Filing for Divorce in Clarendon County, South Carolina

Reviewed by Carrie Warner, Attorney at Law, SC Bar No. 72836 · Last reviewed November 2, 2026

A divorce for Clarendon County residents is filed with the Clarendon County Clerk of Court in Manning, the county seat, and heard in the Family Court for Clarendon County. Clarendon is part of the Third Judicial Circuit, along with Lee, Sumter and Williamsburg counties. Below is how to tell whether your case belongs here and what filing involves.

Clarendon County at a Glance

Clarendon County had 31,144 residents in the 2020 Census. Manning is the county seat, and Summerton and Turbeville are also in the county. Lake Marion covers part of the southern side of the county.

The county’s Clerk of Court website says its Family Court division handles filings for divorce, child support and juvenile matters. The office lists hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and a mailing address of P.O. Box 136, Manning, SC 29102. Ask the clerk’s office where to deliver papers in person.

When Your Case Belongs in Clarendon County

Venue, meaning which county hears the case, is set by S.C. Code § 20-3-60. Some Clarendon County examples:

• Your spouse lives in Clarendon County. File here, even if you now live in Sumter or Orangeburg County.
• You last lived together in Clarendon County. If you still live in South Carolina, you can file here even though your spouse has moved to Williamsburg or Berkeley County.
• Your spouse moved out of South Carolina or can’t be found. You file in the county where you live. If that is Clarendon, this is the right court.

If you are the one filing and you live outside South Carolina, you must file where your spouse lives.

Military families near Shaw Air Force Base

Shaw Air Force Base is in neighboring Sumter County, in the same judicial circuit. If you or your spouse is stationed there and lives in Clarendon County, a few extra rules apply. Under § 20-3-30, active-duty service members stationed in South Carolina can count their continuous presence here as residence. Federal law also affects how military retired pay is divided. Our military divorce page covers those points.

Residency, Grounds and Waiting Periods

Under S.C. Code § 20-3-30, the filing spouse generally needs one year of South Carolina residence, or three months if both spouses live here when you file. A spouse who has moved out of state can still file in South Carolina if the other spouse has lived here for at least one year. See residency requirements.

The grounds are adultery, desertion for one year, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug use, and one year of living separate and apart (§ 20-3-10). Judges generally expect a witness or other evidence to back up the grounds and the date you separated. Read about fault and no-fault grounds.

Fault cases based on adultery, cruelty or drunkenness have a three-month wait before a final decree. One-year separation and desertion cases can move to a final hearing once your spouse answers or defaults (§ 20-3-80). See the waiting period guide.

What You File and What Happens Next

1. Summons and complaint. These start the case and say what you are asking for.
2. Filing fee. Currently $150 statewide. Confirm with the Clarendon County Clerk of Court. A fee waiver can be requested if you can’t afford it.
3. Service. Your spouse must be served under SCRCP Rule 4, by the sheriff, a non-party adult, certified mail with restricted delivery, or signed acceptance. Your spouse has 30 days to answer.
4. Financial declaration. Each spouse files one on the state form under Family Court Rule 20, by the first hearing or within 45 days of service, whichever comes first.

Our guide on how to file for divorce in South Carolina explains each step in more detail.

Temporary Orders and Mediation

If you need short-term orders about custody, support or who stays in the home, either spouse can request a temporary hearing. These hearings are usually decided on affidavits and financial declarations under Family Court Rule 21. Learn what to expect in temporary hearings in SC family court.

Contested issues generally go to mediation before a final hearing. South Carolina ADR Rule 3 requires it in most contested family cases statewide, with exceptions such as temporary relief and some domestic-violence situations. If you settle, the judge reviews the agreement at a final hearing. If not, the judge decides.

More guides are collected in the South Carolina Divorce Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

My spouse moved to Sumter County. Where do I file?

You can file in Sumter County, where your spouse lives. If you and your spouse last lived together in Clarendon County and you still live in South Carolina, you can also file in Clarendon County.

Where do I file divorce papers in Clarendon County?

With the Clarendon County Clerk of Court in Manning. Its Family Court division handles divorce filings. Call the office to confirm where to deliver papers and its current requirements.

My spouse is stationed at Shaw Air Force Base. Does that change anything?

It can. Active-duty members stationed in South Carolina can count that presence toward residency, and federal rules affect military retirement and service of papers. Ask an attorney how they apply to you.

How long does a Clarendon County divorce take?

It depends on the grounds and whether issues are contested. Adultery, physical cruelty and habitual drunkenness cases have a three-month minimum before a final decree; desertion cases do not. No-fault cases need a full year of separation, which can happen before filing.

Can I file without a lawyer?

Some people with simple one-year separation cases, no children and no property to divide use the SC Judicial Branch self-help forms. Cases with custody, alimony or assets are harder to handle alone.

Sources

• S.C. Code Title 20, Chapter 3 (Divorce)
• Clarendon County: Clerk of Court
• SC Judicial Branch: Clerk of Court roster