South Carolina Child Support Calculator 2026
South Carolina reads the basic child support amount from a state schedule, which this page does not reproduce. Enter both parents' incomes to see each parent's share of combined income and of insurance and childcare, then use the official South Carolina source linked below for the schedule amount. Calculated privately in your browser.
Estimate only — the court or the child support agency sets the order. Official source: South Carolina DSS child support calculator.
South Carolina uses the income shares model for child support: a basic obligation is read from the state schedule using both parents' combined income and the number of children, then divided by each parent's share of that income. This page calculates the shares; the schedule amount comes from the official South Carolina source.
How South Carolina Child Support Is Calculated
The National Conference of State Legislatures lists South Carolina among the income shares states. The calculation has four steps: add both parents' incomes; find the basic obligation for that combined income and number of children in the South Carolina schedule; divide it between the parents in proportion to their incomes; then apply the worksheet's adjustments.
The South Carolina worksheet defines which income counts and which deductions are allowed, so enter the figure it asks for rather than take-home pay.
| Step | On this page? |
|---|---|
| Each parent's share of combined income | Yes — exact arithmetic |
| Basic obligation from the South Carolina schedule | No — read it from the official source |
| Health insurance and childcare split | Shown as an income-share split to confirm on the worksheet |
| Parenting-time adjustment | No — made on the worksheet or by the court |
| Low-income and high-income rules | No — set by the South Carolina guidelines |
Worked Example: South Carolina Income Shares
With the default figures, the paying parent has $5,000 a month and the other parent $3,000. Combined income is $8,000, so the paying parent's share is 62.5% and the other parent's is 37.5%. With a $150 health insurance premium and $200 of work-related childcare, an income-share split puts $93.75 and $125.00 on the paying parent. To finish the calculation you would look up $8,000 of combined income and 2 children in the South Carolina schedule and apply those shares.
Insurance, Childcare and Parenting Time in South Carolina
Most income shares worksheets divide the children's health insurance premium and work-related childcare by income share. This page shows that split as an illustration only: South Carolina's own rule for these costs was not confirmed for this page, so check the official worksheet before relying on it.
Any adjustment for parenting time (overnights) is made on the state worksheet or by the court and is not estimated here.
Estimate Only: Who Sets the South Carolina Order
This page gives an estimate only — the court or the state child support agency sets the order, and either can depart from the guideline where the law allows. Before relying on any figure, run the same figures through the South Carolina DSS child support calculator.
If your income, the parenting schedule or the children's needs change, ask the court or the agency to review the order, and keep paying the ordered amount until it is changed. Last updated: October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is child support calculated in South Carolina?
South Carolina uses the income shares model. A basic obligation is read from the South Carolina schedule using both parents' combined income and the number of children, then divided between the parents in proportion to their incomes. Insurance, childcare and parenting time are handled on the state worksheet, and a court or the child support agency sets the final amount.
Does this calculator give the South Carolina guideline amount?
No. It calculates each parent's share of combined income and of insurance and childcare costs. The basic obligation comes from the South Carolina schedule, which this page does not reproduce. Use the official South Carolina source linked on the page for the schedule amount.
What income does South Carolina use for child support?
The South Carolina worksheet defines which income counts and which deductions are allowed. Enter the monthly figure the official worksheet asks for, for both parents, rather than take-home pay.
How are health insurance and childcare handled in South Carolina?
Most income shares worksheets divide the children's health insurance premium and work-related childcare by income share. This page shows that split as an illustration only: South Carolina's own rule for these costs was not confirmed for this page, so check the official worksheet before relying on it.
Who decides the final child support amount in South Carolina?
A court or the state child support agency sets the order. Guideline figures are a starting point, and the decision-maker can depart from them where the law allows. An online estimate, including this one, is not an order.