South Carolina calls the end of a marriage a divorce, and the case is filed in Family Court. Charleston County filings go to the Family Court at 100 Broad Street, where the Clerk of Court keeps the case file. The final decree ends the marriage and settles property, support and children. Copies of that decree come from the clerk, and some papers in the file stay closed to the public.
This page explains how to find a divorce case, what the final decree contains, and who can receive a certified copy. It covers the one-year separation rule, sealed papers about children, and the steps to take when a name or a case number does not match. South Carolina office names are given for each step, along with the state rule that sets the waiting period and the filing fee.
Divorce Record Search
Begin with the case number or both spouse names, then confirm the filing year and the court.
- Official county online services portal: https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/online-services.php
- What this page covers: case files, final decrees, custody terms and copy requests.
- Key identifiers: both spouse names, the case number and the filing year.
- Court: Charleston County Family Court, 100 Broad Street, Suite 143.
- Record custodian: Clerk of Court for Charleston County Family Court.
- Sealed papers: financial declarations and records that name a child.
Filings, Decrees & Custody Terms
A divorce starts with a complaint and ends with a final decree, and the papers in between record what each spouse asked for and what the judge ordered. The decree covers the ground: the marriage is dissolved, property is divided, support is set, and children are placed. The sections below describe the decree, the money terms and the custody orders, plus the motions that change them later.
A Family Court case number carries a year, a case type and a sequence, and the clerk files the case under the name of the person who started it. A divorce filed by a wife sits under her name even after a name change. Search both spouses, then search the year. The index shows the parties, the filing date and the last action. Ask the clerk when the index looks wrong.
| Office detail | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Location | Charleston County Family Court, 100 Broad Street, Suite 143, Charleston, SC 29401-2265 |
| Contact Number | (843) 958-4400 |
| Office Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (excluding county holidays) |
| Official Website Search Portal | https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/online-services.php |
The Family Court sits inside the Charleston County Judicial Center, and the clerk’s counter handles file reviews and copy orders. Bring the case number if you have it, since a name search across many years takes longer. Staff will not read a whole file over the phone. Plan a visit for a file review, and send a written request when you cannot travel to Broad Street.
| Case paper | What it records |
|---|---|
| Complaint | Grounds, and requests for support, custody and property |
| Answer | The other spouse’s response and counterclaims |
| Financial declaration | Income, expenses, debts and assets, often sealed |
| Temporary order | Support and custody during the case |
| Final decree | End of the marriage and the permanent terms |
| Post-judgment motion | A later request to change a term |
A financial declaration is a sworn statement of income, expenses, debts and property, and South Carolina family courts require one from each side in most cases. The form can be sealed on request, and it often holds the details people want first. Ask the clerk whether the declaration sits in the public file or under seal. The final decree is the paper a lender or a new spouse usually needs.
Certified Divorce Decrees & Judgment Dates
The final decree is the judgment that ends the marriage. It names the parties, the case number, the grounds and the date the judge signed it. That signature date is the judgment date, and it can differ from the date the clerk filed the paper. A divorce is not final until the judge signs, and an appeal can pause the terms. Read the last page for the signature and the filing stamp.
Property Division & Spousal Support Logs
South Carolina divides marital property under a rule of equitable distribution, which looks at the length of the marriage, each spouse’s contribution and the needs of each. The decree lists each asset, its value and its share. Alimony can run for a set term or for life, and the order names the amount, the due date and the end. Keep the payment record, since a later motion may ask for a change.
Child Custody & Post-Divorce Modifications
Custody has two parts: legal custody, which covers decisions about school and health, and physical custody, which covers where a child sleeps. The order sets a schedule, a holiday plan and a rule for travel. A parent who wants a change files a motion and shows a substantial change in circumstances. The court can modify custody, support or visitation, and it can hold a parent in contempt for ignoring a term.
Public Availability & Official Copies
A divorce file is a public court record in South Carolina, with limits. Anyone may read the docket and most of the papers at the clerk’s office. Financial declarations and records that name a child can be sealed or kept out of remote view. The sections below cover the clerk’s index, the papers that stay closed, and the ID and fee rules for a certified copy.
| Request step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Give the case number | Staff pull the file from the index |
| State the document | The decree, an order or a docket page |
| Choose plain or certified | Certification adds a seal and a signature |
| Show photo identification | Confirms the requester at the window |
| Pay the quoted fee | The clerk sets the sum for the order |
Fees follow a county schedule, and the clerk can quote the sum for one page or for a full set. A mailed order adds time, and a request sent without the case number often waits during a staff search. Keep the receipt with the copy. A certified decree that will be recorded in another county or sent abroad may need an apostille, which comes from the South Carolina Secretary of State.
District Clerk Files & Search Logs
Some states call this office the district clerk. In Charleston County the office is the Clerk of Court for the Family Court, at the counter on Broad Street. Ask for the family division when you call the main line. The clerk keeps a case index, a docket and the paper file. Ask for a search log when staff run a manual check, since it shows the name and the years that were tried.
Confidential Child Data & Sealed Records
Papers about a child carry tighter limits than the rest of the file. A parenting plan, a guardian ad litem report and a home study can stay out of public view, and a judge can seal a document on a motion. The docket still shows that a paper was filed, often with a short title. Ask the clerk what can be released and what needs a court order, then put the request in writing.
Certified Copies, ID Rules & Processing Fees
A certified copy carries a clerk’s statement that the page matches the file, plus a seal and a signature. Bring photo identification to the counter, or send a signed request with a copy of your ID and a mailing address. The clerk quotes the fee before the copy is made. A decree copied from a remote terminal is not certified. Ask for the certified version when a bank, an insurer or a spouse needs it.
Record Accuracy & Resolution
A name search fails for plain reasons: a maiden name, a hyphen, a suffix, or a case filed under a nickname. A case number with one wrong digit points to a different file. A decree signed last week may sit in a queue before the scan loads. The sections below cover name matching, recent filing delays and the steps to take when the index returns nothing.
Matching Spouse Names & Case Numbers
Search the petitioner first, then the respondent. A wife may have filed under a maiden name and answered under a married one. Try the full name, the surname with a first initial, and the name without a middle name. Compare the filing year, the grounds and the children’s ages before you accept a match. The case number is the tiebreaker, and the clerk can confirm one over the phone.
System Delays for Recent Filings
A new case can take several business days to appear in the public index. The docket may show the case before the scanned decree loads, and a paper filed at the counter may lag longer than one filed online. Keep the filing date, the case number and the name of the attorney. Call the clerk after a week when the case still does not appear. A stamped copy proves the filing date.
Unlisted Divorce Record Resolution
A missing divorce may sit in another county, under another name, or in a file that the index never captured. Check the county where the couple lived at the end of the marriage, then check the county where the filing spouse worked. Ask the clerk to search by the case number when you have one, and by both names when you do not. Request a written reply for your file.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions come from the clerk’s counter and from callers who need a decree for a loan, a passport or a new marriage. Each answer follows South Carolina family court practice and the office named on this page. A clerk can confirm a case number, a fee or the title of a paper. A lawyer can explain how a rule applies to one file in detail.
Are dissolution of marriage files open to the public in Charleston County ?
Yes. A Family Court file is a public record in South Carolina, and any person may ask to read the docket and most of the papers at the clerk’s office. A judge can seal a document, and financial declarations and papers about a child often stay out of remote view. Bring photo identification to the counter, and expect staff to review the file with you nearby. A sealed paper still shows as a docket line.
What is required to obtain a certified divorce decree copy?
Give the clerk the case number, the names of both spouses and the filing year. State that you need the final decree and that the copy must be certified. Bring photo identification to the window, or mail a signed request with a copy of your ID and a return address. Settle the quoted fee at the moment you place the order. A mailed copy takes longer than one made at the counter.
Are financial details and child custody orders viewable online?
Remote viewing is limited. The public index usually shows the docket, the parties and the filing dates, not the full text of every paper. A financial declaration can be sealed, and a parenting plan or a guardian report often stays out of the online view. Read the file in person at the clerk’s office to see what the judge released, and ask about a court order for the rest.
Who confirms missing or unlisted divorce filings?
The Clerk of Court for Charleston County Family Court confirms whether a case exists in this county. Give both names, the filing year and any case number you have. Staff can search the index by name and by number. If the case sits in another county, that county’s clerk answers for it. Ask for a written reply that names the search terms, and keep it with your records.