Divorce records in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, are available through several channels. OrangeburgCourt.us allows you to quickly find public divorce information related to this county. Additionally, records can be obtained directly from the Family Court that issued the decision, at the Orangeburg County Clerk of Court's office, and through the South Carolina Department of Public Health, Vital Records. Each of these sources maintains different types of documents — from complete court cases to certified divorce reports.
Orangeburg Divorce Records Search
In Orangeburg County, divorce cases are handled by the Family Court, which is part of the state's general jurisdiction court system. The Clerk of Court's office retains the original court decisions (divorce decrees), property settlement agreements, child custody orders, and all related procedural documents. Simultaneously, the SC Department of Public Health maintains a separate registry — Report of Divorce, — which is a concise statistical document rather than a full copy of the court decision.
To search for court cases online, you can use the South Carolina court system's public index. This portal allows you to find a case by party name or case number. Note: the portal displays index information, not the full text of the decision.
Orangeburg County Clerk of Court
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Orangeburg
The structure for storing divorce records in South Carolina is distributed between the court and the state. Below is whom to contact depending on what you need.
Family Court — complete court case
All divorce petitions in Orangeburg County are filed with the Family Court. After a judge issues a decision, the original decree is stored at the Clerk of Court's office. Here you can obtain:
- A complete copy of the divorce decree
- A property settlement agreement
- Custody and alimony orders
- Procedural documents from the case
According to the Secretary of State's information, certified copies of the divorce decree are issued by the Clerk of Court or the Vital Records department.
SC Department of Public Health — divorce report
The state maintains a statistical document — Report of Divorce. It confirms the fact of divorce but does not contain details about property or custody. Such a report is often required for name changes, benefits processing, or remarriage. Requests can be submitted by mail or online.
If the divorce occurred after 1962, the report is usually available in the state's database. For older records from Orangeburg County, you may need to contact the state archives.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Orangeburg
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of Report of Divorce (SC DPH, by mail) | $12.00 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Certified copy of Report of Divorce (SC DPH, online via VitalChek) | $12.00 + service fee | 5 to 7 business days (expedited processing) |
| Search in the Vital Records database (if the record is not found) | $12.00 (non-refundable) | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Copy of court document (Clerk of Court, Orangeburg) | Depends on the number of pages; inquire at the office | Usually on the day of request or within a few business days |
| Certified copy of divorce decree (Clerk of Court) | Inquire by phone (803) 533-6250 | Usually 1–5 business days |