South Carolina Alimony & Spousal Support (2026)
Unlike child support, South Carolina has no fixed formula for how much alimony (spousal support) costs or how long it lasts. A judge decides both based on a list of factors set out in S.C. Code § 20-3-130. There is no calculator that can honestly give you an exact number here — but the factors below are what actually drives the decision.
What determines alimony in South Carolina
Under S.C. Code § 20-3-130 (South Carolina Code of Laws § 20-3-130), a court considers:
- Duration of the marriage, together with the ages of the parties at the time of marriage and at the time of divorce
- Physical and emotional condition of each spouse
- Educational background of each spouse, and each spouse's need for additional training or education
- Employment history and earning potential of each spouse
- Standard of living established during the marriage
- Current and reasonably anticipated earnings of both spouses
- Current and reasonably anticipated expenses and needs of both spouses
- Marital and nonmarital property of the parties, including property apportioned to each
- Custody of the children, particularly where it would be inappropriate for the custodial parent to work outside the home
- Marital misconduct or fault of either or both parties, subject to statutory time and relevance limits
- Tax consequences to each party of the particular form of support awarded
- Existence and extent of any support obligation from a prior marriage or for any other reason
- Any other factors the court considers relevant
Good to know
- South Carolina has no formula or percentage table for alimony — § 20-3-130 says the court "must consider and give weight in such proportion as it finds appropriate" to the factors above, and may award alimony "in such amounts...as...may be just," which is a case-by-case discretionary standard, not a calculation.
- South Carolina recognizes several forms of spousal support (periodic, lump-sum, rehabilitative, reimbursement, and separate maintenance) and the same factor list applies to deciding whether to award support, in what form, and for how long.
Also need a child support estimate?
Alimony and child support are calculated completely separately in South Carolina. If you also have children, use our free South Carolina child support calculator — that one does compute a real number, based on the official guideline formula.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an alimony formula in South Carolina?
No. South Carolina has no statutory formula for alimony amount or duration. Under S.C. Code § 20-3-130, the court weighs 13 statutory factors and awards whatever amount and term it "considers appropriate" given the circumstances — there is no fixed calculation.
What factors determine alimony in South Carolina?
A South Carolina court weighs the marriage's duration and each spouse's age, physical and emotional condition, education and training needs, employment history and earning potential, the marital standard of living, each spouse's current and anticipated earnings and expenses, marital and nonmarital property, child custody arrangements, marital misconduct, tax consequences, any existing support obligations, and any other relevant factors.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws § 20-3-130 · Last verified 2026-07-22
Disclaimer: This page explains the general legal framework for alimony in South Carolina and is for informational purposes only — it is not legal advice and does not predict the outcome of any specific case. Laws change; always verify with the official source above or a family law attorney licensed in South Carolina before making decisions.