint is filed with the Clerk of Court at the Family Court office. The filing fee is approximately $150. The Clerk of Court assigns a case number, and all papers from that point forward become part of the official record.

Under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-30, at least one spouse must have lived in South Carolina for one year before filing. If both spouses live in South Carolina, only three months of residency is required. Greenville County residents file here regardless of where in the county they live. The most common ground is no-fault separation under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-10, which requires one year of continuous separation. Fault grounds include adultery, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or narcotics use, and desertion for one year.

After filing, you must serve the other spouse with the divorce papers. Proof of service goes into the case file. For uncontested cases where both parties agree on all terms, the case can often move through the court faster. Property division in Greenville County follows equitable distribution under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-620. All related claims, including alimony and property, should be addressed in the same case at the Greenville County Family Court.

Self-represented litigants can find forms and instructions at sccourts.org. The South Carolina Judicial Branch provides simple divorce packets for those handling their own cases in Greenville County and across the state.

Confidential Records at Greenville Family Court

Not all dissolution of marriage related records at the Greenville County Family Court are open to the public. South Carolina law protects certain categories of records from public access. Understanding what is and is not available helps you plan your search before contacting the Clerk of Court.

Records that are confidential and not available for public inspection in Greenville County include adoption records, juvenile records, child custody records, and domestic violence case records. Cases sealed by judicial order are also not accessible. Dismissed warrants and any filings prohibited by law fall outside the scope of public access. The Clerk of Court will not release any information from these files regardless of how the request is made. For all other dissolution of marriage cases, the records are open to the public under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10, the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.

If you need help understanding what records are available, contact the Greenville County Clerk of Court at clerkofcourt@greenvillecounty.org or call (864) 467-5800.

Greenville County Divorce Certificates and Vital Records

The South Carolina Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, issues divorce certificates as an alternative to the full court decree. A divorce certificate confirms that the dissolution of marriage took place. It shows names, date, and county but does not include the terms of any settlement or property agreement.

The Division of Vital Records holds records for divorces from July 1962 through December 2023. You can order a certified copy for $12 by mail at Division of Vital Records, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. You can also order online through the state. Visit dph.sc.gov for ordering instructions. For the full dissolution of marriage decree with all terms and conditions, you must contact the Greenville County Clerk of Court directly. Legal proceedings generally require the full decree rather than the certificate.

Marriage records for Greenville County are held at the Probate Court, not the Family Court. Mail requests for certified copies of marriage licenses issued from 1973 to the present should go to Greenville County Probate Court, Marriage License Division, 301 University Ridge, Suite 5600, Greenville, SC 29601.

Note: If you need both a marriage record and a dissolution of marriage record for Greenville County, you will need to contact two separate offices.

State Resources for Dissolution Of Marriage in Greenville County

Several state agencies provide help with dissolution of marriage cases in Greenville County. These resources cover legal information, court forms, and child support services that apply to every county in South Carolina, including Greenville.

The DPH portal covers dissolution of marriage records dating from 1962, making it a useful supplement to Greenville County court records for older cases.

The South Carolina Courts website at sccourts.org has forms, instructions, and case search tools for the entire state. The self-represented litigant divorce packets are especially useful for those filing without an attorney. The South Carolina Department of Social Services handles child support enforcement statewide. For child support questions related to your Greenville County dissolution of marriage case, contact DSS at dss.sc.gov/child-support or call 1-800-768-5858.

South Carolina Legal Services provides free legal help to qualifying low-income residents. Visit sclegal.org to apply for assistance with your Greenville County dissolution of marriage case. The South Carolina Bar lawyer referral service can also help connect you with a family law attorney. Reach them at (803) 799-6653.

The FCCMS portal updates in real time and covers all South Carolina counties, making it a fast way to find a Greenville County dissolution of marriage case by case number.

Cities in Greenville County

Greenville County includes several major cities. All dissolution of marriage cases for residents anywhere in Greenville County are filed at the Greenville County Family Court at 350 Halton Road.

Greenville is the county seat and the largest city. Residents of Greer, Mauldin, Simpsonville, and all other Greenville County communities file their dissolution of marriage cases at the same Family Court location.

Nearby Counties

Greenville County borders several other South Carolina counties. If you are unsure which county handles your dissolution of marriage case, your filing county is determined by where you live, not where you work or where your spouse lives. You must file in the correct county for the court to have jurisdiction.

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