Child Support in South Carolina: Guidelines and Calculations

A Charleston couple with two children separated after twelve years of marriage. The father earned $90,000 and the mother earned $45,000. They agreed to a week-on, week-off parenting schedule and the father assumed equal time would cancel out any child support obligation. When they ran the South Carolina child support worksheet, his monthly obligation came out to several hundred dollars. The Income Shares Model doesn’t just count overnights — it measures each parent’s share of combined income, and when there’s a gap between the two, the higher earner pays even with perfectly equal time.

South Carolina’s child support guidelines apply to every family going through divorce, separation, or paternity proceedings. This guide covers how the state calculates support under SC Code Section 63-17-470 and SC Regulation 114-4720, what counts as income, how parenting time affects the number, and the rules for modification and enforcement. For a national overview, see our guide on how child support is calculated, and try our child support calculator for a quick estimate.

How South Carolina Calculates Child Support

South Carolina uses the Income Shares Model, the same framework used by roughly 40 states. The core principle: children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the family stayed together.

The calculation combines both parents’ gross monthly incomes, finds the total child support obligation from the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations, and divides that obligation between the parents based on each one’s percentage of the combined income. The 2024 guidelines — the first update in ten years — significantly revised these schedules and thresholds.

Step-by-Step Calculation

Step 1: Determine each parent’s gross monthly income. South Carolina defines gross income broadly. It includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, severance pay, self-employment earnings (gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses, including the employer’s share of FICA), rental income, dividends, interest, pensions, Social Security benefits, veterans’ benefits, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, alimony received, and military pay including housing allowances.

Step 2: Apply adjustments to gross income. Each parent’s gross income is adjusted by subtracting:

Court-ordered alimony paid to the other parent in the current case
Court-ordered child support paid for children from other relationships
Court-ordered alimony paid to a former spouse from another relationship
A credit for other children living in the home (calculated at 0.75 times the basic support obligation for those children)

Step 3: Combine both parents’ adjusted gross incomes. Add both parents’ adjusted monthly incomes together. This combined figure determines where the case falls on the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations. Under the 2024 guidelines, the schedule extends up to $40,000 per month in combined gross income — up from $30,000 under the previous 2014 guidelines.

Step 4: Find the Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO). Using the schedule, look up the combined monthly income and number of children. The schedule provides the total monthly child support obligation. When the combined income falls between amounts on the schedule, interpolate between the two nearest figures.

Step 5: Calculate each parent’s percentage of income. Divide each parent’s adjusted gross income by the combined adjusted gross income. If Parent A earns $6,000 per month and Parent B earns $4,000 per month, Parent A’s share is 60% and Parent B’s share is 40%.

Step 6: Add health insurance, childcare, and extraordinary medical expenses. The cost of the children’s health insurance premiums, work-related childcare expenses (adjusted for applicable tax credits), and extraordinary medical expenses exceeding $250 per child per year are added to the BCSO. These combined costs form the total child support obligation.

Step 7: Determine each parent’s share of the total obligation. Multiply each parent’s income percentage by the total obligation. The noncustodial parent’s share becomes the monthly child support payment, reduced by any direct payments they already make (such as paying the child’s health insurance premium).

Key Takeaway

South Carolina's child support worksheets walk through these steps automatically. The state provides a free online calculator through the Department of Social Services that generates a completed worksheet when you enter income, parenting time, and expenses.

What Counts as Income (and What Doesn’t)

South Carolina’s definition of gross income captures nearly every income source, whether earned or unearned.

Included:

All employment income (wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, tips, overtime, severance)
Self-employment earnings (gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses)
Investment income (dividends, interest, capital gains, rental income)
Government benefits (Social Security, VA benefits, disability, unemployment, workers’ compensation)
Retirement income (pensions, annuities)
Alimony received from any source
Military pay and housing allowances

Not included:

Benefits from means-tested public assistance programs (TANF, SSI, SNAP/food stamps, General Assistance)
Income of other household members (a new spouse’s income is not counted)
Most in-kind payments (unless they significantly reduce personal living expenses, such as employer-provided housing or a company car)

Self-employment income requires special attention. South Carolina calculates it as gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses, including the employer’s share of FICA. However, accelerated depreciation and investment tax credits are added back to income — the court looks at actual cash flow, not tax-optimized figures.

Imputed Income

When a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, South Carolina courts can impute income — assigning an earning capacity instead of using actual earnings.

The guidelines direct courts to determine potential income based on what the parent would “otherwise ordinarily” earn. When deciding how much to impute, the court considers:

The parent’s employment and earnings history
Job skills, education, and literacy
Age, health, and physical capacity
Criminal record and other employment barriers
The local job market and availability of employers
Prevailing earning levels in the community
The parent’s assets and residence

A Greenville father earning $85,000 as an operations manager quit his job to start a lawn care business generating $28,000 per year. He argued the career change would eventually pay off. The court imputed income at a level closer to his prior earning capacity, finding his education and work history supported higher earnings than his current self-employment income produced.

Courts recognize legitimate exceptions. A parent caring for a very young child or a child with a disability may not have income imputed, particularly when childcare costs would exceed potential earnings. Additionally, incarceration cannot constitute voluntary unemployment under the 2024 guidelines — courts cannot impute income to an incarcerated parent.

When a parent has non-income-producing assets (such as vacant land or an investment account held without generating returns), the court may impute income on those assets using prevailing interest rates.

Shared Custody: The 109-Overnight Threshold

South Carolina’s guidelines include a shared custody adjustment that changes the calculation when both parents have the children for significant time. The threshold is 109 overnights per year — once each parent has the children for more than 109 overnights (approximately 30% of the year), the case qualifies as shared physical custody and uses Worksheet C instead of the standard Worksheet A.

How Worksheet C Works

The shared custody calculation differs from the standard approach:

The Basic Child Support Obligation is multiplied by 1.5 to account for the increased total cost of maintaining two households for the children
Each parent’s share of this adjusted obligation is calculated based on their income percentage
Each parent’s obligation is then multiplied by the percentage of time the children spend with the other parent
The two amounts are offset against each other, and the parent who owes more pays the difference

This means that even with perfectly equal parenting time, the higher-earning parent will still owe support. The 1.5 multiplier recognizes that shared custody costs more overall — both parents maintain bedrooms, clothing, supplies, and other necessities for the children.

The Graduated Range: 109 to 128 Overnights

For parents with between 109 and 128 overnights, a graduated formula applies rather than a sudden jump from Worksheet A to Worksheet C. The support amount transitions proportionally between what Worksheet A would calculate and what Worksheet C would calculate. This prevents a cliff effect where a single additional overnight could dramatically change the support obligation.

Once a parent reaches 129 or more overnights, the full Worksheet C shared custody calculation applies.

Split Custody

Split custody — where each parent has primary custody of at least one child — uses a different approach. The calculation runs separately for each child, and the parent who owes more pays the difference between the two amounts. Split custody is relatively uncommon because courts generally prefer to keep siblings together.

Health Insurance, Childcare, and Medical Expenses

Health insurance, childcare, and extraordinary medical expenses are mandatory components of the South Carolina child support calculation. They are added to the BCSO and divided between the parents based on their income percentages.

Health Insurance

The parent who can obtain the most comprehensive coverage at the most reasonable cost is typically ordered to carry health insurance for the children. The child’s share of medical, dental, and vision premiums is factored into the calculation. If the obligor pays the premium, they receive a credit against their support obligation.

Daycare, after-school programs, and summer childcare expenses incurred so a parent can work or attend training are included. The costs must be reasonable and generally should not exceed the level required for high-quality care from a licensed provider. The guidelines adjust childcare costs for applicable federal and state tax credits based on the custodial parent’s income level.

Extraordinary Medical Expenses

The first $250 per child per year in uninsured medical expenses is considered part of the basic support obligation. Beyond that threshold, costs are divided proportionally between the parents based on their income percentages. Under the 2024 guidelines, recurring medical expenses — such as professional counseling, allergy treatments, and ongoing therapy — can be incorporated directly into the monthly support calculation rather than handled through after-the-fact reimbursement.

Low-Income Protections

South Carolina’s guidelines include a Self-Support Reserve designed to prevent the obligor’s child support payment from pushing them below subsistence. Under the 2024 guidelines, the self-support reserve is set at $1,010.50 per month — up from $748 under the previous 2014 guidelines.

When the obligor’s income falls within the shaded area of the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations (indicating low income), the self-support reserve adjustment applies. In these cases, only the obligor’s income is used to calculate the BCSO, rather than the combined income of both parents. This prevents a higher-earning custodial parent’s income from inflating the obligation beyond what the low-income obligor can actually afford.

The self-support reserve is a floor — it ensures the obligor retains enough income to maintain basic necessities, preserve their ability to work, and continue earning. It’s not generous, but it keeps the support amount within realistic reach for parents at the bottom of the income scale.

Deviations from the Guidelines

South Carolina courts can deviate from the calculated child support amount, but only when the standard amount would be “unjust or inappropriate” under SC Code Section 63-17-470. The guidelines amount carries a rebuttable presumption of correctness, meaning the parent seeking a deviation bears the burden of proof.

When a court deviates, it must:

State specific written findings supporting the deviation
Specify what the support amount would have been under the guidelines
Explain why the guidelines amount is unjust or inappropriate in the particular case

Common grounds for deviation include:

The impact of property division from the divorce
Consumer debts of either parent
Substantial income disparities between the parents
Educational expenses (private school, trade school, post-secondary education)
Extraordinary medical or dental needs of the child
Travel costs for visitation when parents live far apart
Mandatory payroll deductions (pensions, union dues)
Other court-ordered payments
Income earned by the child
Support obligations for more than six children
A voluntary parental agreement on a different amount

Parental Agreements

Parents can agree on a child support amount that differs from the guidelines, but the court must approve it. If the agreed amount varies from the guidelines, both parents must be represented by attorneys — or the judge must thoroughly question any unrepresented parent to confirm they understand the guidelines amount and are voluntarily agreeing to a different figure.

Modifying Child Support

South Carolina child support orders aren’t permanent. Either parent can seek a modification when circumstances change, but the change must meet a specific threshold.

Substantial Change in Circumstances

To modify a child support order, you must demonstrate a substantial change in circumstances since the order was last entered or modified. The parent seeking modification bears the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence.

Qualifying changes commonly include:

Job loss despite genuine efforts to find employment
Significant income increase or decrease
A disability or medical condition limiting the ability to work
A child turning 18 or completing high school
Substantially increased child-related expenses (medical needs, childcare)
A significant change in the parenting time arrangement

What Doesn’t Qualify

Remarriage alone does not justify modification. A new spouse has no legal obligation to support children from a prior relationship, and their income is not included in the child support calculation. However, having a child with a new spouse may warrant a review because it affects the parent’s financial obligations.

Two Paths to Modification

Court filing: File a complaint or petition with the Family Court, attach your financial declaration and the current order, and serve the other parent. The court will schedule a hearing.

Administrative review: Request a review through the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) via certified mail. If either parent disagrees with the DSS determination, they can petition the court for a hearing.

Key Takeaway

Modifications are retroactive only to the date the petition is filed -- not to the date your circumstances changed. If your income drops in January but you don't file until June, you'll owe the old amount for those five months. File as soon as your circumstances change.

When Child Support Ends

In South Carolina, child support generally terminates when the child reaches age 18, marries, or becomes self-supporting — whichever comes first. If an 18-year-old is still attending high school, support continues until graduation or the end of the school year in which they turn 19.

Emancipation

A child may be considered emancipated before age 18 if they are self-supporting and no longer require parental consent for legal contracts. Common emancipation triggers include:

Marriage
Full-time employment with financial independence
Enlistment in active military service
A court order of emancipation

Disability and Exceptional Circumstances

South Carolina law provides an important exception: courts may extend child support beyond age 18 for a child with physical or mental disabilities or other exceptional circumstances that warrant continued support. This extension requires a specific court finding that the child’s condition justifies ongoing financial assistance from the parents.

College Expenses

Unlike many states, South Carolina courts can order parents to contribute to college expenses. The court considers whether:

The child has the ability to benefit from higher education and can demonstrate satisfactory academic performance
The child cannot attend college without parental financial support
The parent has the financial capacity to contribute

College support is not automatic — it requires a specific request and judicial finding. Many parents address college contributions in their divorce settlement agreement.

Critical Detail

You must petition the court to formally terminate the child support obligation when your child reaches emancipation age. Simply stopping payments without a court order can put you in arrears, even if the child is legally emancipated. If the order covers multiple children, you should petition when the oldest child ages out to have the obligation recalculated for the remaining children — the amount does not automatically adjust.

Enforcement

South Carolina has comprehensive enforcement tools for child support, administered through the Department of Social Services Child Support Services Division.

Income withholding — All South Carolina child support orders must include an income withholding provision unless good cause exists otherwise. Support is deducted directly from wages, commissions, unemployment benefits, disability payments, and retirement income. (SC Code Section 63-17-1410)
Tax refund interception — Federal and state tax refunds can be intercepted and applied to arrears.
License suspension — Driver’s licenses, professional licenses (including licenses for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and lawyers), and business licenses can be suspended or revoked for non-payment.
Passport denial — For arrears exceeding $2,500, the federal government can deny or revoke a passport.
Credit reporting — Delinquent child support is reported to credit bureaus.
Liens — Placed on bank accounts, vehicles, real estate, and other property. Assets may be seized to satisfy arrears. A child support arrearage lien cannot be removed until all past-due payments are paid in full.
Contempt of court — Willful failure to pay can result in a fine of up to $1,500, up to 300 hours of community service, or up to one year in jail. Parents jailed for contempt can “purge” the violation by paying overdue support. (SC Code Sections 63-17-370, 63-17-390)
Criminal nonsupport — A parent who is able to work but willfully fails to provide reasonable support commits a misdemeanor, carrying a fine of $300 to $1,500 and up to one year in jail. A judge may alternatively require monthly payments secured by a bond. (SC Code Section 63-17-430)
Federal criminal penalties — When a parent resides in another state or travels to avoid payment and owes at least $5,000 in arrears or hasn’t paid in over one year, federal prosecution is possible under 18 U.S.C. Section 228.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is child support in South Carolina for one child?

There’s no flat amount. Child support depends on both parents’ gross monthly incomes, the parenting time arrangement, and additional expenses like health insurance and childcare. As a rough reference, for combined monthly income of $8,000 with one child under a standard custody arrangement, the basic obligation is typically in the range of $900 to $1,100 before adjustments for insurance and childcare. Use South Carolina’s official calculator or our child support calculator for an estimate based on your actual numbers.

Does 50/50 custody eliminate child support in South Carolina?

Almost never. South Carolina uses the Income Shares Model with a shared custody adjustment (Worksheet C) when each parent has the children for more than 109 overnights per year. With equal parenting time, the BCSO is multiplied by 1.5 and each parent’s share is offset — but the parent with higher income will still owe support. The only scenario where 50/50 custody results in zero support is when both parents have exactly the same income and child-related expenses, which rarely happens.

Can child support be modified if I lose my job?

Yes. Job loss is a qualifying substantial change in circumstances for modification. You must show that the change is material and that you’ve made genuine efforts to find new employment. File your modification petition immediately — modifications are retroactive only to the filing date, not to the date you lost your job. If the court finds you voluntarily quit to avoid support, it may impute income based on your earning capacity.

Does my new spouse’s income affect child support in South Carolina?

No. A new spouse’s or partner’s income is not included in the child support calculation. South Carolina’s guidelines only consider the income of the child’s biological or legal parents. However, having a child with a new spouse may justify a review because it creates additional financial obligations for the parent.

Does child support cover college in South Carolina?

It can. Unlike many states, South Carolina courts have the authority to order parents to contribute to post-secondary education expenses. The court considers whether the child can benefit from college, has satisfactory academic performance, cannot attend without financial support, and the parent can afford to contribute. College support is not automatic and must be specifically requested.

When do I stop paying child support in South Carolina?

Child support generally ends when the child turns 18, marries, or becomes self-supporting — whichever comes first. If the child is still in high school at 18, support continues until graduation or the end of the school year in which they turn 19. Support may continue beyond 18 for a child with disabilities or exceptional circumstances. You must petition the court to formally terminate the obligation — don’t simply stop paying.

How This Guide Was Researched

This guide was created by reviewing publicly available legal information from official state statutes, the South Carolina Department of Social Services, judiciary websites, court resources, and family law publications. The goal is to explain family law topics in plain English so readers can better understand the process before speaking with an attorney.

Sources and Legal References

This guide is based on publicly available legal information and official sources, including:

Official South Carolina Resources

For more about how we research our guides, see our editorial policy and sources methodology.

Learn more about related family law topics:

Last updated: May 2026. This guide summarizes general legal information based on publicly available sources and is provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.