How Child Support is Calculated in South Carolina
Child support in South Carolina is based on both parents’ combined monthly income, the number of children, and healthcare costs. Parents are typically required to pay child support through the child’s 18^th^ birthday. Most of the time, the non-custodial parent will be responsible for paying child support.
At Gil Gatch Law, our family law attorneys have experience using the child support guidelines to estimate support costs in a variety of situations. If you have questions regarding child support, our legal team is more than happy to assist you.
Income Shares Model
South Carolina child support is calculated by totaling both parents’ combined gross income, including salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, pensions, dividends, severance pay, capital gains, alimony, Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, and workers’ compensation benefits, among others. Non-income-producing assets, such as rental properties, will also be included in the income calculation. However, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Food Stamps, and General Assistance will not be included as part of a parent’s gross income.
For self-employed individuals, gross income is calculated by adding gross receipts to ordinary and necessary expenses. Since self-employed persons pay a 15.3% FICA tax (paying both the employee and employer shares), the employer share is deducted from gross income in determining a support amount. The non-custodial parent’s support obligation will be determined by the percentage of their income that accounts for the total household income (as if both parents were still living together). So, a parent who earns 40% of the combined adjusted gross income will be responsible for paying 40% of the child support obligation.
Healthcare Costs
The court requires that at least one of the child’s parents provide health insurance coverage. The state assumes that the custodial parent will cover a certain amount of uninsured medical expenses, providing a $250 annual credit for each child. The parent who pays the health insurance premiums will receive a credit. If the difference between the cost of self-coverage and family coverage cannot be discerned, the total premium will be divided among the number of family members covered by the policy. This figure is then multiplied by the number of children in the support order.
Childcare Costs
The costs related to childcare or day care will be factored into the non-custodial parent’s support obligation. Childcare must be work-related, whether it be due to a parent’s employment or search for a job. Healthcare and childcare costs will be considered when determining both parents’ combined adjusted gross income.
The amount the non-custodial parent will have to pay is based on the combined adjusted gross income and the number of children part of the support order. For lower-earning families, a $748 self-support reserve will apply. This amount allows the paying parent to provide for their own needs financially.
Will The Other Parent Be Ordered to Pay Support if Unemployed?
Voluntary impoverishment does not exempt a person from paying support. If a parent is purposely underemployed or unemployed, the law can calculate child support based on that parent’s potential income. However, this law will not apply if the family member is not working due to taking care of a disabled family member or if the individual is incarcerated. When you meet with our family law attorneys, you must mention any unique circumstances that could impact the non-custodial parent’s support amount.
Speak with Our Summerville Family Law Lawyers
Determining child support can be difficult, especially when emotions are running high. Our Summerville family law attorneys are aware that your family has already been through a lot. While your family dynamics have changed dramatically, our legal team wants to help ease the financial burden of being a single parent. If you would like to discuss a new support order or modify an existing one, contact Gil Gatch Law online or by calling (843) 800-2020 today.