Charleston County Family Records
Family Court handles divorce, custody, child support, visitation, abuse and neglect, juvenile matters, and related domestic filings. The Charleston County Clerk of Court maintains Family Court records at 100 Broad Street, Suite 143, Charleston, SC 29401-2265, phone (843) 958-4400, fax (843) 958-4434. The Clerk homepage and county court-info page link Family Court Case Search and CourtPlus+ for public access where records are available online.
Divorce records are Family Court records in South Carolina. A certified divorce decree should be requested from the Family Court Clerk that handled the case. Marriage licenses are different and are handled by Probate Court. Juvenile records, termination of parental rights records, abuse and neglect files, and financial or child-related filings may be restricted, sealed, or redacted.
Charleston County Family Court
100 Broad Street, Suite 143
Charleston, SC 29401-2265
(843) 958-4400
Fax: (843) 958-4434
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Search Charleston Family Court
Family Court Case Search is linked from the Clerk online services page and the county court-info directory. CourtPlus+ may also route some family-court services. Because many family records have access limits, online results should be treated as a starting point rather than a full file. If a certified decree, sealed order, or complete file review is needed, contact the Family Court office.
- Start with the Clerk's online services or county court-info page.
- Select the Family Court search or CourtPlus+ route.
- Search by available name, case, or party details.
- Contact Suite 143 for certified divorce decrees or restricted-file instructions.
- Use Rule 610 or court-directed request processes when public search tools do not provide a judicial record.
Restricted Charleston Family Records
South Carolina law treats juvenile records as confidential. Section 63-19-2010 limits juvenile court record access to authorized persons or court order. Section 63-7-2600 keeps termination-of-parental-rights papers and court records confidential and sealed unless a judge opens them for good cause. Family Court cases may also contain protected addresses, financial declarations, child information, medical details, and sealed orders.
| Family record | Access concern | Likely route |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce decree | Certified copy may be available to authorized parties | Family Court Clerk |
| Custody or support file | Child and financial data may be restricted | Family Court Clerk review |
| Juvenile matter | Confidential under state law | Court order or authorized access |
| Termination of parental rights | Sealed by statute | Judge order for good cause |
Note: A case appearing in search results does not mean every document in that Family Court file is public.
Charleston Divorce Record Route
Divorce is a Family Court case type in South Carolina. Charleston County divorce files can include pleadings, affidavits, financial declarations, custody terms, support terms, temporary orders, final decrees, and later modification or enforcement orders. The public may be able to confirm limited case information through online tools, but the useful legal document is often the final decree or a later order certified by the Clerk.
Marriage licenses are not part of the divorce case file. They are handled by Charleston County Probate Court, including online marriage applications, marriage license search, and certified marriage-license copies. A person who needs proof that a marriage occurred should use Probate Court. A person who needs proof that the marriage ended should use Family Court.
| Record needed | Charleston County office | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license or certified marriage copy | Probate Court Marriage License Division | Probate issues and records South Carolina marriage licenses. |
| Divorce decree | Family Court Clerk | Divorce is a Family Court case and decree. |
| Child support order | Family Court Clerk | Support orders are domestic case records. |
| Custody or visitation order | Family Court Clerk | Access may depend on party status and redactions. |
Request Charleston Family Copies
For certified Family Court records, start with the Charleston County Clerk of Court Family Court office in Suite 143. Bring or provide the party names, case number if known, approximate filing or decree date, and the specific document needed. If online search results are incomplete, the Clerk counter can explain whether the record is public, restricted, sealed, or available only to parties or by court order.
- Search online through the Clerk's family-record channels when a case number is not known.
- Write down the case number, party names, and document title shown in the docket or result.
- Contact the Family Court office for certified-copy instructions and current fee information.
- Expect redaction or denial for juvenile, child, financial, sealed, or confidential material.
- Use a court order or authorized-party process when the Clerk says ordinary public access is not available.