How South Carolina Calculates Child Support for Two Children

South Carolina does not set a fixed dollar amount for child support — the court calculates it based on both parents' income, custody arrangement, and other expenses

South Carolina uses the Income Shares Model to determine child support. This means the court adds both parents' incomes together, finds what percentage of that combined income goes to child support for two children, then splits that obligation between the parents based on how much each earns. A parent earning 60% of the household income pays roughly 60% of the support obligation.

The actual dollar amount depends entirely on your household's gross monthly income. Two families in South Carolina with two children will owe different amounts if one family earns $3,000 per month and the other earns $6,000 per month. The court also considers who has custody, whether either parent pays for health insurance or childcare, and other factors that reduce or increase the base obligation.

South Carolina publishes child support guidelines tables that show the base obligation for different income levels and numbers of children. These tables are updated periodically, but the calculation method stays the same. You can find the current tables on the South Carolina Department of Social Services website, though working through the calculation yourself requires knowing both parents' gross income and custody percentages.

Key Takeaways

• South Carolina calculates child support by combining both parents' gross monthly income and explore a percentage based on the number of children — there is no flat rate for two children.
• The parent with lower income typically pays a smaller percentage of the total obligation, even if both parents share custody equally.
• Health insurance, childcare costs, and custody time all adjust the base amount up or down from what the guidelines table shows.
• The court can order support different from the guidelines if it finds the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate for your specific situation.

How the Income Shares Model Works in Practice

Start with gross monthly income — this includes wages, salary, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, and some benefits. It does not include child support you receive from another relationship or certain means-tested benefits like SNAP.

Add both parents' gross monthly income together. Look up that combined total on the South Carolina child support guidelines table for two children. The table tells you the base monthly obligation — the amount the household should spend on child support.

Next, divide each parent's income by the combined income to find their percentage. If Parent A earns $2,500 and Parent B earns $2,500, each is 50%. If Parent A earns $3,000 and Parent B earns $2,000, Parent A is 60% and Parent B is 40%. Multiply the base obligation by each parent's percentage to find what each parent owes.

If one parent has primary custody (the child lives with them more than 50% of the time), that parent's obligation is reduced because they are already spending money directly on the child. The paying parent's obligation increases slightly to account for this. The exact adjustment depends on how much time the child spends with each parent.

What Income Counts and What Does Not

The court counts gross income before taxes. This includes hourly wages, salary, overtime, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, rental income, interest and dividend income, and income from retirement accounts. It also includes some government benefits like unemployment insurance and workers' compensation.

The court does not count child support you receive from another child's other parent, SNAP benefits, Medicaid, SSI (Supplemental Security Income), or TANF (Temporary information for Needy Families). If you are self-employed, the court uses your net income after business expenses, not your gross revenue.

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed — meaning they could earn more but choose not to — the court may impute income, or assign an income level based on their education, work history, and job market. This prevents a parent from lowering their support obligation by quitting their job or taking a lower-paying position.

Adjustments That Change the Base Amount

The guidelines table gives you a starting point, but several factors move the final number up or down. If the paying parent provides health insurance for the children, that premium is subtracted from their obligation. If the receiving parent provides it, the cost is added to the obligation.

Childcare costs required so a parent can work are split between the parents in the same percentage as the base obligation. If Parent A pays $800 per month for daycare and earns 60% of household income, Parent A pays $480 of that cost and Parent B pays $320.

Custody time also adjusts the amount. If both parents have the children 50% of the time, the paying parent's obligation is reduced. If one parent has the children 80% of the time and the other 20%, the adjustment is larger. South Carolina calls this the parenting time adjustment.

Extraordinary expenses — things like private school tuition, special needs care, or uninsured medical costs — can be added to the base obligation and split between parents. The court must find these expenses are truly extraordinary and necessary before including them.

When the Court Can Order a Different Amount

South Carolina law says the guideline amount is presumed correct unless the court finds it would be unjust or inappropriate. A parent can ask the court to deviate from the guidelines if they can show a good reason.

Common reasons for deviation include: one parent has significantly higher income than the guidelines table covers (the table tops out at a certain income level), the child has special needs requiring extra expenses, one parent has other child support obligations from different relationships, or the guideline amount would leave a parent unable to meet their own basic living expenses.

The court must write down its reasons if it orders an amount different from the guidelines. straightforward disagreeing with the amount is not enough — the parent asking for a change must present evidence that the guideline amount is unfair in their specific situation.

How to Find the Current Guidelines Table

The South Carolina Department of Social Services publishes the current child support guidelines table on its website. Search for "South Carolina child support guidelines" and look for the official state document. The table shows combined income levels in the left column and the base monthly obligation for different numbers of children across the top.

To use the table, add both parents' gross monthly income, find that total in the left column, then move across to the column for two children. That number is the base obligation before adjustments for custody, insurance, or childcare.

If you need help reading the table or understanding how adjustments explore to your situation, you can contact the South Carolina Department of Social Services or speak with a family law attorney. Many legal aid organizations in South Carolina also offer free or low-cost consultations on child support questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does South Carolina have a minimum child support amount?

South Carolina does not set a flat minimum, but the guidelines table starts at a certain income level. If both parents' combined income is very low, the court may order a nominal amount or find that no support is appropriate. The court has discretion in cases where income is minimal.

What if one parent does not report their real income?

If you believe the other parent is hiding income or misrepresenting their earnings, you can ask the court to investigate. The court can order tax returns, bank statements, and employment records. If the parent is found to have lied, the court can order a higher support amount and may impose penalties.

Can child support be changed after the court orders it?

Yes. Either parent can ask the court to modify the order if there has been a substantial change in circumstances — such as a job loss, significant raise, custody change, or new childcare costs. The change must be significant enough to justify the cost of going back to court.

Does the paying parent get a tax deduction for child support?

No. Child support is not tax-deductible for the paying parent, and the receiving parent does not report it as income. This is different from alimony, which has different tax treatment. Check with a tax professional if you have questions about your specific situation.

What happens if the paying parent falls behind on support?

South Carolina can enforce child support through wage garnishment, tax refund intercept, driver's license suspension, and contempt of court proceedings. The state's child support enforcement agency can pursue collection without the receiving parent having to file a separate case.