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Divorce in South Carolina: forms, cost, and how to file

A plain-English overview of getting an uncontested divorce in South Carolina — the residency rule, the no-fault ground, the filing fee, and the official forms — from LawCat, a free service built by attorneys.

Official South Carolina court forms →

South Carolina divorce at a glance

Residency requirement
1 year (or 3 months if both spouses reside in SC)
No-fault ground
One year continuous separation (living separate without cohabitation). Residency: plaintiff 1 year in SC, OR 3 months if BOTH spouses are SC residents.
Filing fee
$150. Fee waiver: Motion and Affidavit to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (SCCA/401).
Child support
Income shares (SC Code 63-17-470; DSS Reg 114-4710) — official SC DSS Child Support Calculator (dss.sc.gov/child-support/calculator); Worksheets A (sole), B (split), C (shared 110-129 overnights). Guidelines updated…
E-filing (self-represented)
NOT available for family court SRLs — SC attorney e-filing (eFlex, efile.sccourts.org) covers Common Pleas only and pro se litigants may not e-file at all; divorce = paper filing at clerk's…
County differences
LOW-MODERATE — statewide SCCA packet; counties (Horry, Newberry, Beaufort, Pickens) repost the packet with local hearing-scheduling instructions; final-hearing logistics vary by county.
Official statewide forms
YES but NARROW — official 'Self-Represented Litigant Simple Divorce Packets' (SCCA 400SRL series: e.g., SCCA400D-SRL defendant instructions; packet includes Family Court Cover Sheet SCCA 467, Certificate of Exemption…

Official source: South Carolina court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.

Coming soon

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 works

Why 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.

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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.

This page is general information about South Carolina’s court process, not legal advice for your situation, and LawCat is not a law firm. Forms and fees change — verify with the official court source above. Reviewed 2026.