The Family Court for Greenville County has a new location. If you are seeking information or need to conduct business with the court, please note that the Family Court has relocated to 350 Halton Road, Greenville, SC 29607. This move is important for residents of Greenville County who may be involved in family law matters, as it centralizes services and ensures accessibility.
Understanding the Family Court system in Greenville, South Carolina is crucial for anyone facing domestic legal issues. As part of the unified statewide court system, the Greenville County Family Court operates with eight resident Family Court Judges. These judges are appointed by the South Carolina legislature and are responsible for presiding over a wide range of cases within their specific jurisdiction. The Family Court at 350 Halton Road provides eight individual courtrooms to facilitate these proceedings. It’s important to recognize that Family Court is a court of limited jurisdiction, meaning it is authorized to hear only particular types of cases as defined by South Carolina law.
The primary focus of the Family Court in Greenville is domestic disputes. This encompasses a broad spectrum of sensitive legal matters that significantly impact families and individuals. Specifically, the Family Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over cases concerning:
- Divorce: The legal process of dissolving a marriage, including issues of separation, and the equitable division of marital property between spouses.
- Property Disputes: Resolving disagreements between husbands and wives regarding assets and debts accumulated during the marriage, often addressed within divorce proceedings.
- Alimony: Determining spousal support, or alimony, which may be awarded to one spouse by the other following a divorce, based on various factors.
- Child Custody: Deciding matters related to the care and control of children, including physical custody (where the child resides) and legal custody (decision-making rights).
- Child Support Orders: Establishing and enforcing financial support obligations for children, ensuring their needs are met.
- Visitation Schedules: Creating and modifying schedules that outline when each parent spends time with their children.
- Termination of Parental Rights: Legal proceedings to permanently end the legal rights of a parent.
- Adoptions: Finalizing the legal process of adoption, creating a parent-child relationship.
- Legal Name Changes: Processing legal requests for adults and minors to change their names.
- Paternity Disputes: Establishing the legal fatherhood of a child.
- Domestic Violence Incidents: Hearing cases related to domestic abuse and issuing protective orders.
In addition to domestic matters, the Family Court in Greenville also presides over most juvenile criminal cases. This involves cases where a juvenile, defined as someone under the age of seventeen in South Carolina, is accused of committing a crime. Unlike the Circuit Court, Family Court proceedings are conducted without juries; decisions are made solely by the Family Court Judge. Appeals from Family Court decisions are directed to the South Carolina Court of Appeals.
The Family Court operates as a formal court of record, governed by the South Carolina Constitution, the Code of Laws of South Carolina, and the Rules of Family Court. Navigating this legal framework can be complex. While it is your right to represent yourself, it is highly recommended to seek legal counsel. Attorneys specializing in family law possess in-depth knowledge of these laws and procedures, having undergone extensive legal education. It is crucial to understand that due to legal ethics and impartiality requirements, neither Family Court judges nor Clerk of Court staff can provide legal advice to individuals, including those representing themselves.
If you choose to proceed without an attorney, you will need to independently study the South Carolina Constitution, the Code of Laws of South Carolina, and the Rules of Family Court. These resources are publicly accessible and can be found at locations such as the Greenville County Main Library, the Greenville County Law Library, and the Greenville Technical College Library.
For any business with the Family Court in Greenville County, please visit the new location at 350 Halton Road, Greenville. The Family Court is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Seeking professional legal advice is strongly encouraged to ensure your rights are protected and you are effectively represented within the Family Court system.
