Divorce records in Horry County, South Carolina, can be accessed through several channels. HorryCourt.us can help you find publicly available divorce record information for Horry County. You can also obtain records directly from the Family Court Clerk's office that issued the decree, the Horry County Clerk of Court, or the South Carolina Department of Public Health's Vital Records office. The right source depends on whether you need the full court file or a certified divorce report.
Horry County Divorce Records Search
In South Carolina, divorce cases are heard in Family Court. The Horry County Clerk of Court maintains Family Court case files, including divorce decrees, settlement agreements, custody orders, and related filings. The Clerk's office handles records for the 15th Judicial Circuit. At the state level, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) keeps a separate Report of Divorce — a summary document, not the full decree — for divorces granted statewide since 1962.
The divorce records collection at the county level typically includes:
- Divorce decrees and final orders
- Complaints for divorce
- Marital settlement agreements
- Custody and support orders
- Motions and other court filings
You can search for Family Court case information online through the South Carolina Judicial Department Public Index. This portal provides basic case data such as party names, case numbers, and filing dates, though it does not display the full text of orders or decrees.
Horry County Clerk of Court
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Horry County
Divorce cases in Horry County are filed in and decided by the Family Court division of the 15th Judicial Circuit. Once a judge signs the final divorce decree, the order is filed with the Horry County Clerk of Court, who maintains the complete case file. The Clerk's office is the place to go if you need a copy of the actual decree, the settlement agreement, or any other document from the court record.
Separately, the court reports each finalized divorce to the South Carolina Department of Public Health. DPH issues a document called a Report of Divorce, which confirms that a divorce was granted and includes basic details such as the names of the parties, the date of the decree, and the county where it was filed. This is not a copy of the decree itself — it is a vital statistics summary.
Which office you contact depends on what you need:
| What You Need | Where to Go |
|---|---|
| Full divorce decree or court file documents | Horry County Clerk of Court (Family Court) |
| Certified Report of Divorce (vital record) | SC Department of Public Health – Vital Records |
| Basic case information (party names, case number, dates) | SC Judicial Department Public Index |
Horry County Clerk of Court – Family Court
South Carolina Department of Public Health – Vital Records
Horry County also provides a downloadable divorce packet with forms for filing a new divorce action. Additional Family Court forms are available on the county website. These are filing forms, not record request forms, but they can help you understand how cases are structured in the system.
Family Court records are generally accessible to the public under South Carolina's public records laws, though certain portions of a divorce file — such as financial declarations, sealed records, or documents involving minor children — may be restricted. Ask the Clerk's office about any access limitations before making a trip.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Horry County
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of Report of Divorce (SC DPH – Vital Records) | $12.00 | Approximately 4–6 weeks by mail |
| Each additional copy of the same Report of Divorce (same order) | $3.00 | Same as above |
| Court record copies (Horry County Clerk of Court) | $0.25 per page (standard); certification fee may apply | Varies; in-person requests often same day |