Reviewed by Carrie Warner, Attorney at Law, SC Bar No. 72836 · Last reviewed November 2, 2026
Divorces for Greenwood County residents are filed with the Greenwood County Clerk of Court in the city of Greenwood, the county seat, and heard in the Family Court for Greenwood County. Greenwood is part of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, together with Abbeville, Laurens and Newberry counties. This page explains when your case belongs here and what filing involves.
Greenwood County at a Glance
Greenwood County had 69,351 residents in the 2020 Census. Besides the city of Greenwood, it includes Ninety Six, Hodges, Troy and part of Ware Shoals. Lake Greenwood forms part of its border with Laurens and Newberry counties.
Greenwood sits at the center of a ring of smaller counties, including Abbeville, McCormick, Edgefield, Saluda, Laurens and Newberry. Spouses often end up in different counties after a separation, so the venue rules below come up often.
When Your Case Belongs in Greenwood County
Under S.C. Code § 20-3-60:
- Your spouse lives in Greenwood County. You can file here, even if you moved to Abbeville or Laurens County.
- You last lived together in Greenwood County. If you still live in South Carolina, you can file here even if your spouse moved to Saluda or McCormick County.
- Your spouse moved out of state or can’t be found. You file in the county where you live.
Say you and your spouse lived in Ninety Six, you moved to Laurens County, and your spouse moved to Abbeville County. You could file in Abbeville County, where your spouse lives, or in Greenwood County, where you last lived together. If you live outside South Carolina, you must file where your spouse lives.
Residency, Grounds and Waiting Periods
- Residency (§ 20-3-30): one year in South Carolina before filing, or three months if both spouses live here when you file. If you are the one who moved away, you can still file in South Carolina when your spouse has lived here for at least one year. See residency requirements.
- Grounds (§ 20-3-10): adultery, one-year desertion, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug use, or one year living separate and apart. Read more about the one-year separation rule and other grounds for divorce in SC.
- Waiting periods (§ 20-3-80): three months from filing before a final decree in adultery, cruelty and drunkenness cases. One-year separation and desertion cases can be heard once your spouse answers or defaults. See the waiting period guide.
Filing With the Greenwood County Clerk of Court
Greenwood County’s website lists the Clerk of Court and the Family Court office in Room 114 of the Greenwood County Courthouse, 528 Monument Street, Greenwood, SC 29646. The Family Court page lists its own weekday hours, which differ from the main Clerk’s hours, so check the page or call before you go.
- Summons and complaint stating your grounds and requests.
- Filing fee, currently $150 statewide. Confirm with the Clerk. If you can’t afford it, you can ask the court for a fee waiver.
- Service 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.
- Financial declaration from each spouse on the state form (Family Court Rule 20), by the first hearing or within 45 days of service.
For more detail, see how to file for divorce in South Carolina.
Temporary Hearings and Mediation
If you need short-term orders on custody, support or the home, either spouse can ask for a temporary hearing. Under Family Court Rule 21, these are usually decided on affidavits and financial declarations, not live testimony.
Contested issues generally go to mediation before a final hearing. 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, a judge reviews the agreement. If not, the judge decides at trial.
Find related topics in the South Carolina Divorce Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I file for divorce in Greenwood County?
The county’s website lists the Family Court office in Room 114 of the Greenwood County Courthouse, 528 Monument Street, Greenwood. Call ahead to confirm hours.
My spouse moved to Abbeville County. Where do I file?
You can file in Abbeville County, where your spouse lives. If you last lived together in Greenwood County and still live in South Carolina, Greenwood County is also an option.
Which counties are in the Eighth Judicial Circuit?
Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens and Newberry. Judges assigned to the circuit may hear cases in each of them, but your case stays in the county where it was filed.
How much is the filing fee?
The statewide family court filing fee is currently $150. Confirm the amount with the Clerk of Court and ask about a fee waiver if you cannot afford it.
We have been separated for a year. Do we still have to wait three months after filing?
No. The three-month wait in S.C. Code § 20-3-80 does not apply to one-year separation cases. The final hearing can be held once your spouse answers or is in default.
Sources
- S.C. Code Title 20, Chapter 3 (Divorce)
- Greenwood County: Clerk of Court
- Greenwood County: Family Court
- SC Judicial Branch: Clerk of Court roster
Talk to Warner Law about your situation. Warner Law’s office is in Columbia. If your case is in Greenwood County, contact us to ask whether we can help. The office is at 1405 Calhoun Street in Columbia. Call (803) 692-1072 or request a consultation.
This article is general information about South Carolina law, not legal advice for your case. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
