South Carolina Family Law Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced South Carolina family law attorneys who can navigate South Carolina’s unique 1-year separation requirement and fault grounds.

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Matched with a South Carolina attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free South Carolina family law case review

A South Carolina attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your South Carolina family law case

When you submit a South Carolina family law matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A family law matter needs someone who handles family law work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under South Carolina law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in South Carolina who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a family law claim in South Carolina

Day 0
You decide to act.
Separation, custody, support or a modification. Gather financials, the children’s schedules and any agreements or orders that already exist.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A South Carolina family law attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Weeks 1–4
Filing and disclosures.
The petition is filed and both sides exchange financial disclosures. Temporary orders for custody or support can be requested early in South Carolina.
Months 1–6
Negotiation or mediation.
Most cases settle here — parenting plans, division of property, support. Your attorney negotiates from the disclosures, not from guesses.
If it doesn’t settle
Hearing or trial.
Contested issues go before a judge. Preparation matters more than argument; your attorney builds the file for it from day one.
Resolution
Final order.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Residency Requirement: 1 year
1 year if non-resident plaintiff; 3 months if SC resident plaintiff (S.C. Code § 20-3-30); 1-year separation for no-fault
Property Division System: Equitable distribution
Equitable distribution across 15 factors (S.C. Code § 20-3-620)
Custody Standard: Best interests
Best interests with 17 factors (S.C. Code § 63-15-240)
Child Support Guidelines: Income Shares
Income Shares model — South Carolina Child Support Guidelines (S.C. Code § 63-17-470)
Spousal Support Framework: Five types
Five types of alimony under S.C. Code § 20-3-130 — permanent periodic, lump sum, rehabilitative, reimbursement, separate maintenance
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

South Carolina has 5 grounds for divorce under S.C. Code § 20-3-10: adultery, desertion for 1 year, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness, and 1 year of continuous separation (no-fault). Residency is 1 year if both spouses are non-residents at time of filing, or 3 months if both spouses are SC residents. South Carolina is an equitable distribution state under S.C. Code § 20-3-620 — marital property is divided equitably across 15 statutory factors. Custody is decided under best-interests factors at S.C. Code § 63-15-240. South Carolina uses Income Shares under the South Carolina Child Support Guidelines. South Carolina also has unique heart-balm tort recognition (alienation of affection abolished in 1992).

Exhibit B

When to call a family law attorney in South Carolina

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Family Law cases we take in South Carolina

Which one is closest to yours?

No-fault divorce (1-year separation)

Filed under S.C. Code § 20-3-10(5) after 1 year of continuous living separate and apart.

Sound like yours? A South Carolina attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

Start my free review

Exhibit D

How much do South Carolina family law attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

South Carolina · Family Law

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Family Law matters in South Carolina are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Family law cases in South Carolina are not handled on contingency. South Carolina Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(d)(1) — patterned on ABA Model Rule 1.5(d) — prohibits contingent fees in domestic relations matters where the fee is contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support, or property settlement. South Carolina family law attorneys charge hourly (billed against a retainer) or a flat fee for uncontested matters. Courts may award fees under Glasscock v. Glasscock factors.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your South Carolina family law compensation can include

A South Carolina family law recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Property Division

Equitable distribution under S.C. Code § 20-3-620 — 15-factor analysis including marital fault.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

South Carolina family law questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a South Carolina attorney will review it for free.

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No-fault divorce requires 1 year of continuous separation before filing. Once filed, the case typically takes 90 days to a final hearing. Fault-based divorces (adultery, cruelty) can be faster — sometimes 3-6 months total. Contested cases generally take 12-18 months.

Yes, but only on the ground of 1 year of continuous separation. South Carolina also recognizes 4 fault grounds: adultery, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug use, and desertion for 1 year.

Yes for no-fault — 1 year of continuous separation. For fault grounds, no separation period is required, though proof of the fault is needed.

South Carolina is an equitable distribution state. Under S.C. Code § 20-3-620, the court divides marital property equitably across 15 factors including duration, age, health, contributions (including homemaker), economic circumstances, prior marriages, education, and conduct (including marital misconduct). Non-marital property (premarital, gifts, inheritance) is set aside to the owner.

South Carolina applies a best-interests standard under S.C. Code § 63-15-240 with 17 factors. No statutory preference for joint custody, but it can be ordered when in the child’s best interest. Marital fault (especially adultery in the home) can be a factor in custody.

South Carolina uses Income Shares under the South Carolina Child Support Guidelines (S.C. Code § 63-17-470). Both parents’ gross incomes are combined and applied to the state schedule, then prorated, with adjustments for shared custody (110+ overnights), healthcare, and childcare.

Yes. Custody can be modified on a substantial change in circumstances. Child support requires substantial change. Permanent periodic alimony can be modified; lump sum cannot. Periodic alimony terminates on remarriage or continuous cohabitation for 90+ days. Property division is final.

Family Law attorneys by city in South Carolina

Same South Carolina rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in South Carolina

All South Carolina practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysSC holds dog owners strictly liable — the owner pays for an unprovoked bite with no need to prove the dog had bitten before.

Business Dispute attorneysSC enforces reasonable non-competes — and the state courts apply a well-defined reasonableness test.

Car Accident attorneysSC is a fault state with a 51% fault bar — and minimum auto liability of $25K/$50K leaves many crashes underinsured.

Consumer Protection attorneysThe SC Unfair Trade Practices Act lets consumers recover triple damages plus attorney fees for willful violations.

Criminal Defense attorneysSC’s sentencing structure, plus three-strikes enhancements, make plea positioning critical from day one.

Defective Product attorneysSC recognizes strict products liability — and its products liability law follows the widely used national standard.

Employment attorneysSC follows federal Title VII as the primary employment-discrimination framework — the state human affairs commission handles charges, and the state is right-to-work.

Immigration attorneysSC has immigration court in Charlotte (NC, serves SC) — and growing immigrant populations in Greenville, Columbia, and the Lowcountry drive case volume.

Lemon Law attorneysThe SC Lemon Law covers new vehicles within 1 year/12,000 miles — and the manufacturer pays your attorney fees if you win.

Medical Malpractice attorneysSC med-mal requires a Notice of Intent and an expert affidavit before filing — with strict 90-day notice rules.

Personal Injury attorneysA three-year filing deadline and a 51% fault bar frame every SC injury case.

Slip and Fall attorneysSC premises liability turns on notice and the invitee/licensee/trespasser classification — with the state Supreme Court framing the modern analysis.

Social Security Disability attorneysSC disability hearing offices in Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston process moderate volumes — and Fourth Circuit federal precedent shapes review.

Workers’ Compensation attorneysSC workers’ comp runs through the state Workers’ Compensation Commission — and wage benefits are two-thirds of your average weekly wage.

South Carolina Family Law Attorneys

How we match your South Carolina family law case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with a family law claim in South Carolina

You decide to act.

Tell us what happened.

Filing and disclosures.

Negotiation or mediation.

Hearing or trial.

Final order.

When to call a family law attorney in South Carolina

Family Law cases we take in South Carolina

No-fault divorce (1-year separation)

Fault-based divorce

Child custody (legal and physical)

Child support and modification

Alimony

Premarital and postnuptial agreements

Paternity actions

Adoption

Grandparent visitation rights

Orders of Protection

Same-sex marriage and divorce

Military divorce

How much do South Carolina family law attorneys cost?

What your South Carolina family law compensation can include

Property Division

Alimony

Child Support

Custody and Parenting Time

Attorney’s Fees

Protective Orders

South Carolina family law questions, answered

Family Law attorneys by city in South Carolina

Other case types in South Carolina

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