Orangeburg County Family Court Records
Orangeburg County family court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at the county courthouse in Orangeburg. The Family Court in Orangeburg County handles divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, domestic violence protection orders, juvenile delinquency matters, and all other domestic cases filed by county residents. Search Orangeburg County family court records online through the South Carolina Judicial Branch at sccourts.org or visit the Orangeburg County court records portal to search Circuit and Family Court case information by name.
Orangeburg County Quick Facts
Searching Orangeburg County Family Court Records
Orangeburg County family court records are accessible online through two tools. The SC Judicial Branch Public Index at sccourts.org provides statewide case search by party name or case number. The Orangeburg County court records portal provides a county-specific search covering Circuit and Family Court records, judgment rolls, lis pendens filings, and pending cases.
Both online tools show basic case information at no charge. For actual case documents or certified copies, contact the Orangeburg County Clerk of Court in person. Bring photo ID and the names of the parties or the case number. Plain copies and certified copies are available. Call the Clerk of Court before visiting to confirm current copy fees. Older records that have not been digitized may require additional processing time.
The Orangeburg County court records portal provides online access to Circuit and Family Court judgment rolls and pending case records by party name.
| Court | Orangeburg County Family Court Orangeburg, SC |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Online Search | sccourts.org | orangeburgrecords.us |
| Court Forms | SC Family Court Forms |
Orangeburg County Family Court Case Types
The Orangeburg County Family Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over domestic and juvenile matters under S.C. Code Ann. § 63-3-530. Orangeburg County is in the 1st Judicial Circuit along with Calhoun and Dorchester counties. The Family Court is the only venue in Orangeburg County that can hear cases involving marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, and juvenile matters.
Case types filed in Orangeburg County include divorce and legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support orders and modifications, alimony, paternity, adoption, termination of parental rights, domestic violence protection orders, juvenile delinquency, and name changes. Each case creates a court record maintained by the Clerk of Court.
Most Orangeburg County family court records are accessible to the public. Restricted categories include sealed juvenile records and adoption case files, which are not available through public records requests. The online search tools may have limited document image availability for older cases that have not been digitized.
Note: Child support payments in Orangeburg County go to the South Carolina State Disbursement Unit rather than the Clerk of Court office directly.
Orangeburg County Filing Fees and Legal Help
Most Orangeburg County family court cases carry a $150 filing fee. This fee applies to divorce, custody, support, adoption, paternity, and name change cases. The fee is uniform across all South Carolina counties. No fee applies to DSS abuse and neglect cases, juvenile delinquency proceedings, and domestic abuse protection order petitions.
If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the Clerk of Court about the in forma pauperis process. Submit a sworn affidavit showing financial hardship, and the court will decide whether to grant a waiver. SC Legal Services at sclegal.org provides free civil legal help to qualifying Orangeburg County residents. The SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (803) 799-7100 can refer you to a family law attorney who handles Orangeburg County cases.
For child support services, contact the SC DSS Child Support Division. Free court forms are at sccourts.org.
Nearby Counties
Orangeburg County is in the central South Carolina Lowcountry region. These neighboring counties also have Family Court divisions that handle domestic and juvenile cases.