Who Keeps Spartanburg County Marriage and Divorce Records
The split is simple once you know it. Marriage records live with Probate Court. Divorce records live with the Clerk of Court because divorce is a Family Court matter. People often call the Clerk first for a marriage copy and get sent to Probate. So start at the right desk.
Spartanburg County Probate Court issues the marriage license and later sells certified copies of it. The office sits at 180 Magnolia St, 4th Floor, Suite 4113, Spartanburg, SC 29306. The phone is 864-596-2556. Divorce, custody, and support all run through Family Court. The Clerk of Court serves that court and keeps the decrees. For the broader court map, see the Spartanburg County court records overview.
Note: A divorce decree is a Family Court record, so request certified divorce copies from the Clerk, not from Probate Court.
Spartanburg County Marriage License and Records
Probate Court handles marriage applications in person. You apply at the 4th-floor office downtown. The court still performs wedding ceremonies, but by appointment only. To set one up, call Probate Court. Ceremony slots fall in set time windows during the day.
The marriage application asks both applicants for the basic facts. The exact form fields are not posted online in full, but the table shows what the process collects and how each part works. Bring valid identification and your payment when you apply.
| Field / Step | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant 1 name, contact, ID | In-person form | Likely required; bring valid identification. |
| Applicant 2 name, contact, ID | In-person form | Likely required; both parties apply together. |
| Ceremony appointment | Phone booking | Optional; call 864-596-2556 to schedule. |
| Certified copy request | Paper or mail form | Needed for a copy; $5 per certified copy. |
Wedding ceremony windows are 8:30 to 9:00 a.m., 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., or 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Plan to arrive early. The courthouse has security screening, and parking takes time.
How to Apply for a Spartanburg County Marriage License
The application is done at Probate Court. The county did not post a full list of ID rules and waiting periods online, so a quick call confirms the current details. These steps cover the normal path from license to certified copy.
- Call Probate Court at 864-596-2556 to confirm current appointment and ceremony details.
- Appear in person at the 4th-floor Probate office to file the marriage application.
- Bring required identification and your payment for the license.
- Follow South Carolina rules for the license and the officiant.
- After the marriage is recorded, request certified copies by mail with a $5 certified check or money order.
Once a couple marries, the record is kept by Probate Court. That is where any future certified copy comes from. Keep the original license safe, but know a certified copy is easy to order later.
Certified Marriage Copies and Fees
A certified copy carries the court seal. You need a certified copy for legal use, such as a name change or a benefit claim. A plain printout will not work for those. Probate Court sells certified marriage copies by mail.
Mail the request to Probate Court, 180 Magnolia St., Spartanburg, SC 29306. The fee is $5.00 per copy. Payment by mail must be a certified check or money order made out to Spartanburg County Probate Court. The court does not take cash through the mail. The fee table below shows the published charges for these records.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of marriage license | $5.00 per copy |
| Marriage application | Filed in person at Probate Court |
| Wedding ceremony | By appointment; call 864-596-2556 |
| Mail payment method | Certified check or money order only |
Most other court copy and search fees are not published online. For divorce decree copies, the Clerk sets the charge, so ask the records contact first. Find more on the Clerk of Court page.
The 2023 Probate Records Note
Probate Court had a major data event. On April 27, 2023, a ransomware attack corrupted its computer database. The court says physical files were kept safe, but the data loss changed normal operations. This affects marriage records too, since they sit with Probate.
What this means in practice is more reliance on appointments and direct contact. Online or database lookups may not match what the office holds on paper. If a marriage copy request seems slow, the database event is part of the reason. Call ahead and confirm before you rely on any quick search result.
Spartanburg County Divorce Records and Family Court
Divorce is a Family Court matter. The Clerk of Court serves Family Court and keeps the files. So a Spartanburg County divorce records search runs through the Clerk, not Probate. Some docket and case details appear on the public index, but Family Court records are limited and many parts stay sealed.
Family Court filings that need no fee may be emailed to Bathsheba Browning. Filings that require a fee may be mailed to Spartanburg County Clerk of Court, Family Court Division, PO Box 3483, Spartanburg, SC 29304-3483. Hearing questions go to Shanan Fleming. For a final divorce decree, request a certified copy from the Clerk records contact. The county forms page lists a Pro Se Divorce Packet, a Pro Se Visitation Packet, a Family Court Judgment form, a Family Court Address Change Form, and domestic-abuse forms.
Note: Family Court divorce records are more restricted than civil court records, so expect limited online detail and request certified copies through the Clerk.
How to File for Divorce in Spartanburg County
You can hire a lawyer or file on your own. People who file without a lawyer use a pro se packet. The state offers free help for a simple divorce if you qualify. These steps walk through the usual path.
- Decide whether to use a lawyer or a self-represented packet.
- Use the SC Judicial Branch self-help page or the South Carolina Legal Services simple-divorce packet if you qualify.
- File with Spartanburg Family Court through the Clerk; fee-required filings go by mail unless e-filing applies.
- Serve your spouse, file proof of service, and attend any hearing or mediation the court orders.
- Keep your address current with the Family Court Address Change Form.
- Request certified copies of the final divorce decree from the Clerk records contact.
The state self-help page also has a simple divorce packet, a child-support modification packet, and a visitation packet. Court staff can hand you forms and explain how a case works, but they cannot give legal advice.
Legal Help for Divorce in Spartanburg County
Divorce can get complex when custody, support, or property is in play. Free and low-cost help exists. South Carolina Legal Services offers income-based civil help and lists a Spartanburg office. The SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service points you to prescreened private attorneys for a small fee.
One common mix-up is worth clearing up. The Public Defender does not take divorce cases. Public defenders are criminal-defense lawyers for people who cannot afford counsel where jail is possible. They do not handle civil divorce, child support, or landlord-tenant matters. The county FAQ states this plainly, as shown in the Spartanburg County Public Defender FAQ.
The FAQ confirms that divorce, child support, and landlord-tenant issues are civil matters outside the Public Defender's role. For those, use South Carolina Legal Services or a private family lawyer instead. The Spartanburg County public records page covers other county record requests.
Confidential Family Records
Some family records are closed by law. Adoption records are sealed. Juvenile court records are confidential and reach only a judge, the child's attorney, and a few authorized people. Family Court files often hold child-sensitive material, such as abuse and neglect, custody detail, and child-support financial identifiers, which may be restricted or redacted.
Personal identifiers should never appear in a public filing. That means Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and bank account numbers stay out. Domestic-abuse records also get protective handling. The county forms list includes domestic-abuse forms and a name-change packet for those who need them. To view a sealed family record, a person usually needs a court order.
Note: Adoption and juvenile records are confidential by statute, so the public index will not show their contents and access requires authorization or a court order.
Name Changes and Domestic Forms
A name change after divorce or marriage is its own process. The county posts a name-change packet with the component forms. Domestic-abuse protection has its own packet too, both at the county and through the state self-help site.
The state order-of-protection packet covers people who need a court order against an abuser. County domestic-abuse forms include several SCCA forms used in those cases. If you need help filling these out, court staff can explain the process and check papers for completeness, but cannot tell you what to write. For income-based help, contact South Carolina Legal Services.