Family Court

Family Court is the sole forum for the hearing of all cases concerning annulment of marriage, divorce, legal separation, child custody, visitation rights, termination of parental rights, adoption, child support, alimony, division of marital property, and change of name. The court also generally has exclusive jurisdiction over minors under the age of seventeen alleged to have violated any state law or municipal ordinance.

Contact Family Court
Phone: (864)898-5363
Fax: (864)898-5863
Mailing Address: Attn Family Court, P.O. Box 215, Pickens, SC 29671

If you have questions about a Family Court hearing, please contact the Docket Clerk at (864)898-5652.
If you have questions about Child or Spousal Support enforcement, please contact the Support Enforcement Clerk at (864)898-5918.

Please click the links below to learn more:
Attorney Information
Case Search
Child Support and Alimony Payments
Name Change
Request Copies of Public Record Documents
Self-Represented Child Support Modification Packet
Self-Represented Divorce Packet
Self-Represented Visitation Packet
Transcripts
Waiver of Filing Fees

Child and Spousal Support Participants

The State Disbursement Unit (SDU) is South Carolina’s new statewide, automated support system for all child and spousal support payments. Effective 8/5/2019, the SDU is now accepting support payments instead of your local Clerk of Court office. Payments can now be made online or mailed to the SDU. For more information about the SDU and payment options, please visit their website or call the SDU at 1-800-768-5858

Support Payments by personal check or money order can be mailed to:
South Carolina State Disbursement Unit
PO Box 100302
Columbia, SC 29202-3302

*All payments must include the payer’s Full Name and Member ID number to be credited appropriately. If you do not have a Member ID number, contact SDU at 1-800-768-5858.

The SCDSS Child Support Customer Service Portal provides secure access for child support payees and recipients to get important information about their case – any day, any time.

Custodial and Non-Custodial Parents can use the Portal to view payment information, hearing dates, enforcement measures in place, update contact information, and receive occasional announcements affecting their case(s).

Click here to access the SCDSS Child Support Customer Portal

Court Forms Available Online

Certain Family Court actions may be filed without the help of an attorney. If you are filing an action on your own, you are considered a Pro Se Litigant (self-represented). Below are the court forms currently available for pro se litigants. For other, often more complex and difficult actions, Family Court strongly encourages you to consult a licensed attorney or legal representative regarding your case.

Uncontested Divorce

You may visit SC Judicial Branch – Divorce Packet for access to the most recent version of court-approved forms. You should ONLY file this packet if the following are true:

You and your spouse have already been separated for one year.
All issues regarding property, debts, custody of any minor children, and child/spousal support have been resolved.
You know your spouse’s complete mailing address to have him/her served with pleadings.

Child Visitation

If you are the Non-Custodial Parent and do not currently have a visitation order, you may petition the Family Court for Court-Ordered Visitation with your child. You may visit SC Judicial Branch – Visitation Packet for access to the most recent version of court-approved forms.

Please note: These forms are NOT intended for grandparent or third-party visitation. It is recommended that you speak with an attorney regarding this type of action.

Child Support Modification (Increase or Decrease)

If your child support case is already administered by South Carolina DSS Child Support Enforcement Division, you may contact the SCDSS-CSED Greenville Regional Office at (864) 282-4650 for more information. SCDSS-CSED may be able to help you set up a review and/or start a new modification action for your existing case at no additional cost.

If your case was filed as a private action (usually through a custody or divorce action), you may visit SC Judicial Branch – Child Support Modification Packet for access to the most recent version of court-approved forms.

Adult Name Change

If you are over the age of 18, you may petition the court to change the name listed on your birth certificate. You may click the link below to download a packet to help you through this process.

Pro Se Adult Name Change Packet

Please note: If you have ever been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation, required to register as a sex offender, or have filed or are planning to file for bankruptcy, it is strongly recommended that you consult an attorney before filing for a name change. These circumstances may require you to take additional steps to avoid prosecution.

If You Need an Attorney

Family Court is not allowed to refer you to any specific attorney regarding your case. If you do not know an attorney who can assist you, you may call the South Carolina Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-868-2284 and ask for a Family Law attorney in your county. You may also visit their website at https://lrs.scbar.org/. Members of the South Carolina Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service have been in practice for more than 3 years, are in good standing, have provided proof of malpractice insurance, and have agreed to provide a 30 minute consultation for no more than $50.00.

South Carolina Legal Services is available to assist low-income applicants with certain Family Court matters. Please note that to qualify for SCLS, your income must not be more than 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. If you believe you qualify for their services, you may contact the Legal Aid Telephone Intake Service at 1-888-346-5592 or visit their website at https://www.lawhelp.org/sc/online-intake