Determining child support figures can be complicated, but it’s crucial for parents to understand how these determinations are made and the factors that go into them. This can give you a better sense of how much financial support your household will receive or that you will be obligated to pay, so that you can make more informed financial decisions.
Keep reading to learn what our child support lawyers say about how child support is calculated in South Carolina and what factors could affect your case.
South Carolina Child Support Laws
South Carolina child support laws use guidelines to determine the appropriate amount of support. These guidelines are based on the average costs of raising a child. Incomes, custodial arrangements, and other expenses can impact the amount of support.
South Carolina uses the income shares model to calculate support based on each parent’s income to determine each parent’s proportional contribution to the child’s financial needs.
Typically, the non-custodial parent will pay child support to the custodial parent. Still, child support can even be awarded in 50/50 custody agreements based on disparity in the parents’ income or parenting time.
Using the South Carolina Child Support Calculator
The South Carolina Department of Social Services offers an online calculator to help parents estimate potential child support obligations.
The calculator considers factors such as:
- The number of children covered by the order and the custody arrangement
- How parenting time is divided, including annual overnight visits
- Each parent’s monthly gross income and military status
- Existing financial obligations, such as spousal support or support for other children
- Health insurance, child care, and extraordinary medical expenses related to the child
While the tool provides useful estimates, it’s for informational purposes only and not legally binding. The accuracy of the results depends on the reliability of the information entered.
How Income Impacts Child Support in South Carolina
While the court can consider several factors when determining child support, the most important one is each parent’s income.
As such, it’s critical that you have accurate information regarding your income and your ex’s, including:
- The source of all forms of income, such as salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, and self-employment income
- The amount of income
- How often the income is received
- Any financial payments made to the recipient, such as Social Security benefits or disability payments
- Any financial payments received from other non-work sources, such as rental property income or distributions from retirement funds
South Carolina’s child support guidelines provide specific instructions on how to accurately calculate these figures.
Factors That Affect Child Support Calculations
Some of the most important factors that affect how much child support is awarded include the following:
- The number of children: The more children there are to be supported, the more child support will likely be awarded.
- The amount of income: The higher the parents’ incomes, the higher the corresponding amount of child support there will be, though there are exceptions if the custodial parent’s income is significantly higher than the non-custodial parent’s income.
- The amount of parenting time: The amount of time each parent spends with the child can impact child support. Generally, the more time the non-custodial parent spends with the child, the less child support they will be required to pay.
- Extraordinary expenses: The court can consider making a larger child support award amount if there are extraordinary expenses, such as medical or educational costs.
Deviating from the Amount of Child Support in the Guidelines
The amount of support provided for in the child support guidelines is considered the presumptive amount of support. A parent can overcome this presumption and request a different amount of support if they can show that using the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in their particular case.
Common reasons for a deviation may include:
- Extraordinary expenses, such as medical bills or tuition for the child or a parent
- Significant income differences between parents or unique financial obligations
- Other dependents or ongoing support responsibilities
- Mandatory deductions like union fees or retirement contributions
- An agreement between the parents for a different support amount
When a court decides to deviate from the standard calculation, it must provide written findings explaining the reasons and list what the guideline amount would have been under normal circumstances. These written findings ensure that every child support decision is transparent and based on clear, fair reasoning.
Contact the Rock Hill Child Support Lawyer at Minor Law Divorce Lawyers for Help Today
If you believe your situation warrants a deviation — or if you think the court misapplied the guidelines — an experienced Rock Hill child support attorney can help you review your options and advocate for a fair outcome.
At Minor Law Divorce Lawyers, we understand how child support is calculated in South Carolina and when a particular case can deviate from the presumptive child support guidelines. Contact us today at (803) 504-0971 to learn more about what might be appropriate in your specific situation.
