South Carolina Alimony / Spousal Support Estimator

South Carolina has no alimony formula or guideline calculation. Under S.C. Code § 20-3-130, family court judges exercise broad discretion, weighing 13 statutory factors including marriage duration, each spouse's earning capacity, and the marital standard of living. The judge sets both the amount and duration based on the specific circumstances of each case.

South Carolina recognizes four types of alimony under § 20-3-130(B): periodic alimony (regular monthly payments, most common), rehabilitative alimony (temporary support while gaining job skills), lump-sum alimony (one fixed payment or short-term installments), and reimbursement alimony (repaying a spouse who funded the other's education or career). Courts may award more than one type simultaneously.

South Carolina law sets no fixed durational limit on alimony. Periodic alimony continues until the recipient remarries, either spouse dies, or the recipient cohabitates with a romantic partner for 90 or more consecutive days. Rehabilitative alimony lasts only as long as needed for the recipient to become self-supporting, while lump-sum and reimbursement alimony terminate once fully paid.

South Carolina courts evaluate 13 factors under § 20-3-130(C): marriage duration, spouses' ages, physical and emotional condition, educational background, employment history, earning potential, marital standard of living, current and anticipated income, expenses and needs, marital and nonmarital property, child custody arrangements, tax consequences, prior support obligations, and marital misconduct. No single factor is automatically controlling.

Periodic and rehabilitative alimony can be modified in South Carolina if either spouse demonstrates a substantial change in circumstances, such as job loss, serious illness, or a significant income increase. Lump-sum and reimbursement alimony cannot be modified once ordered. The spouse requesting modification bears the burden of proving the changed circumstances to the family court.

South Carolina imposes a mandatory adultery bar under § 20-3-130(A). A spouse who commits adultery before the earlier of signing a written settlement agreement or entry of a permanent court order is completely barred from receiving alimony. This bar is absolute when proven — even mutual adultery by both spouses does not override it for the receiving spouse.

For divorce agreements executed after December 31, 2018, alimony is not deductible by the paying spouse and not taxable income for the receiving spouse under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. South Carolina follows federal tax treatment. Divorces finalized before January 1, 2019, follow the prior rule where alimony was deductible by the payer and taxable to the recipient.

South Carolina courts generally enforce prenuptial agreements that waive alimony, provided the agreement was executed voluntarily, with full financial disclosure, and is not unconscionable at the time of enforcement. Under the South Carolina Uniform Premarital Agreement Act (§ 20-5-50), both parties must sign the agreement before the marriage with independent legal counsel strongly recommended.