South Carolina Child Support Calculator

Estimate South Carolina child support for 2026 using the Income Shares guideline model under S.C. Code § 63-17-470; SC DSS Child Support Guidelines. Enter both parents' incomes and the parenting-time split to see what you may owe or receive.

South Carolina follows the Income Shares model under S.C. Code § 63-17-470 and the SC DSS Child Support Guidelines. The court combines both parents' monthly gross incomes, looks up the basic support obligation on the state's guideline schedule for that income level and number of children, then prorates the obligation between the parents according to each parent's percentage share of the combined income.

South Carolina uses a shared-care formula when both parents have a meaningful amount of parenting time. Under the SC DSS Child Support Guidelines, the shared-custody calculation applies only when each parent has at least 110 overnights per year with the child. When that threshold is met, the worksheet adjusts each parent's share to reflect the divided time and the cost of keeping two homes. Below 110 overnights for a parent, the standard Income Shares worksheet applies and extra visitation alone does not automatically lower the support number.

The cost of the child's health insurance premium is a recognized adjustment in the South Carolina guidelines. The premium that covers the child is factored into the worksheet, and the total support obligation is divided between the parents in proportion to their share of the combined gross income. In practice the parent who actually pays the premium usually receives credit for it. Extraordinary or uninsured medical expenses are also handled as an add-on and split between the parents under the same income-share percentages.

Work-related child care, such as daycare a parent needs in order to hold a job, is treated as an adjustment in the South Carolina guidelines. The reasonable cost of that child care is added into the support calculation rather than left out, and it is then prorated between the parents by each parent's percentage share of the combined gross income. Because these costs change over time, the worksheet relies on the actual or projected amount, so keep records of what you really pay for daycare.

South Carolina judges generally must follow the guideline amount produced by the SC DSS Child Support Guidelines, but they may deviate when applying the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case. The parent asking the court to depart from the guideline number carries the burden of showing why a different amount is warranted, and the judge must put specific written findings in the order explaining the reason. Common grounds include extraordinary expenses, the needs of the child, or income that the guideline schedule does not capture well.

Frequently asked questions

How is child support calculated in South Carolina?

South Carolina follows the Income Shares model under S.C. Code Section 63-17-470 and the SC DSS Child Support Guidelines. The court adds together both parents' monthly gross incomes, then looks up the basic support obligation on the state's guideline schedule for that combined income and the number of children. That obligation is split between the parents in proportion to each parent's percentage share of the combined income, and adjustments are applied for health insurance and child care. The on-page calculator gives you an estimate only. The official worksheet and a licensed South Carolina attorney control the actual number a judge will order.

Is there an official South Carolina child support worksheet?

Yes. The controlling form is the worksheet built from the SC DSS Child Support Guidelines, and the South Carolina Child Support Services Division publishes a calculator at the Department of Social Services. The worksheet walks through both parents' gross income, the basic obligation from the guideline schedule, and the credits for health insurance and work-related child care. Whatever a website estimator shows, the figure a family court will actually order comes from that official worksheet. Treat any number from this page as a planning estimate, then confirm it against the state worksheet or with a licensed attorney before relying on it.

How does a 50/50 or shared custody arrangement change support in South Carolina?

Shared parenting can change the number, but only after a specific threshold. The SC DSS Child Support Guidelines apply a shared-custody calculation when each parent has at least 110 overnights per year with the child. When that threshold is met, the worksheet adjusts each parent's share to account for the divided time and the duplicated cost of two households, so a near-even split usually lowers the obligation of the higher earner. If one parent falls short of 110 overnights, the standard Income Shares worksheet applies. This page estimates only, so verify your overnight count against the official worksheet.

What income counts when South Carolina calculates child support?

South Carolina starts from each parent's gross income, not take-home pay. Gross income includes wages, self-employment earnings, bonuses, commissions, pensions, retirement, Social Security, workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, and recurring gifts. Because the state uses gross income, deductions like taxes and retirement contributions do not reduce the figure the way they would on a paycheck. Self-employment and bonus income are still counted, so a parent with variable pay should be ready to document a realistic yearly average. The combined gross income is what the guideline schedule uses, and this calculator only estimates the result the official worksheet produces.

Can a judge order more or less than the South Carolina guideline amount?

Yes, but not freely. The guideline figure from the SC DSS Child Support Guidelines is presumed correct, and a judge may deviate only when following it would be unjust or inappropriate for the family. The parent asking for a different amount has the burden of proving why, and the court must write specific findings in the order explaining the departure. Reasons can include extraordinary medical or educational expenses, the particular needs of the child, or income the schedule does not handle well. Because deviation is fact-specific, the estimate on this page cannot predict it. A South Carolina attorney can tell you whether your facts support one.

How is child support enforced in South Carolina if a parent does not pay?

The South Carolina Child Support Services Division within the Department of Social Services enforces orders through several tools. These include immediate income withholding from wages, intercepting state and federal tax refunds, suspending licenses, filing liens, reporting to credit bureaus, and bringing a contempt action that can carry the threat of jail. Past-due support, called arrears, generally does not disappear and continues to be collected even after the basic obligation ends. If you owe or are owed support across state lines, interstate enforcement rules let South Carolina coordinate with another state to collect.

When does child support end in South Carolina, and when can I change it?

South Carolina child support generally ends when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever comes later, but not past age 19. Continuing support may be ordered for a disabled adult child. Support does not stop automatically just because a child reaches that point if arrears remain, since past-due amounts are still collectible. To change an existing order, you must show a substantial change in circumstances, such as a meaningful change in either parent's income or expenses, by filing a motion in family court or requesting a review through CSSD. This page only estimates a current figure.