South Carolina Divorce
Information and FAQ
South Carolina law permits no-fault divorces based upon living separate
and apart without cohabitation for at least one year. Additional grounds
include; adultery, desertion, physical cruelty and addiction to drugs or
alcohol. 3-20-3-10 Residency requirements South Carolina law requires that
one of the spouses must be a resident of the state for a minimum of one
year (three (3) months if both parties are residents of South Carolina)
immediately prior to the filing of the petition for divorce. 3-20-3-30
Venue The petition for divorce must be filed in the county in which the
defendant resides at the time of filing, or where the plaintiff resides if
the defendant is a non-resident or cannot be found. The petition may also
be filed in the county where the parties last shared a residence, unless
the plaintiff is a non-resident, in which case it must be filed in the
county where the Defendant resides. 3-20-3-60
Name of court and title of action/parties An action for divorce in the
State of South Carolina is filed in the Family Court. The title of the
action initiating the divorce action is the Complaint for Divorce, while
the title of the action granting the divorce is referred to as the Decree
of Divorce. The party filing the action is the Plaintiff, while the other
party to the divorce is referred to as the Defendant.
Legal separation South Carolina law permits a judgment of separation.
3-20-3-140
Waiting period Unless the plaintiff is seeking a divorce based upon
living separate and apart without cohabitation for one year, there is a
three (3) month waiting period from the filing of the petition before the
court will grant a judgment of dissolution of marriage. 3-20-3-80
Alimony The courts may award alimony to either spouse. Alimony may be
periodic, lump sum, rehabilitative or reimbursement type. Adultery is
considered by the court when making a determination as to whether alimony
should be granted. Factors the court considers in determining the amount
and term of alimony include:
1. The duration of the marriage and the age of the parties. 2. The
physical and emotional condition of the parties. 3. The educational
background of the parties along with the need of each for additional
training or education. 4. The employment history and earning potential of
each spouse. 5. The standard of living established during the marriage. 6.
The current and reasonably anticipated expenses and needs of each spouse.
7. The current and reasonably anticipated earnings of each spouse. 8. The
marital and non-marital properties of each spouse. 9. Custody of the
children. 10. Marital misconduct, and 11. Any other relevant factors.
Either party may petition the court for an order or judgment increasing
or decreasing the amount of alimony. 3-20-3-120
Distribution of property South Carolina is an equitable distribution
state. This means that the court will divide the marital property between
the parties as it deems equitable and just, after setting aside to each
spouse the separate property of each. Some of the factors the court
considers in dividing the property between the parties include:
1. The duration of the marriage. 2. The age of the spouses. 3. Marital
misconduct. 4. Economic misconduct. 5. The value of each party’s marital
property. 6. The contribution of each spouse to the marital estate. 7. The
income of each spouse. 3-20-7-472
Child custody South Carolina courts will decide the issue of custody
based upon the best interests of the child. In determining the best
interest of the child, the court must consider the child's reasonable
preference for custody. The court shall place weight upon the preference
based upon the child's age, experience, maturity, judgment, and ability to
express a preference. Religious faith shall also be considered in
determining custody. In making a decision regarding custody of a minor
child, in addition to other existing factors specified by law, the court
must give weight to evidence of domestic violence. 3-20-7-1515,
3-20-7-1520
Child support In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal
separation, the court may order either or both parties to pay a reasonable
amount necessary for the support of a child of the marriage. The South
Carolina legislature has established child support guidelines which
establish the presumptive correct amount of child support. Deviation from
the guidelines require a specific finding by the court that application of
the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate and such findings must be
included in the judgment. 3-20-7-852
Name change The court, upon granting a final judgment of divorce, may
allow a party to resume the use of their former name. 3-20-3-180
Abbeville Abney Adams Run Aiken Alcolu
Alcot Allendale Alvin Anderson Andrews Antioch Arcadia Arcadia Lakes
Ashland Ashton Atkins Atlantic Beach Awendaw Aynor Ballentine Bamberg
Barkersville Barnwell Barr Barton Batesburg Batesburg-Leesville Batesville
Bath Bayview Beaufort Beckhamville Beech Island Bellinger Belton Belvedere
Bendale Bennettsville Berlin Bethcar Bethera Bethune Bigcreek Bishopville
Blacksburg Blackstock Blackville Blair Blake Blenheim Bloomville Bluff
Estates Bluffton Blythewood Boiling Springs Bolen Town Bon Air Bonneau
Bordeaux Borden Bowling Green Bowman Bowyer Boykin Bradley Branchville
Breeze Hill Brighton Brighton Beach Brittons Neck Britts Brogdon Brunson
Bucksport Buffalo Burnettown Burton Cades Cainhoy Calhoun Falls
Callawassie Island Callison Camden Cameron Campobello Canadys Capitol
Capitol View Carlisle Carolina Forest Cartersville Cassatt Catawba
Cateechee Cayce Cedar Terrace Centenary Central Chapin Chappells
Charleston Charleston Air Force Base Charleston Heights Cheraw Cherokee
Falls Cherry Grove Cherry Grove Beach Chesnee Chester Chesterfield Clarks
Hill Clearwater Clemson Cleora Cleveland Clifton Clinton Clio Clover Clyde
College Park Colliers Columbia Conestee Congaree Converse Conway Coosaw
Coosawatchie Cope Cordesville Cordova Cornwell Cottageville Coward Cowpens
Crafts Farrow Crane Forest Crescent Beach Creston Crocketville Cross Cross
Anchor Cross Hill Cypress Crossroads Dale Dalzell Daniel Island Darlington
Dataw Island Daufuskie Island Davis Crossroads Davis Station De Kalb
Dekalb Delmar Delta Denmark Denny Terrace Dewees Island Dillon Dixiana
Donalds Dorchester Douglass Drayton Due West Dunbarton Duncan Dunkins Mill
Dusty Bend Dutch Fork Early Branch Easley Eastmont Eastover Eau Claire
Edgefield Edgemoor Edgewood Edisto Edisto Beach Edisto Island Edmund
Effingham Ehrhardt Elgin Elko Elliott Elloree Emory Enoree Estill Eureka
Eutaw Springs Eutawville Fair Play Fairfax Fairfield Fairfield Terrace
Fairforest Fairview Crossroads Farrow Terrace Fechtig Felderville
Fingerville Five Points Florence Floyd Dale Folly Beach Forest Acres
Forest Lake Foreston Fork Fort Jackson Fort Lawn Fort Mill Fort Motte
Fountain Inn Frens Fripp Island Frogmore Fruit Hill Furman Gable Gadsden
Gaffney Gaillard Crossroads Galaxy Galivants Ferry Garden City Garden City
Beach Gardens Corner Garnett Gaston Georgetown Gifford Gilbert
Gillisonville Glendale Glenn Springs Gloverville Glympville Goat Island
Resort Goose Creek Gramling Graniteville Gray Court Grays Great Falls
Greeleyville Green Pond Green Sea Greenbrier Greenview Greenville
Greenwood Greer Gresham Grover Hagood Hamer Hammond Crossroads Hampton
Hanahan Harbison Harbville Hardeeville Harleyville Hartsville Haskell
Heights Hazelwood Acres Heath Springs Hebron Hemingway Hibernia Hickory
Grove Hilda Hilton Head Island Hodges Holly Hill Hollywood Hollywood Hills
Holtson Crossroads Honea Path Hopkins Horatio Horrel Hill Hoyt Heights
Huger Indian Land Inman Irmo Islandton Isle of Palms Iva Jackson
Jacksonboro James Island Jamestown Jamison Jefferson Jenkinsville Jericho
Joanna Johns Island Johnsonville Johnston Jones Crossroads Jonesville
Jordan Kathwood Kelton Kershaw Kiawah Island Killian Kinards Kings Creek
Kingstree Kingville Kirkland Kirkwood Kitchings Mill Kline Kneece La
France Ladies Island Ladson Ladys Island Lake City Lake Murray Lake Murray
Shores Lake View Lake Wylie Lamar Lancaster Lando Landrum Lane Langley
Latta Laurel Bay Laurens Leeds Leesburg Leesville Lexington Liberty
Liberty Hill Limehouse Lincolnshire Lincolnville Litchfield Little
Mountain Little River Little Rock Livingston Lobeco Lockhart Lodge Lone
Star Long Creek Longs Longtown Loris Lowndesville Lucknow Lugoff Luray
Lydia Lyman Lynchburg Macedon Madison Manning Manville Marietta Marion
Market Center Martin Maryville Mauldin Mayesville Mayo Mc Bee Mc
Clellanville Mc Coll Mc Connells McBee McClellanville McColl McConnells
McCormick McCutchen Crossroads McEntire Air National Guard McKenzie
Crossroads Mechanicsville Meeting Street Meggett Midway Miley Millford
Minturn Mitchellville Mixville Modoc Moncks Corner Monetta Monticello
Montmorenci Moore Moselle Moss Motbridge Mount Carmel Mount Croghan Mount
Pleasant Mountain Brook Mountain Rest Mountville Mullins Murrells Inlet
Myrtle Beach Neeses Nesmith New Ellenton New Holland New Holland
Crossroads New Zion Newberry Newry Nichols Ninety Six Nixville Norris
North North Augusta North Charleston North Litchfield North Myrtle Beach
North Pointe Northeast Norway Oak Dale Oakdale Oats Ocean Dr Beach Ocean
Drive Ocean Drive Beach Okatie Olanta Olar Olympia Orangeburg Osborn
Oswego Pacolet Pacolet Mills Pageland Pamplico Panola Park Place
Parksville Parlers Parris Island Patrick Pauline Pawleys Island Paxville
Peak Pecan Way Terrace Pelion Pelzer Pendleton Peniel Crossroads Perry
Pickens Piedmont Pinehaven Pineland Pineridge Pineville Pinewood Pinopolis
Pisgah Pleasant Hill Pleasant Lane Plum Branch Pocataligo Pomaria Pontiac
Port Royal Poston Pritchardville Promised Land Prosperity Purysburgh
Quinby Rains Rantowels Ravenel Ravenwood Red Bank Red Hill Reevesville
Reidville Rembert Richburg Richland Richland Springs Ridge Spring
Ridgeland Ridgeville Ridgeway Ridgewood Rimini Rion Ritter River Hills
Robertville Robinson Rock Hill Rocky Springs Roebuck Round O Rowesville
Ruby Ruffin Russellville Saint Andrews Saint Charles Saint George Saint
Helena Saint Helena Island Saint Matthews Saint Paul Saint Stephen Salem
Salkehatchie Salley Salters Saluda Saluda Gardens Saluda Terrace Samaria
Sandwood Sandy Springs Santee Sardinia Sardis Savannah River Plant Scotia
Scottsville Scranton Seabrook Seabrook Island Seigling Seivern Sellers
Seneca Shamokin Sharon Shaw Air Force Base Sheldon Shiloh Shirley Shoals
Junction Shulerville Silverstreet Simpsonville Singleton Six Mile Slater
Slighs Smallwood Smoaks Smyrna Snelling Society Hill South Congaree South
Lynchburg South of the Border Spartanburg Spring Hill Spring Island Spring
Mills Springdale Springfield Stark Terrace Starr Startex State Hospital
State Park Stateburg Steedman Stiefeltown Stockman Stokes Bridge Stoneboro
Stoney Hill Stover Stuckey Sullivans Island Summ Summerland Summerton
Summerville Summit Sumter Sunset Surfside Surfside Beach Swansea
Switzerland Sycamore Tamassee Tarboro Tatum Taxahaw Taylors Tega Cay Thor
Tigerville Tillman Timmonsville Townville Travelers Rest Trenton Trio Troy
Tuckertown Turbeville Twin Lake Hill Ulmer Una Union Union Crossroads Van
Wyck Vance Varnville Vaucluse Wadmalaw Island Wagener Walhalla Wallace
Walterboro Wando Ward Ware Shoals Warrenville Wateree Waterloo Watsonia
Wedgefield Wellford West Columbia West Union Westminster Westover Acres
Westside Westville White Bluff White Hall White Pond White Rock White
Stone Whitehall Whitmire Williams Williamston Willington Williston Wilson
Windsor Winnsboro Winnsboro Mills Wisacky Withrop College Woodrow Woodruff
Woodward Workman Yemassee Yonges Island York
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