South Carolina Child Support Calculator (2025)

How South Carolina Calculates Child Support

South Carolina uses the Income Shares model for calculating child support, governed by SC Code §63-17-470. This model is based on the economic principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if their parents lived together. The Income Shares approach is the most widely used child support model in the United States, and South Carolina's implementation includes several state-specific provisions.

Under South Carolina's system, the court determines each parent's income, combines those figures, and consults the guidelines schedule to find the basic child support obligation based on combined gross monthly income and number of children. Each parent's proportionate share is determined by their percentage of combined income. Additional costs for health insurance, childcare, and extraordinary expenses are added and divided proportionally.

The South Carolina guidelines create a rebuttable presumption that the calculated amount is the correct child support obligation. Courts can deviate only with specific written findings explaining why the guideline amount is unjust or inappropriate.

History and Legislative Background

South Carolina adopted its child support guidelines in 1990 under the authority of SC Code Ann. §63-17-470 (formerly §20-7-852). The guidelines were significantly revised in 2006 and 2014, with updated economic data on child-rearing costs. The South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) administers the child support enforcement program.

South Carolina uses combined gross monthly income with specific adjustments. The state's shared custody threshold of 109 overnights (approximately 30% of the year) triggers the shared custody formula. SC also considers the self-support reserve, ensuring a non-custodial parent retains sufficient income for basic living expenses.

Understanding SC Code §63-17-470

SC Code §63-17-470 is the cornerstone of child support calculations in South Carolina. This comprehensive law establishes the framework that judges, attorneys, and parents must follow when determining child support obligations. SC Code §63-17-470 establishes the guidelines and requires the court to make specific findings when deviating. The statute mandates quadrennial review of the guidelines to ensure they reflect current economic realities.

The calculation follows a systematic approach: (1) determine each parent's gross income, (2) subtract permitted deductions, (3) combine adjusted incomes, (4) look up the basic obligation in the schedule, (5) calculate each parent's percentage share, (6) determine each parent's dollar share of the obligation, and (7) allocate additional expenses proportionally.

The Income Shares Model in South Carolina

South Carolina's adoption of the Income Shares model reflects a commitment to ensuring children benefit from both parents' financial resources. Economic research demonstrates that in intact families, both parents contribute to child-rearing costs in proportion to their incomes. The Income Shares model seeks to replicate this dynamic when parents live apart.

The model estimates what parents would collectively spend on their children if they shared a household. This estimate, the basic child support obligation, is derived from the South Carolina schedule based on economic data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other research on child-rearing expenditures. The obligation is then divided between parents based on their proportionate shares of combined income.

Unlike the Percentage of Income model used in some states (which considers only the non-custodial parent's income), the Income Shares model examines both parents' financial positions. This prevents inequitable results when one parent earns significantly more or less than the other, and ensures children of higher-income families receive support commensurate with the family's overall standard of living.

South Carolina Income Explained

Understanding what constitutes income under South Carolina child support law is essential for accurate calculations. South Carolina uses combined gross monthly income as the basis for determining the support obligation.

What Counts as Income in South Carolina

• Wages, salaries, and tips from all employment sources
• Commissions, bonuses, and overtime averaged over a reasonable period
• Self-employment income after legitimate business expenses
• Rental and royalty income from property and natural resources
• Interest, dividends, and investment income
• Pension, retirement, and annuity payments
• Social Security benefits of all types
• Workers' compensation and disability benefits
• Unemployment compensation
• Alimony received from other relationships
• Trust income and estate distributions
• Military pay and allowances
• Severance pay and strike benefits
• Capital gains from sale of assets

Allowable Deductions

• Federal, state, and local income taxes
• FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare)
• Mandatory retirement contributions required by employer
• Pre-existing child support orders actually being paid
• Pre-existing alimony obligations under court order
• Mandatory union dues (where applicable)

Imputation of Income

South Carolina courts may impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. The court considers the parent's age, education, work experience, health, available jobs in the community, and prior earnings history. Imputation prevents a parent from artificially reducing their support obligation by choosing not to work or accepting employment below their capacity. Courts will not impute income to parents with documented disabilities or those caring for very young children where childcare costs would exceed potential earnings.

The South Carolina Support Schedule

The South Carolina child support guidelines schedule lists base monthly support obligations for various levels of combined gross monthly income and different numbers of children. Below is a representative excerpt:

The schedule amounts represent the estimated total cost of raising children at each income level, derived from economic research. As income rises, the obligation increases but at a decreasing marginal rate. For incomes above the schedule maximum, courts typically extrapolate or exercise discretion based on the children's demonstrated needs.

How to Read the Schedule

Locate the row closest to the parents' combined gross monthly income. If the exact amount does not appear, interpolate between the two nearest values. Then look across to the column for the number of children. The result is the base child support obligation to be divided between parents proportionally.

Shared Custody Adjustments

South Carolina recognizes that shared physical custody arrangements require modified support calculations. When each parent has the child for 109 or more overnights per year (approximately 30%), the shared custody formula applies. Each parent's obligation is calculated and multiplied by the percentage of time the child spends with the other parent. The obligations are offset, and the parent with the higher amount pays the difference.

The Shared Custody Calculation

1. Calculate the base child support obligation using the standard schedule
2. Multiply the base obligation by 1.5 to account for duplicated household costs
3. Determine each parent's proportionate share based on income percentage
4. Multiply each parent's share by the percentage of time the child spends with the other parent
5. Offset the two amounts; the parent with the higher obligation pays the difference

This adjustment prevents the inequitable result that would occur if the standard formula were applied to shared custody, where both parents bear significant direct costs. The multiplier acknowledges increased total household costs when a child maintains two primary residences.

When Courts Deviate from Guidelines

While South Carolina's guidelines establish a presumptive correct amount, courts retain discretion to deviate when strict application would produce an unjust result. Any deviation requires specific written findings of fact.

Common grounds for deviation include:

• Extraordinary medical or dental expenses for a child with special healthcare needs
• Special educational expenses including private school or tutoring
• Travel costs for long-distance visitation
• Seasonal or variable income making standard calculations unreliable
• Combined income exceeding the schedule maximum
• Extraordinary tax consequences
• A child's independent income or resources
• Substantial debt from the marriage for family necessities
• In-kind contributions offsetting the support obligation

Courts exercise deviation authority sparingly. Data indicates deviations occur in fewer than 15% of cases, underscoring the strength of the guideline presumption.

How to Modify Child Support in South Carolina

Child support orders in South Carolina can be modified when there has been a material change in circumstances since the last order. South Carolina does not specify a fixed percentage but evaluates changes holistically..

Common grounds for modification include:

• Significant change in either parent's income
• Involuntary job loss or reduction in hours
• Change in custody or parenting time arrangement
• A child reaching majority or becoming emancipated
• Change in the child's medical or educational needs
• Significant change in health insurance or childcare costs

The Modification Process

File a motion to modify with the court that issued the original order. Provide current financial documentation. Both parents will exchange updated income information. Most uncontested modifications are completed within 60 to 120 days. Modifications are effective from the filing date, not retroactively, so parents experiencing changes should file promptly.

Enforcement of South Carolina Child Support

South Carolina's child support enforcement is handled through the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS), Child Support Enforcement Division.

Enforcement tools include:

• Income withholding/wage garnishment: Standard method for all orders
• Contempt of court: Fines and imprisonment for willful non-payment
• License suspension: Driver's, professional, and recreational licenses
• Tax refund interception: Both state and federal refunds
• Property liens: Real estate, vehicles, and financial accounts
• Credit bureau reporting: Mandatory reporting of past-due amounts
• Passport denial: For arrearages over $2,500
• Bank account seizure: Freezing and seizing funds

South Carolina participates in the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) for interstate enforcement. Past-due support accrues 12% annual interest on judgments for past-due support. The state collects approximately $460 million in child support annually.

Duration of Child Support in South Carolina

In South Carolina, child support continues until the child reaches age 18, or 19 if still in high school. Support may terminate earlier if the child marries, enlists in the military, or is legally emancipated. For children with significant disabilities preventing self-support, courts may order continued support beyond the standard age. Each case is evaluated individually based on the child's specific circumstances and needs.

Tax Implications

Under current federal tax law, child support payments are not tax-deductible for the paying parent and are not taxable income for the receiving parent. The dependency exemption for children of separated parents is generally claimed by the custodial parent unless released via IRS Form 8332. South Carolina courts sometimes address exemption allocation as part of the overall support determination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other State Child Support Calculators

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