--- title: "Melissa M. Frazier | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melissa-m-frazier-family-court-judge-south-carolina-family-court-circuit-15-sc" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Melissa M. Frazier South Carolina Family Court, Circuit 15 · Family Court Judge ## Profile - Court: South Carolina Family Court, Circuit 15 - State: South Carolina - Role: Family Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Public docket records show Judge Frazier presiding over various family law matters in Horry County, including divorce, child custody/visitation, and support cases, as of mid‐2025 - Legal Work: Legal assistant, then associate at the Law Office of Walter J. Wylie; partner in a family law firm; opened Frazier Law Firm in 2010 - Melissa M. Frazier became a certified family court mediator in 1999 and was frequently appointed as a Guardian ad Litem in custody/visitation disputes. - Prior to enrolling in law school, Judge Frazier moved to Horry County, South Carolina and worked as a legal assistant. ### Education - Melissa M. Frazier attended college at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. ### Additional information - Elected in 2022 to fill the unexpired term of the Honorable Ronald R. Norton. - In 2010, she opened her own law firm, where she continued to focus on family law, family court mediation and guardian ad litem cases. - focusing on divorce, custody, support, adoption, and guardian ad litem cases - Judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit Family Court in South Carolina, serving in Horry and Georgetown counties - Melissa M. Frazier subsequently attended law school at the University of South Carolina, where she participated in an internship with a Family Court judge and worked as a law clerk with the South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee. - Birth place: Judge Melissa Frazier was born in Florida and lived in various places throughout her childhood, including Kentucky, North Carolina and Israel, while her stepfather served as an Army officer. - Judge Frazier has two children, one attending Clemson University and the other attending the University of South Carolina. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### recording broadcasting photography Scope: statewide South Carolina Rule 605 generally prohibits courtroom broadcasting, televising, recording, and photography unless an exception or presiding-judge authorization applies. Evidence excerpt: the broadcasting, televising, recording, or taking photographs in the courtroom and areas immediately adjacent thereto during sessions of court or recesses between sessions is prohibited [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### electronic evidence presentation Scope: statewide South Carolina Rule 605 permits the presiding judge to authorize electronic or photographic means for evidence presentation, record preservation, or judicial administration. Evidence excerpt: A presiding judge may authorize the use of electronic or photographic means for the presentation of evidence [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### media coverage notice Scope: statewide South Carolina Rule 605 requires media representatives to give reasonable notice to the presiding judge when requesting courtroom coverage. Evidence excerpt: Media representatives must give reasonable notice to the presiding judge of a request to cover a proceeding. [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote communication technology Scope: statewide South Carolina Rule 612 authorizes the Supreme Court to provide by order for courts to use remote communication technology for proceedings. Evidence excerpt: the Supreme Court of South Carolina may provide for the use of remote communication technology by the courts of this State to conduct proceedings [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 612: Use of Remote Communication Technology](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-612/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### virtual and in person recording Scope: statewide South Carolina's statewide order prohibits photographing, recording, or streaming live, virtual, or broadcasted court proceedings unless the presiding judge specifically authorizes it under Rule 605. Evidence excerpt: taking still photographs, recording (visual or audio), or streaming of any live, virtual, or subsequently broadcasted court proceeding is strictly prohibited unless specifically authorized by the presiding judge pursuant to Rule 605 [Supreme Court of South Carolina Order: Recording of In-Person or Virtual Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/courtOrders/displayOrder.cfm?orderNo=2020-09-28-01) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court/judges/melissa-m-frazier/) - [Official roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court/judges/melissa-m-frazier/) - [South Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court/judges/melissa-m-frazier/) - [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/) - [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 612: Use of Remote Communication Technology](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-612/) - [Supreme Court of South Carolina Order: Recording of In-Person or Virtual Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/courtOrders/displayOrder.cfm?orderNo=2020-09-28-01) - [Melissa M. Frazier](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court/judges/melissa-m-frazier) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melissa-m-frazier-family-court-judge-south-carolina-family-court-circuit-15-sc", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melissa-m-frazier-family-court-judge-south-carolina-family-court-circuit-15-sc", "name": "Melissa M. Frazier | KnowJudges", "description": "Melissa M. Frazier, South Carolina Family Court, Circuit 15. 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