South Carolina child support guidelines
South Carolina uses an income-shares guideline under SC Code § 63-17-470 — support is based on both parents’ incomes and the custody arrangement. This page explains the rules and links the official DSS calculator; it doesn’t compute your amount.
How the South Carolina formula works
The guideline (current version effective January 15, 2024) works in steps:
- Combine both parents’ gross monthly incomes;
- Find the basic obligation on the schedule for that income and the number of children;
- Choose the worksheet — A (sole custody, the other parent under 109 overnights), C (shared, 109+ overnights, with a 1.5× multiplier), or B (split custody);
- Allocate proportionally and add health insurance, childcare, and extraordinary medical costs.
The 109-overnight line, reserve, and modification
South Carolina’s key parenting-time threshold is 109 overnights. Below it, the paying parent gets no shared-custody credit; at 109 the case moves to Worksheet C (basic obligation × 1.5), and the amount is then graduated between the Worksheet A and C figures based on how far the overnights run past 109 toward 128 — so nights near that line matter. A self-support reserve of about $1,010.50/month (2024) protects a low earner, and income can be imputed to a voluntarily unemployed or underemployed parent. Support ends at 18 or high-school graduation (up to 19), and an order can be modified on a substantial change — a small dollar swing alone generally won’t do it.
Use the official calculator
The South Carolina Department of Social Services publishes the official Child Support Calculator (linked above). Use it for an estimate; this page only explains the model. The Family Court judge has final authority over the amount.
For a real case
The guideline amount is presumed correct but can be adjusted when it would be inappropriate. For advice on your situation, consult a South Carolina family-law attorney.
Reviewed by Aqil Abbas Khan, Founder & Editor of ToolsNexus
This page is general information, not legal advice. Child support in South Carolina is set by South Carolina’s official guidelines, and the amount in any real case is determined by the court or the state child-support agency using the official worksheet — not by this page. Guideline figures, schedules, and adjustments change over time and depend on facts specific to your situation (each parent’s income, parenting time, health-insurance and childcare costs, and other factors a court may consider). Use the official South Carolina calculator for an actual estimate, and consult a licensed family-law attorney in South Carolina for advice about your circumstances. ToolsNexus is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.
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Frequently asked questions
- How is child support calculated in South Carolina?
- South Carolina uses an income-shares model under SC Code § 63-17-470 and the state's child support regulation. It combines both parents' gross monthly incomes, finds the basic obligation on the schedule for the number of children, and allocates it by income share — using Worksheet A, B, or C depending on custody. The current guidelines took effect January 15, 2024.
- Which worksheet applies to my case?
- Worksheet A applies to sole custody (the other parent has fewer than 109 overnights a year). Worksheet C applies to shared custody, which begins at 109 or more overnights and multiplies the basic obligation by 1.5. Worksheet B applies to split custody, where each parent has primary custody of at least one child.
- How sharp is the 109-overnight line?
- Fairly sharp. Below 109 overnights the paying parent gets no shared-custody credit; at 109 the case moves to Worksheet C with the 1.5 multiplier, then the support amount is graduated between the Worksheet A and C values based on how far the overnights exceed 109 (toward 128). A few nights around that line can change the order.
- Is there a low-income floor, and until what age is support paid?
- The 2024 guidelines set a self-support reserve of about $1,010.50 a month to protect a low-earning parent, and income can be imputed to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. Support ends at 18 or high-school graduation (up to age 19).
- Where do I get an official estimate?
- Use the South Carolina Child Support Calculator linked on this page, published by the Department of Social Services. This page explains the model but does not compute an amount, and it is not legal advice.