Kershaw County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Kershaw County dissolution of marriage records are filed and maintained by the Clerk of Court at the Kershaw County Family Court in Camden. The Family Court serves the entire county and holds exclusive authority over all divorce and domestic matters filed within Kershaw County. You can search dissolution of marriage cases online or visit the courthouse in person to review records and request copies. Kershaw County is part of South Carolina's 5th Judicial Circuit with a population of approximately 68,000 residents.
Kershaw County Quick Facts
Kershaw County Family Court Jurisdiction
The Kershaw County Family Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over all matters that involve domestic and family relationships. No other court in Kershaw County may hear these cases. The Family Court is the only venue for marriage, divorce, legal separation, custody, visitation rights, termination of parental rights, adoption, support, alimony, division of marital property, and change of name. This exclusive authority means every dissolution of marriage case in Kershaw County must go through the Family Court in Camden.
The Family Court in Kershaw County also has exclusive jurisdiction over minors under the age of seventeen who are alleged to have violated a state law or municipal ordinance. This broad authority makes the Family Court the central court for family-related legal matters across the entire county. When you file for dissolution of marriage in Kershaw County, your case stays within the Family Court from start to finish.
The Kershaw County Family Court's official website is available at kershaw.sc.gov. That page provides current contact information, office hours, and procedural updates for anyone filing or searching dissolution records in Camden.
Dissolution Of Marriage Records in Kershaw County
The SC Code of Laws governs all dissolution of marriage proceedings in South Carolina. You can review the relevant statutes at scstatehouse.gov. 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 are South Carolina residents, only three months of residency is required. Kershaw County residents file their dissolution cases at the courthouse in Camden.
South Carolina law under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-10 provides for no-fault dissolution of marriage based on one year of continuous separation. Fault grounds are also available. These include adultery, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or narcotics use, and desertion lasting one year. Kershaw County divorce cases are decided under these same rules that apply throughout South Carolina.
The Kershaw County Clerk of Court maintains all dissolution of marriage records. The Clerk's office handles case filings, docket management, and the receipt of fees, fines, and costs. Staff also gather caseload statistics reported to Court Administration and provide support to keep the judicial process running smoothly in Kershaw County.
How to Find Dissolution Of Marriage Cases in Kershaw County
You can search Kershaw County dissolution of marriage cases through several methods. The South Carolina Courts public index at sccourts.org allows you to search by party name or case number. This free online tool covers Kershaw County and all other South Carolina counties. It gives you basic case details including filing dates and case status.
The Family Court Case Management System, also known as FCCMS, is the state's primary system for tracking family court cases. You can access the public portal at portal.fccms.dss.sc.gov. This system includes dissolution of marriage filings from Kershaw County and allows searches by name or case number. The Palmetto Automated Child Support System, known as PACSS, is a related tool for child support matters that often arise alongside dissolution cases in Kershaw County.
In-person searches are also available. The Kershaw County Clerk of Court is located at the Kershaw County Courthouse in Camden. A two-day notice is required for any case file that is not available online. Plan ahead before your visit to make sure the records you need are ready when you arrive. The Clerk's office does not perform Civil or Criminal record searches on your behalf. You may appear in person and copy anything that is a public record.
Note: Bring a valid photo ID when visiting the Kershaw County Courthouse to access dissolution of marriage records in person.
Kershaw County Copy Fees and Payment Rules
The Kershaw County Clerk of Court charges $0.50 per page for copies of dissolution of marriage records. If you need a certified copy, an additional $1.00 certification fee applies. These rates are set by the Clerk's office and apply to all court records including family court filings in Kershaw County.
Payment rules at the Kershaw County Family Court changed on February 4, 2019. The court no longer accepts regular payments at the office. Only purge payments for court orders are accepted at the Kershaw County Family Court, and those must be paid in cash only. No other payment types are taken in person at the Camden courthouse for Family Court matters.
All child support payments must be mailed to the South Carolina State Disbursement Unit at P.O. Box 100302, Columbia, SC 29020-3302. Do not bring child support payments to the Kershaw County courthouse. For help with child support payments, contact the South Carolina Disbursement Unit by phone at 1-800-768-5858 or visit dss.sc.gov/child-support.
| Court |
Kershaw County Family Court / Clerk of Court Kershaw County Courthouse Camden, SC 29020 |
|---|---|
| Copy Fees | $0.50 per page; $1.00 extra for certification |
| Payments | Purge payments only — cash only at office |
| Child Support | Mail to SC SDU, P.O. Box 100302, Columbia SC 29020-3302 |
| Website | kershaw.sc.gov — Clerk of Court |
Filing for Dissolution Of Marriage in Kershaw County
Filing for dissolution of marriage in Kershaw County starts at the Clerk of Court office in Camden. You submit a complaint for dissolution of marriage and pay the filing fee of approximately $150 at that time. The Clerk assigns your case a number and the file is created. Every document filed after that point becomes part of the public record in Kershaw County.
After filing, you must serve your spouse with the dissolution papers. The Kershaw County Sheriff can handle service, or you may use a private process server. Proof of service is filed with the Clerk. South Carolina's self-represented litigant divorce packet, available at sccourts.org, gives step-by-step guidance for people handling their own dissolution in Kershaw County without an attorney.
Property division in Kershaw County follows South Carolina's equitable distribution rule under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-620. Courts divide marital assets in a fair and equitable manner. Fair does not always mean equal. The court looks at each spouse's income, the length of the marriage, and other relevant factors before deciding how to split property in a Kershaw County dissolution case.
Dissolution Of Marriage Certificates in Kershaw County
South Carolina's Division of Public Health, known as DPH, issues divorce and dissolution certificates as an alternative to full court records. A certificate confirms the dissolution took place and lists basic details including the names, date, and county. It does not contain the full terms of any settlement or custody agreement. Many people in Kershaw County need a certificate to prove a prior dissolution when remarrying or changing their name.
You can order a dissolution certificate from dph.sc.gov. Mailed requests go to the Division of Vital Records at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. The fee is $12 per certified copy. The office holds records for divorces and dissolutions that occurred from July 1962 through December 2023. For full dissolution records including the decree and supporting documents, contact the Kershaw County Clerk of Court directly.
Legal Help for Dissolution Cases in Kershaw County
South Carolina Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income residents in Kershaw County. They assist with divorce and dissolution of marriage matters. You can learn more at sclegal.org. The South Carolina Bar lawyer referral service can also connect you with a family law attorney in Kershaw County. Call the SC Bar at (803) 799-6653 to get a referral.
The Women's Law website offers plain-language guidance on South Carolina dissolution law. Visit womenslaw.org for a clear overview of the process, grounds, and rights involved in a South Carolina dissolution. Resources from Cordell and Cordell at cordellcordell.com also address common questions about dissolution of marriage in South Carolina, including Kershaw County cases.
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30 ensures that dissolution of marriage records are accessible to the public. Any person may request to view or copy these records from the Kershaw County Clerk of Court.
Kershaw County Courthouse and Clerk Services
The Kershaw County Clerk of Court manages all court operations at the courthouse in Camden. Beyond dissolution of marriage records, the Clerk draws jurors for Civil, Criminal Court, and the Grand Jury. Jurors report to the third floor main courtroom, known as Room 300. They are paid $20 for each day they must appear. The Kershaw County Jury Hotline is 803.425.7224.
The Clerk's office provides staff support to keep court operations productive. This includes docket management, case statistics for the Court Administration office, and oversight of all fees and costs collected in Kershaw County. The Clerk's role in dissolution of marriage cases runs from the initial filing through final recordkeeping of the decree.
Cities in Kershaw County
Kershaw County's county seat is Camden. All dissolution of marriage cases for residents of Kershaw County are filed at the Family Court in Camden regardless of which part of the county you live in.
Nearby Counties
Kershaw County borders several South Carolina counties. If you are not sure which county to file your dissolution case in, check the address where you currently live. You must file in the county where you reside for the court to have proper jurisdiction over your case.