Greer Divorce Records

Greer divorce records are primarily filed at the Greenville County Family Court. Greer is a city of approximately 35,000 residents located in the Upstate region, and it is unusual in that it straddles the border between Greenville and Spartanburg counties. Most of the city and most Greer residents live within Greenville County, so most Greer divorce cases are filed at the Greenville County Family Court on East North Street in Greenville. Residents who live in the Spartanburg County portion of Greer file at the Spartanburg County Family Court instead. Your county is listed on your voter registration card, driver's license, and property tax records. If you are unsure which county applies to you, confirming this before filing will save time.

Where to File for Divorce in Greer

Most Greer residents file for divorce at the Greenville County Family Court at 305 East North Street in Greenville. The Greenville County Courthouse is approximately 15 miles from Greer. There is no family court located within Greer itself. Residents in the Spartanburg County portion of Greer file at the Spartanburg County Family Court in downtown Spartanburg. The courthouse listed below is for Greenville County, which covers the majority of Greer. Check your county of residence before filing to ensure you go to the right court.

The Greenville County Courthouse is in the northern part of downtown Greenville near the intersection of East North Street and North Academy Street. Paid and metered parking is available nearby. Bring a valid photo ID and expect standard security screening at the entrance when visiting to file or search divorce records for a Greer case in Greenville County.

How to Search Greer Divorce Records

Because Greer straddles two counties, searching for divorce records for a Greer resident may require checking both the Greenville County and Spartanburg County indexes. In most cases the record will be in Greenville County, but if you are unsure which county the person lived in, it is worth checking both. The South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index covers all South Carolina counties and makes it easy to check multiple counties from the same website.

The SC Judicial Branch Public Index at sccourts.org allows free searches by party name or case number for all South Carolina counties. You can run the same name search in both Greenville and Spartanburg counties to cast a wider net when searching for Greer divorce records. The index shows party names, filing dates, and case status at no charge. Copies of the actual documents require contacting the appropriate Clerk of Court.

When searching for a Greer divorce record, it helps to have:

• The full name of at least one spouse
• The approximate year the divorce was filed
• The county the party lived in at the time, if known
• A case number, if available

In-person searches can be done at the Greenville County Clerk of Court for most Greer cases. Staff can look up records by name or case number and produce copies on request. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call (864) 467-5756 before visiting to confirm current fees and what identification to bring when searching Greer divorce records at the Greenville County Courthouse.

Divorce Filing Process in Greer

Greer residents file for divorce under South Carolina state law. The procedure is the same across all counties, but the key question for Greer residents is which county court to use. Most Greer residents file at the Greenville County Family Court. A smaller number who live in the Spartanburg County portion of the city file in Spartanburg. Confirming your county of residence before filing is an important first step. Every document submitted becomes part of the public case record once the case is opened.

At least one spouse must satisfy the residency requirement under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-30 before a case can be filed. One spouse must have been a South Carolina resident for at least one year. If both spouses currently reside in South Carolina, only three months of residency is needed. Greer residents who meet this requirement can file at the applicable county family court.

Filing starts with submitting a complaint for divorce to the Clerk of Court. The standard fee is approximately $150. After filing, the other spouse must be served with the papers. Greer residents can use the county sheriff's office, a licensed private process server, or another legally permitted method under South Carolina rules. A proof of service document is then filed with the court to allow the case to move forward.

Under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-10, the one no-fault ground for divorce is one year of continuous separation. Recognized fault grounds are adultery, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug addiction, and one year of desertion. Greer residents must establish at least one of these grounds before the court can finalize the divorce.

When all issues are resolved, the judge enters a final divorce decree that becomes a public record under the SC Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10).

Note: Marital property is divided through equitable distribution under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-620. Alimony, child custody, and child support are all part of the same family court case. Greer residents do not need to file separate actions for these issues in either Greenville or Spartanburg County.

Greer Divorce Fees

Divorce fees for Greer residents are set by the South Carolina Unified Court System and collected at the applicable county courthouse. For most Greer residents that means the Greenville County Family Court. The standard filing fee for a divorce complaint is approximately $150. Call the Clerk of Court at (864) 467-5756 before filing to confirm the current fee amounts for your Greer divorce case.

Fees typically involved in a Greer divorce case include:

• File a complaint for divorce: ~$150.00
• Response filing fee: varies
• Motion filing fee: varies
• Certified copy of decree: varies

Greer residents who cannot afford court fees may file an in forma pauperis petition asking the court to waive the fees. You must provide documentation of your financial situation, such as proof of public benefits or income below the court's threshold. A judge reviews and decides on the petition. Copy fees for existing divorce records are separate from filing fees. Contact the Clerk of Court to get current rates for plain and certified copies of Greer divorce records.

Legal Help for Divorce in Greer

Greer residents have access to legal aid services and attorney referral programs covering Greenville County and Spartanburg County. Given Greer's location on the county line, it is worth confirming which county court will handle your case before seeking legal help, so that your attorney is familiar with the right courthouse and judges. Several organizations can help Greer residents with divorce regardless of which county they live in.

South Carolina Legal Services and Piedmont Legal Aid serve Greenville County and can provide free legal assistance to qualifying low-income Greer residents. Visit sclegal.org to find the appropriate office and check whether you meet the income eligibility guidelines for free help with your divorce.

The South Carolina Bar's lawyer referral line at (803) 799-6653 can connect Greer residents with a licensed family law attorney who handles cases in Greenville County or Spartanburg County, depending on where you live. For self-represented litigants, the South Carolina Judicial Branch at sccourts.org has court forms, guides, and step-by-step instructions for filing a divorce case in any South Carolina family court, including both counties that cover Greer.

Greer Community Resources

Greer and the surrounding Upstate communities offer a range of support services that can help residents handle the non-legal challenges that come with a divorce. These programs address child care, housing assistance, emotional support, and domestic safety. Greer residents can draw on both Greenville County and Spartanburg County resources depending on which side of the county line they live on.

Greer community resources include:

• Child care assistance through SC DSS
• Child protective services through South Carolina Department of Social Services
• Child support enforcement through the SC DSS Child Support Services Division
• Domestic violence shelter, legal advocacy, and safety planning
• Emergency and transitional housing assistance
• Mental health counseling and crisis support services
• Substance abuse treatment referrals and support programs

Both the Greenville County and Spartanburg County Departments of Social Services serve Greer residents depending on their county. For domestic violence emergencies at any time of day or night, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. The Greenville and Spartanburg areas both have shelter and advocacy organizations serving Greer and surrounding communities. For child support questions, contact the SC DSS Child Support Services Division directly.

Filing Without a Lawyer in Greer

Greer residents can handle their own divorce by filing pro se at the appropriate county family court. For most Greer residents that is the Greenville County Family Court in Greenville. Self-representation works best for uncontested cases where both spouses agree on all terms and there are no significant disputes over property or children. The courthouse clerk can show you which forms to use and explain the filing procedure but cannot give legal advice.

All forms needed for a divorce case in either Greenville or Spartanburg County are available free of charge at the South Carolina Judicial Branch website at sccourts.org. Complaint forms, financial disclosures, parenting plans, and all other required documents can be downloaded and printed at home. Preparing a complete package before your courthouse visit helps avoid delays.

If your Greer case involves minor children, you will need a proposed parenting plan and a child support worksheet in addition to the standard divorce forms. The Clerk of Court at the Greenville County Courthouse can review your package before you pay the filing fee to make sure everything is in order. Taking this extra step can prevent your filing from being rejected for missing documents.

Divorce Certificates in Greer

After a divorce is finalized in the county where a Greer resident filed, they may need official documentation of the dissolution. The divorce decree from the county family court and the divorce certificate from the state vital records office are the two options. The decree is the complete court order with all terms. The certificate is a shorter state document confirming the basic facts of the dissolution.

SC DHEC, Division of Vital Records issues divorce certificates in South Carolina. To request one, mail a written request and $12 per certified copy to: Division of Vital Records, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

For the full divorce decree, contact the Clerk of Court at whichever county courthouse handled the case. For most Greer residents that is the Greenville County Courthouse. The decree is required for most legal purposes such as name changes, remarriage, and handling property addressed in the divorce. The certificate alone is not sufficient for most official purposes. Greer residents who need to prove their divorce for a legal or financial matter should request the full decree from the correct Clerk of Court.

Note: SC DHEC divorce certificates are available for divorces recorded in South Carolina from 1962 to the present.

Greenville County Divorce Records

Most of Greer is located within Greenville County, and the majority of Greer divorce cases are filed at the Greenville County Family Court. The county court handles all family law matters filed within the county. For a full overview of the county court system, the fee schedule, related public records, and additional resources, visit the Greenville County divorce records page.

View Greenville County Divorce Records

Nearby South Carolina Cities

Residents of nearby cities file for divorce at their own county courthouse. Pick a city below to learn about divorce records in that area.

View Major South Carolina Cities