South Carolina divorce at a glance
Official source: South Carolina court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in South Carolina: step by step
South Carolina’s only no-fault ground is a one-year separation. Here is the path to a Final Decree of Divorce.
- Confirm you can file in South Carolina
The plaintiff must have lived in SC for 1 year (or 3 months if both spouses are SC residents). SC’s only no-fault ground is one year of continuous separation.Source: S.C. Code § 20-3-30 - Generate your forms
Use South Carolina’s official "Simple Divorce" self-represented packet (for one-year-separation cases).Source: SC SRL Simple Divorce Packet - File with the Family Court
File with the Family Court and pay about $150, or file a Motion and Affidavit to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (SCCA/401).Source: SCCA/401 (fee waiver) - Serve your spouse
Serve your spouse with the complaint.Source: SCRCP 4 - Complete the support worksheet (if children)
If you have children, use the SC DSS Child Support Calculator to produce the worksheet.Source: S.C. Code § 63-17-470 - Attend the final hearing
Attend a final hearing; the Family Court issues the Final Decree of Divorce.Source: Final Decree of Divorce
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in South Carolina?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. In South Carolina you have the right to file your own divorce, and the court publishes the official forms for you to use. The large majority of uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree the marriage is over and can agree on the terms, are handled pro se every day.
Filing pro se is usually a good fit when: you both agree on the divorce, you can agree on splitting property and debts, and any parenting time and support are worked out. It’s worth talking to a lawyer when: you disagree about custody or money, one spouse hides assets or won’t cooperate, there’s a business or significant property to divide, or there has been any abuse.
LawCat prepares your South Carolina pro-se divorce documents for free and walks you through every filing step — so doing it yourself never means doing it alone.
How child support is calculated in South Carolina
Income-shares model; the SC DSS Child Support Calculator produces the worksheet. (S.C. Code § 63-17-470)
Because South Carolina uses an income-shares approach, the exact number comes from an official table based on both parents’ combined income. Use your court’s official child-support calculator for a precise figure.
How long does a South Carolina divorce take?
The one-year separation is the main requirement; the case then proceeds to a final hearing. After that, the timeline depends on the court’s calendar and how quickly each step is completed. An uncontested, pro-se divorce is typically the fastest path — most of the wait is the statutory period, not paperwork.
Common reasons South Carolina divorce filings get rejected
- Missing signatures, or forms that aren’t notarized where the court requires it.
- Skipping the financial disclosure both spouses are required to exchange.
- Filing before meeting the residency requirement.
- Mistakes serving the other spouse, or forgetting to file the proof of service.
- Not following local county rules. Low–moderate. The SRL simple-divorce packet is statewide but covers only one-year-separation cases; other cases need drafted pleadings.
LawCat’s guided questions and filing checklist are built to prevent exactly these — the errors that send self-represented filers back to the clerk’s window.
South Carolina document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to South Carolina. In the meantime, the official South Carolina court forms are linked below.
Official South Carolina forms → See how it worksWhy LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
South Carolina divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in South Carolina?
No. South Carolina allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your South Carolina divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in South Carolina to file for divorce?
1 year (or 3 months if both spouses reside in SC)
How much does it cost to file for divorce in South Carolina?
$150. Fee waiver: Motion and Affidavit to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (SCCA/401). With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.